KWDI Korean Women’s Development Institute

Abstract

 

Ways of Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation for North Korean Women’s Economic Empowerment (Ⅲ)

 

Young-Ju Cho

Ji-So Yoon

Hee-Young Moon

Hyun-Jin Song

Mi-Kyung Park

 

This study has been conducted for three years to prepare for implementation of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects for economic empowerment of North Korean women. The purpose of the first-year study was to identify agendas, and that of the second-year study was to lay a basis for implementing the projects. The third-year study of this year aims to develop a model for the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects for North Korean women’s economic empowerment based on the research findings of the first- and second-year studies. To this end, we researchers reviewed the achievements of the first- and second-year studies, and surveyed and analyzed women’s economic empowerment projects in the international community and in China and Vietnam as well. Through the analysis of each project, we identified components of the project, and specifically presented project cases that are applicable to North Korean women’s economic empowerment projects.

 

We also surveyed and analyzed North Korea’s already-implemented empowerment projects, and examined projects that were implemented jointly by North Korea and the international community. We reviewed these projects focusing on their themes, ways of implementation, and implementers, and based on this, analyzed the way North Korean women participated in the projects. Next, we looked into North Korea’s recent interest in economic competencies through its official literature. The North Korean authorities put emphasis on improving expertise and technical skills and promoting scientific and technological competencies. This emphasis applies to women too. Based on the results of this analysis, this study developed an empowerment model for business women and female farmers as well as professional women. Prior to the model development, the study developed a module for each area, project type, and implementation strategy, then presented a project model for each target using the module.

 

The model for business women consists of a model for strengthening business people’s management competencies, a model for training business people, and a model for creating a business environment. The model prepared for female farmers comprises a model for supporting agricultural management, a model for developing and supporting agricultural science and technology, and a model for improving a rural life environment. The project model for professional women is composed of a model for human empowerment, a model for training professional human resources, and a model for creating a work environment. In constituting each model, we considered an integrative approach to empowerment, infrastructure-building, and value chain as prerequisites. The project models and ways of implementing the projects presented in this study can be put into practice with a driving force when a basis for implementing the projects is laid in South Korea and when the situation at home and abroad surrounding the Korean Peninsula drastically shifts. In this regard, what South Korean society can currently do is to make efforts to strengthen competencies that the society should possess regarding North Korean women’s economic empowerment. Now is the time to prepare for producing practical performance when South Korea can execute these projects on a full scale through efforts to integrate expertise in each exchange and cooperation area with a gender perspective and building partnerships with the international community and overseas organizations to implement the projects. Based on this study, it is expected that further efforts will be made to form a consensus on the integration of gender perspective with the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects and to identify agendas on gender equality from each area.

 

Research areas: Peaceful Unification, Representation, Cultural Awareness of Gender Equality

Keywords: North Korean women, economic competency, empowerment project module, North Korean business women, North Korean female farmers, North Korean professional women