The number of North Korean defectors has increased in the 1990's. One particular fact is that many North Korean defectors are religious persons living in South Korea. Their motivation for accepting religion was that they had received various types of support from Christian missionaries and/or Christians in foreign countries, or in South Korea itself. This is the result of missionary work on their behalf. There were many who joined churches which had helped them when they came to South Korea. A few of them entered theological college or seminary. Among them some had theological education at underground seminaries in China and performed ministry for North Korean defectors. They entered theological schools for more systematic education. Some started theological education by themselves. Some began it because of North Korea mission. Some are practicing ministry for other North Korean defectors, while others have established churches. This is a very positive aspect for/by North Korean defectors themselves, and area of will continue as mission for North Korean defectors after the reunification of Korea. North Korean defectors convey their difficulties in theological education, but express their need for it. Having a religious life and studying theology are different matters. Many of them stayed outside of the traditional school system for a long time. This makes them quite challenged when adapting to school life. Many also experience the difficulties of foreign languages, and different educational systems, which exist between North and South Korea. The students are lonely and need faithful friends. Although they study theology, they need counseling, to help them have balance and succeed in a new and different environment. Moreover, tuition is one of their real problems and often blocks them in their studies or ability to study. Most of them serve churches, as Sunday school teachers or serve on a North Korean Mission committee within the church. There are many churches in South Korea, but only a few provide these students with a meaningful position in the church setting. Although the students may experience trial and error, in their new life, it is necessary for them to be provided for in the ministerial fields. For their future and the future of the two Korea, it is important for them to have practical experiences of ministry in various fields. South Korean churches should face up to the fact that it is important not only send them to theological schools, but to also nurture them and train them to be faithful and Christ driven ministers. Before entering theological schools, North Korean defectors must seriously consider whether they have a conviction to study theology. Second, it is important for them to have a confession of faith that they live with Jesus Christ as their Savior. Third, they should have correct understanding of theology. Fourth, they must have healthy view of ecclesiology. Fifth, they should open their heart to serve not only in the North Korean mission field, but also in varied areas of ministry. Sixth, although it seems that North Korean defectors have a good Christian faith, it is not desirable to recommend North Korean defectors to study theology without considering their faith and calling. South Korean churches or other supporters should select North Korean defectors through careful conversations and counseling. South Korean churches should nurture North Korean defectors as they grow in their Christian faith. Some of the churches will want to prepare them as future missionaries to their home towns after reunification. They will be in the vanguard of missionaries to North Korea after reunification. Their missionary work probably will be more effective than that of others who will enter the North for the first time.

이 연구는 대한민국에서 국제난민지원단체를 설립하고 20여 년간 난민 보호활동을 하고 있는 이호택 대표의 생애사 연구이다. Atkinson(1998a, 1998b)의 내러티브 탐구의 생애 이야기 면담 방법으로 7회에 걸쳐 생애사 텍스트를 생성하고, Adriansen(2012)이 제시한 ‘타임라 인 면담 분석’으로 코딩한 후, Lieblich 등(1998)이 제시한 ‘통합적 내용 접근’으로 리코딩 했다. 그의 생애 이야기의 독자성을(Lieblich et al., 1998) 일곱 가지 주제 곧, 난민처럼 인생의 가장 약한 지점에서 시작되는 이야기, 활동가의 길을 가게 한 생의 분기점과 결정적 만남, 대한민국 소수자 보호활동의 개척사를 쓴 개척자, 타인을 위해 생명을 나누고자 하는 사명자, 세상을 이해하며 삶이 뒷받침되는 공부를 추구하는 이유, ‘난민들의 피난처’라는 의미, 대한민국 활동가로서의 생애 비전과 좌우 이념을 오가는 통합 방식 등으로 구성할 수 있었다. 대한민국 1세대 난민 활동가의 생애사를 통해 대한민국 사회에서 난민 코드를 탈북 코드와의 접합 속에서 개인적, 구조적으로 정당화할 수 있었다.