People for Successful Corean Reunification

People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)
Founded 2006
Type NGO
Headquarters Seoul, South Korea
Key people
 Kim Young-Il, Executive Director (Seoul)
Website http://pscore.org (Korean), http://pscore.org/en (English)

People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE) is a non-governmental organization based in Seoul, South Korea, and Washington D.C. in the United States.[1] PSCORE addresses potential barriers to Korea reunification, suggests alternatives, and works to improve the situation of North Korean defectors in South Korea and China to bridge the gap between South Korea, North Korea, and the international community. The organization is made up of North and South Korean staff, interns and volunteers from South Korea and abroad, and North Korean defectors. While PSCORE provides news coverage on North Korea and helps defectors become South Korean citizens, a unique aspect is that educational programs are offered for North Korean defectors.[2]

History

In October 2006, PSCORE was established by young North Korean defectors, South Korean university students, and foreigners in Korea interested in improving human rights in North Korea and the reunification of the Korean peninsula. The organization uses ‘C’ in the acronym ‘PSCORE’ to represent the pre-20th century spelling "Corea", when the two countries were one.[1]

Objectives

The organization encourages harmony and understanding between the two Koreas through educational programs, awareness campaigns, and discussion panels.[3] To address the possible obstacles to reunification of North and South Korea, the organization suggests solutions to resolve such obstacles by creating space for discussing issues related to reunification, human rights, and North Korean democratization.[1] It also seeks to fill gaps in the existent assimilation aid for North Korean defectors.[2] The organization is composed of those who share a common interest and passion for Korean reunification, human rights in North Korea, and to see North Korean defectors become self-supporting.[4]

PSCORE's Work

Human Rights Data Collection and Analysis

Detailed evidence of human rights abuses in North Korea is collected through interviews with North Korean defectors living in South Korea. The data is used for written and visual depictions of the human rights crisis in North Korea to be accessible for the public. PSCORE recently published a book entitled 'Only the Freedom to Breathe' which features testimonies which were obtained through direct interviews from North Korean defectors of the human rights abuses they saw and experienced before escaping to South Korea. Each case is recorded onto a Google Maps page which displays the time, location, violation type, violation organ, account of incident and offender and victim information. [5] [6]

UN ECOSOC Consultative Status

In 2012, PSCORE received United Nations Economic and Social Council Consultative status. Consultative status enables an NGO to submit written statements to the United Nations Human Rights Council, speak at the sessions, attend UNHRC meetings and hold parallel events in the boundaries of the UN during UNHRC sessions. [7] [8] [9]

International Conferences and Seminars

In Seoul there has been an International Youth Conference on North Korean Human Rights, and another human rights conference every April during North Korea Freedom Week. The conferences and seminars hosted by PSCORE aim to raise awareness and educate people on topics related to reunification of the Korean peninsula[10] and human rights in North Korea.

Educational Programs

In Seoul, PSCORE supports North Korean defectors through education as a response to the North Korean situation where English is not taught or encouraged. Through one-on-one English tutoring and weekly English classes, North Korean defectors have resources and support to learn English for the educational standard in South Korea is increasingly adopting English as a requirement. Volunteers tutor also in essay writing, science, and math. Some North Korean defectors when enrolled in college are surprised at the amount of English required in their studies.[2] Seventy-percent of PSCORE students seek help mostly in English as it is increasingly being used in South Koreans’ daily lives and work places.[2]

Helping Refugees in China

PSCORE provides basic necessities for North Korean women defectors in China such as food, medical supplies, and warm winter clothes. Orphaned children escaping from North Korea live in constant fear of being sent back. Without any legal rights, they cannot receive citizenship and cannot receive medical attention or education. PSCORE supports such children to acquire legal status to attend school and the basic necessities of housing, clothing, and financial support. There are also safety houses run by PSCORE to protect escapees from the PRC government. These houses have food, water, and electricity and are protected locations monitored by PSCORE staff.

Fundraising Concerts

Every 2–3 months PSCORE has been hosting fundraising rock concerts entitled 'Rock out for a Good Cause' at Club Freebird in the Hongdae area of Seoul. The concerts have featured both Korean and expat bands and have been very successful in helping PSCORE gain local recognition for its work, raise funds for various PSCORE programs and giving local talent a stage to play in front of up to 160 people. [11]

Online Campaigns

Through online campaigning, PSCORE has held contests for university students to creatively address the issue of democratization in North Korea. South Korean students have submitted original videos and essays reflecting their views of North Korea.[12]

Street Campaigns

In 2013, PSCORE began campaigns around Seoul to educate the public on the human rights abuses occurring within North Korea. The campaigns usually feature 20 different information boards which outline different issues. PSCORE volunteers also talk with interested people in order to give them a greater understanding of the current situation. So far campaigns have taken place at Gimpo International Airport, Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station, Yongsan Station, Itaewon Station, Hongik University and Seoul National University of Education. [13]

Partners

References

  1. 1 2 3 Official PSCORE Website
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kim, Eldo. Pscore's got the word on helping new defectors. JoongAng Daily. March 17, 2010.
  3. ↑ Harlan, Chico. "N. Koreans may be frustrated with government and likely rise of Kim Jong Eun" Washington Post September 8, 2010.
  4. ↑ News Article Translator (Remote) NK News. 6 April 2010.
  5. ↑ http://pscore.org/xe/HRMapEnglish
  6. ↑ 'Only the Freedom to Breathe, PSCORE,2013
  7. ↑ http://www.nkhrff.com/2012/09/05/world-premiere-of-48m/
  8. ↑ http://pscore.org/newsletter/index.php/2012/10/09/pscore-at-the-21-session-of-the-unhrc-in-geneva/
  9. ↑ Studer & Derr, 'PSCORE and the United Nations', PSCORE, Seoul, Korea, 2012.
  10. ↑ PSCORE Idealist.org. November 8, 2010.
  11. ↑ http://pscore.org/newsletter/index.php/2013/07/01/pscore-rock-out-vol-4-incredible-bands-incredible-crowd-incredible-cause/
  12. ↑ "PSCORE UCC Contest" Report World Korea December 20, 2009. (Korean)
  13. ↑ http://pscore.org/newsletter/index.php/2013/06/18/raising-awareness-around-seoul-campaigning-at-yongsan-station-hongdae-and-itaewon-station/
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