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One in four North Korean refugees in South Korea experienced discrimination or disregard in the past year because of their refugee status, a survey shows.

Refugees were also found to earn roughly two-thirds the income of other South Koreans despite working more hours.

The findings released on Feb. 9 were part of a 2014 refugee survey by the Ministry of Unification and Korea Hana Foundation. The results were based on surveys conducted between July and September 2014 with 12,777 refugees aged 15 and older who had entered South Korea as of December 2013.

The study showed North Korean wage earners making an average of 1,471,000 won (US$1,340) per month, or roughly 66% the 2,231,000 won (US$2,040) average for ordinary South Koreans.

“Another factor was the comparatively short employment period for North Korean defectors. They were employed on average for 19-months, much shorter than the 67-month average for other South Koreans,” the foundation explained.

Employed refugees were found to work an average of 47 hours per week, or nearly three hours more than the 44.1-hour average for ordinary South Koreans. They were also three times more likely to work in day labor positions: 19.8% of refugees, compared to 6.1% of the general population.

Among respondents, 25.3% said they had experienced discrimination or disregard over the past year. The most frequently cited grounds for discrimination were “different speech and methods of communication,” mentioned by 68.6% of respondents. Other factors included “negative perceptions of refugees” (42.6%), “lack of skill compared to South Koreans” (19.2%), and “low earnings” (13.4%).

In terms of general quality of life, 67.6% of refugees said they were “satisfied” with life in South Korea, while 28.6% rated it as “average” and 3.4% reported being “dissatisfied.” The most commonly given reasons for satisfaction were “the ability to do what I want” (47.4%) and “economic freedom compared to North Korea” (42.3%).

A separate survey of 1,785 refugees revealed issues with psychological health, with 20.9% of refugees (compared to 6.8% of general South Koreans) saying they had experienced a “desire to die.”

By Son Won-je, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]