본 연구에서는 북한이탈주민이 북한이탈주민의 정착을 지원할 때 가질 수 있는 특징에 대해 알아보았다. 이를 위해 돌봄 서비스를 제공하는 북한 출신 정착지원 실무자들에 대한 심리적 수준과 인식, 내집단 돌봄에 대한 인식을 살펴보았다.
연구방법으로는 양적조사와 질적조사를 활용하였다. 양적조사에서는 돌봄 종사자인 북한 출신 실무자들의 심리 수준을 알아보기 위해 직업적 자기효능감, 소명, 회복탄력성, 소진에 대한 설문조사를 실시하였다. 이때 대조군으로 남한 출신 실무자들의 심리 수준도 조사했는데, 조사대상자는 북한 출신 실무자 49명, 남한 출신 실무자 106명으로 총 155명이다. 질적조사에서는 돌봄 종사자로서 심리 인식 및 내집단 돌봄에 대한 인식을 알아보기 위해 북한 출신 실무자 10명을 대상으로 면담 조사를 실시하였다.
양적연구에서는 북한 출신 실무자의 심리적 수준과 직업적 자기효능감을 가장 잘 설명하는 변수를 살펴보았는데, 북한 출신 실무자의 심리 요인에는 소득 수준보다 교육 수준에 따른 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 또한 북한 출신 실무자의 직업적 자기효능감, 소명, 회복탄력성은 남한 출신 실무자보다 높은 수준이었고, 소진은 낮은 수준이었다. 그리고 북한 출신 실무자의 직업적 자기효능감을 가장 잘 설명하는 변수는 소명이었다. 질적조사에서는 북한 출신 실무자가 돌봄 종사자로 가지는 심리 요인에 대한 인식을 살펴보았다. 북한 출신 실무자들은 직업적 자기효능감을 ‘대상자에 대한 높은 이해와 도움에 대한 긍정적 경험’ 이라고 인식하고 있었다. 소명에 대해서는 ‘정착 경험에 대한 의미 부여’, 회복탄력성은 ‘자기 수용과 도움 추구’, 소진은 ‘관계에서 느끼는 부정적 감정과 열악한 근무환경’ 이라고 인식하고 있었다. 이처럼 북한 출신 실무자의 심리 수준과 인식을 살펴본 결과 북한 출신 실무자에게 북한이탈주민 정착지원 업무는 멘토 역할에 대한 자부심, 자기개발 추구 및 성취라는 긍정적 경험을 갖게 하며, 북한이탈주민의 직업 선택에 대해 개인의 특성, 자아정체감 발달 등과 같은 측면에서 접근이 가능함을 발견할 수 있었다.
또한 내집단 돌봄에 대한 특징으로 내집단 선호와 내집단 갈등에 대해서 살펴보았는데, 북한 출신 실무자들은 내집단 선호의 관점에서 사회정체성 이론이 주장하는 내집단 긍정성을 위한 세 가지 전략을 사용하는 것으로 나타났다. 북한이탈주민은 교육을 통해 개인적 이동성(individual mobility)을 확보할 수 있다고 생각하고 있으며, 북한 출신 실무자가 고향에 대해 가지고 있는 생각, 남북을 잇는 역할에 대한 의식은 사회적 창조성(social creativity)의 영역이라 할 수 있다, 또한 사회적 경쟁(social competition)의 측면에서 북한 출신 실무자들은 본인들이 북한이탈주민을 잘 이해하고 있기때문에 남한 출신 실무자들과는 차별화 된다고 이야기한다. 한편, 북한 출신 실무자들에게 내집단 갈등 요인은 북한이탈주민으로부터 무시를 받거나, 정착지원 업무에 대한 북한이탈주민의 권력적 접근인 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 북한 출신 실무자들은 내집단 갈등 요인보다 지원대상자에 대한 욕구 충족 요인을 더 중요하게 인식함으로써 갈등을 극복하는 것으로 나타났다.
따라서 이 연구의 의의는 다음과 같다.
첫째, 북한 출신 실무자들에게 직업은 생계 수단만이 아니라, 업무에 대한 의미 부여를 통해 자신의 소명 의식을 발전시키고, 심리적 긍정성이 높아지는 가치 있는 도구가 된다는 것을 발견했다. 둘째, 북한 출신 실무자를 통해 북한이탈주민이 도움만 받는 수혜자가 아니라 도움을 주는 서비스 제공자가 될 수 있음을 확인했다. 셋째, 경계인적 성격을 가지고 있는 북한 출신 실무자는 고향을 생각하고, 남북을 잇는 경계인적 사고로 창조적 영역을 만들어 낼 수 있음을 확인하였다.
이에 본 연구에서는 북한이탈주민의 자기 긍정성 및 집단 긍정성 향상을 위해 북한 출신 실무자들을 적극 활용할 필요가 있으며, 북한 출신 실무자들이 긍정적인 심리 수준을 유지할 수 있도록 역량강화 및 소진대응 교육이 중요함을 시사하고 있다.

In this study, the characteristics of workers from North Korea who provide care services as part of resettlement support for North Korean refugees in South Korea were identified. To that end, the psychological level and perception of resettlement support workers from North Korea as care workers, as well as perceptions of in-group care, were analyzed.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether psychologically positive traits are more likely to appear among caregivers who share a similar origin or life background as the people they care for. Furthermore, how these positive characteristics function in the in-group care process was also explored.

This study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative methods included an online survey that was conducted and analyzed for a total of 155 participants, including North Korean resettlement support workers and a control group of South Korean resettlement support workers. Specifically, 49 of the resettlement workers who participated in this survey were from North Korea, with the remaining 106 participants from South Korea. The qualitative survey was conducted with 10 resettlement support workers from North Korea who had been working as resettlement support workers for more than three years.

The main research results of this study are as follows.
First, the results showed that the psychological level of resettlement support workers from North Korea as care workers was more positive than that of resettlement support workers from South Korea. Resettlement support workers from North Korea were able to incorporate their own experience with resettlement in their support work. As such, it was analyzed that the more positive psychological levels of workers from North Korea was because they had a higher level of understanding of North Korean refugees receiving support, thus enhancing the sense of effectiveness of their work when compared to their South Korean counterparts.

Upon analyzing the psychological characteristics of occupational self-efficacy, a sense of calling, resilience, and burnout according to demographic variables, the results confirmed that, rather than income level, level of education was a determining variable for significant differences in the psychological factors of resettlement support workers from North Korea. It was found that workers from North Korea tended to find their career paths through their education and had positive psychological experiences, such as finding meaning to their jobs.
As a result of analyzing the differences in psychological levels of occupational self-efficacy, a sense calling, resilience, and burnout by country of origin like North Korea or South Korea, the results showed significant differences based on this variable in occupational self-efficacy and burnout. When comparing the psychological level of resettlement support workers from North Korea with that of their South Korean counterparts, the results demonstrated that the former experienced higher levels of occupational self-efficacy, a sense of calling, and resilience were high, while also experiencing lower levels of.

The reasoning for such results could be due to the fact that resettlement support workers from North Korea shared many psychological characteristics, such as closeness, sympathy, deep understanding, and finding meaning, with the resettlement support recipients they cared for, thus increasing their occupational self-efficacy throughout the course of their work. Also, it was found that workers from North Korea experienced positive experiences in the workplace through mentoring, positive feedback, social support, and career development pursuits and achievements. In this way, a virtuous cycle structure between care service providers and recipients was found to help in maintaining a positive psychological state, thus having the capacity to improve the qualities of care services and increase work efficiency.

The results also showed that resettlement support workers from North Korea incorporate introspection, social distancing, seeking help from experts, and religious methods to strengthen their resilience. In other words, in order to fulfill their duties as caregivers, they focused on building their internal capacities through various methods of self-care in an effort to strengthen their resilience. As such, it was found that workers from North Korea experienced less burnout at work than their South Korean counterparts.
Independent variables that describe occupational self-efficacy include factors such as resilience, a sense of calling, and burnout. These three independent variables acted interdependently to determine the degree of occupational self-efficacy. For the purpose of this study, the variables that could best explain the occupational self-efficacy of care service practitioners by country of origin were examined. The results showed that, for workers from North Korea, occupational self-efficacy was best defined by one’s sense of calling, while for workers from South Korea, occupational self-efficacy was best defined by resilience.

A sense of calling was found to have high explanatory power for self-efficacy among workers from North Korea due to North Korea’s system of educating its citizens that individuals must devote themselves to the group. Also, this can be interpreted as the internalizing of religious values, such as the meaning of life and altruism, through religious experiences throughout the course of defection and resettlement in South Korean society. Furthermore, there were many cases where they discovered their calling and work as caregivers while undergoing the process of education and employment in South Korea as part of their resettlement.

Second, when considering the characteristics of in-group care, resettlement support workers from North Korea were found to feel a sense of belonging to the in-group because they closely identified with North Korean defectors and, thus, made an effort to have a sense of positivity toward the in-group. And they made an effort to differentiate themselves from their South Korean counterparts.

Social identity theory suggests that there are three strategies that play a role in feeling positivity toward the in-group: individual mobility, social creativity, and social competition. The results of this study found that resettlement support workers from North Korea also demonstrated this same perception in improving a sense of positivity within the group of North Korean refugees.

Regarding individual mobility, considering the low social status of North Korean defectors, one would consider it necessary for them to build the capacity to improve their social status, but North Korean refugees were found to think that such mobility can be secured through education. Social creativity does not change financial resources, rather, it emphasizes uniqueness and encourages positive differentiation through reevaluation. When it comes to perceptions of their hometown, North Koreans were found to think differently from their South Korean counterparts regarding their hometown and the role that connects the two Koreas. Social competition, even that which is conducted over a short span of time, creates discriminatory behavior in favor of the in-group. The results of the study showed that North Korean resettlement support workers believed they differed from South Korean workers because they understood North Korean defectors well. This phenomenon is unique in that the minority group of North Korean refugees can establish a cooperative relationship at an equal level, in terms of social status, with South Korean workers.
Meanwhile, regarding in-group care, in-group favoritism do not come without in-group conflicts. In-group conflict between workers from North Korea and North Korean refugees was found to be often caused by disdain and access to power. Intimacy in in-group conflict creates feelings of love and hate at the same time, thus resulting in more intense conflicts than those with the out-group. However, despite the element of in-group conflict between workers from North Korea and North Korean refugees, resettlement support tasks were found to help overcome such conflicts because the sense of satisfying the needs of care service recipients is greater than factors of in-group conflict.

Taking the result of this study into consideration, the significance of this study is as follows.
First, the results can help in changing occupational perspectives on North Korean defectors. North Korean resettlement support workers who conduct resettlement support tasks for North Korean refugees did not regard their job as a means of livelihood but, rather, developed a sense of calling by finding meaning in their work, thus enhancing a positive psychological mindset. As such, when connecting North Korean refugees with jobs, it was found that the process can be approached from various aspects, such as personal trait and development of self-identity, rather than simply as a means of resettlement. Furthermore, the results showed that a more positive situation can be created when help is given by individuals who were born in the same place or come from a similar background as the recipients of that help.
Second, the results of this study are significant in that they can change the image of North Korean defectors. This study offers an opportunity to think about North Korean refugees not only as recipients of aid, but also as service providers who offer such aid. Resettlement support workers from North Korea offer care services while working in equal positions as workers from South Korea. In fact, such workers from North Korea were found to exhibit positive self-awareness, self-esteem, and satisfaction with their work. The experiences of these workers were found to have a positive impact on both the in-group and their South Korean counterparts. Since they were able to overcome the hardships of their past and achieve change and growth, resettlement support workers from North Korea had a positive influence on the in-group by setting a good example. Furthermore, they also helped create an environment for South Koreans to improve their perception of North Korean refugees.

Third, through resettlement support workers from North Korea, this study offers new interpretations of the personality of North Korean refugees as marginal man. While thinking about the hometowns that they left, resettlement support workers from North Korea conduct their tasks in the hope that North Korean refugees will settle well in South Korean society and contribute to their hometown in the future. Perhaps this personality is the factor that allows North Korean refugees to have a perspective on the future, while also maintaining a perspective on the present and their current work. In addition, when considering the division between North and South Korea, resettlement support workers from North Korea, with a sense of duty and ethical responsibility as North Korean defectors, believe that they play a role in connecting the two Koreas. These qualities serve as the basis for offering creative alternatives in the resettlement support process when collaborating with South Korean workers.
Moving forward, the implications of this study are as follows.
First, social integration can be experienced through the common goal shared by resettlement workers from both North and South Korea: helping North Korean refugees resettle in South Korean society. Resettlement workers from both Koreas play a role in supporting North Korean refugees achieve their goal of living as democratic citizens and acting members of society. In this way, cooperating in an equal relationship with a common goal serves as an experience of social integration. To this end, it is necessary to train more resettlement support workers from North Korea and increase their presence in the workplace.

Second, the results of this study found that it is necessary to strengthen professional capacities as resettlement workers through various job training in order to overcome burnout, maintain a positive psychological state, and increase occupational self-efficacy. It is also important to strengthen internal capacities through various training programs, such as supervision and resilience-building activities.