A Study on the Challenges and Improvement Strategies for Special University Admission Procedures for North Korean Defector College Students

This study analyzed the collegiate experiences of North Korean defector students admitted via special admissions, scrutinized the challenges of this system, and proposed enhancements. Employing a qualitative case study approach, it involved 10 defector students and 6 experts, including professors and field specialists, totaling 16 participants. Data from Focus Group Interviews (FGI) highlighted six themes across two categories about the special admissions process challenges. The first category showed the positive impact of special admissions, such as facilitating university entry for defectors, enhancing their social capital, and aiding integration into Korean society. The second category focused on challenges like academic gaps, anxiety over their special admission status, and career choice difficulties. These findings, compared with previous research, underscored three main issues with the special admissions system. The study suggests improvements to better support North Korean defector students.