이북5도 전북특별자치도사무소는 9월 6일 전주시 효자동 파티원에서 ‘북한이탈주민 가족결연 만남의 광장’ 행사와 *‘함북명예도민증 수여식’*을 개최했다.

이번 행사에는 기존에 가족결연을 맺은 전북 이북도민과 북한이탈주민 50여 명이 참석해 따뜻한 교류의 시간을 가졌으며, 전북 지역 각계 인사 18명이 이북5도 함경북도 명예도민증을 수여받았다.

특히 우범기 전주시장이 명예도민증을 받은 가운데, 그는 “이북도민과 북한이탈주민의 아픔을 함께하며 통일 그날까지 봉사를 다하겠다”고 소감을 전했다.

가족결연사업은 남한 사회에 정착 중인 북한이탈주민이 이북도민과 가족처럼 교류하며 안정적으로 정착할 수 있도록 돕는 제도로, 전북에는 현재 약 13만 명의 이북도민이 거주하고 있다.

조성율 이북5도 전북사무소장은 “이날 함께해주신 실향민과 북한이탈주민, 내외빈 여러분께 감사드린다”며 “김관영 도지사의 부인이자 황해도 실향민 2세이신 제2기 봉사단장님의 참여도 깊이 감사드린다”고 밝혔다.

한편, 이북5도 전북사무소는 하반기에도 안보탐방, 망향제, 통일염원 고향만남의 날, 통일김치 담그기 등 다양한 교류 프로그램을 전북특별자치도와 협력해 이어갈 계획이다.

On September 6th, the North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province Office in Jeonju, South Korea, held an event called the 'Plaza of Meeting for Families of North Korean Defectors' and the '*Honorary Citizen Award Ceremony for Hamgyeong Province*' at the Partywon in Hyoja-dong, Jeonju.

At this event, around 50 North Korean defectors who had previously formed family ties with residents of North Jeolla Province attended, enjoying a warm exchange. Additionally, 18 prominent figures from the North Jeolla region were awarded the honorary citizenship of Hamgyeong Province in the North Korean region.

Particularly, Mayor Woo Beom-gi of Jeonju received the honorary citizenship award and expressed his thoughts, saying, "I will serve until the day of reunification, sharing the pain of North Korean defectors and North Jeolla residents."

The family connection program is a system that helps North Korean defectors who are settling in South Korean society to stabilize by interacting with North Jeolla residents as if they were family. Currently, there are approximately 130,000 North Jeolla residents living in the province.

Director Jo Seong-yul of the North Jeolla Office of the North 5 Provinces stated, "I thank the expatriates, North Korean defectors, and all the guests who joined us today," and added, "I deeply appreciate the participation of the second-term volunteer team leader, Kim Kwan-young, the wife of Governor Kim Gwan-young and a second-generation expatriate from Hwanghae Province."

Furthermore, the North Jeolla Office of the North 5 Provinces plans to continue various exchange programs in cooperation with the North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province in the second half of the year, including security exploration, longing festivals, reunification wish hometown meetings, and making unified kimchi.