This study is a qualitative research conducted to identify the core theme and essence of the North Korean defector youths by intensively exploring the experience of adapting to school life in South Korea.

The participants were 11 young people of 20∼25 year olds who had attended middle and high school in South Korea. The data was collected through focus group interviews and analyzed by content analysis.

The results found 5 clusters of theme, 14 themes, 34 categories. The 5 clusters of theme were ‘Astonishment in a new country’, ‘Hard to bear existential pain’, ‘Desperate struggles to survive’, ‘Two-facedness of support inside and outside of school’, ‘Unfinished burden of reality’.

This research suggest that practical ways to help the youths such as authentic approaches, necessary information and material support, support for making friends and friendship, providing college admission information and support, parent training and mentoring.