As of March 2017, 30,490 North Korean refugees resided in South Korea, with numbers growing each year. There is growing concern that feelings of alienation and isolation seem to be key features of their lives. Using an occupational perspective, this study aimed to explore how they participate in South Korean society. Grounded theory methodology guided data-gathering, through 10 semi-structured interviews conducted in South Korea, and data analysis.Findings were that despite ethnic homogeneity, participants experienced challenges associated with their North Korean identity, which affect their educational experiences and social mobility. To avoid stigma, participants learn to behave like South Koreans, which provides a pathway to social integration and access to proving their usefulness for the reunification of North and South Korea. This study provides an evidence of the deep impact of societal factors on their resettlement, and suggests a possible role of South Korean educators in promoting multicultural education.