Purpose: This study assessed the growth and nutritional status of children in North Korean (NK) refugee families.

Methods: This study examined 301 children in NK refugee families. Their growth and nutritional status were estimated using the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart for Children and Adolescents. Stunting, being underweight, and wasting were defined as height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ) z -scores < –2.0, respectively.

Results: The overall prevalences of stunting, being underweight, and wasting were 7.6%, 5.6%, and 5.0%, respectively. In children living in South Korea for <5 years, the prevalences of stunting, being underweight, and wasting were 10.3%, 8.6%, and 3.4%, respectively, compared to 7.9%, 7.9%, and 0.0% for those living in South Korea for ≥5 years. The prevalences of WAZ and WHZ > 2.0 were 5.0% and 11.0%, respectively.

Conclusion: Children in NK refugee families still suffer serious malnutrition after settling in South Korea, although being overweight is emerging as a new problem.