Seoul South Korea 2025

Ju I’ll Lyong (Ian)
Chungjean

discuss the Controversial Topic of life in North
Korea—and the second-class treatment of
defectors who make it to South Korea.
As an isolationist, dictatorship regime, North
Korea frequently tops the lists of countries
with the worst human rights violations. In
fact, a survey conducted from 2015 to 2018 by
the Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working
Group found that three out of four North
Korean defectors had personally experienced
physical violence or the death of a close
family member before choosing to flee the
state. In North Korea, even the smallest of
crimes—such as watching a Hollywood film,
speaking negatively about the government,
or making unauthorized international phone
calls—are punishable by torture, prison, or
death (for both the perpetrator and their
families). Detention in concentration camps
and forced starvation are not uncommon. Even
those North Koreans who manage to escape the
ire of their government are subjected to harsh
lives of scarcity, oppression, and the absence
of technological advancements. Most North
Koreans, for example, do not have access to the
Internet.
We’ll hear about what life in North Korea is
like firsthand during a conversation with a
defector who made the perilous journey across
the border. Sadly, for many defectors, the
hardships continue even south of the border.
Discrimination against North Koreans is
common, making it difficult for defectors to
obtain jobs and access to medical care. Often,
they are treated as second-class citizens in
their new homes. In a recent poll conducted
by the National Human Rights Commission of
Korea, around 50% of defectors claimed that
they experienced discrimination from their
South Korean neighbors. Our Trip Experience
Leader can help provide cultural context to
explain how attitudes towards these defectors
have developed over time.

HBS= Human Banking System
Balloons with Bibles being dropped in N Korea. N Korean government sending trash balloons back to S Korea. Balloons with Bibles sent to awaken the common people. N Koreans are taught to hate Americans.
Forced to look happy in videos. If they show displeasure with government they would be killed.

North Korean defectors are individuals who illegally leave North Korea, primarily motivated by political, economic, and personal reasons, and their journey is often dangerous and complex, with many facing hardship in their new lives. While North Korean defectors can seek asylum and often receive South Korean citizenship and initial support upon arrival, integration can be challenging due to discrimination, culture shock, and financial difficulties. The regime in North Korea denounces defectors and punishes them, sometimes even extending punishment to their families.

Motivations for Defection
Political and Human Rights:
Many defectors report witnessing human rights abuses, forced labor, and a lack of political freedoms within North Korea.
Economic Hardship:
Economic instability and widespread starvation in North Korea drive people to seek better opportunities and stability abroad.
Personal Reasons:
Individuals may have personal motivations, such as reuniting with family members who have previously defected, or simply a desire for a different life and freedom.

Kim Jong Un[b] (born 8 January 1983 or 1984)[c] is a North Korean politician and dictator who has served as the third supreme leader of North Korea since 2011 and general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) since 2012.[d] He is the third son of Kim Jong Il, who was the second supreme leader, and a grandson of Kim Il Sung, the founder and first supreme leader of North Korea.Läs mer