In August 2016, a North Korean diplomat defected
to South Korea, reportedly out of disgust
for his country’s government and leader
Kim Jong-Un.
It is extremely rare for North Korean citizens,
much less high ranking officials, to flee
the country, as harsh punishments are imposed
on those who are caught trying, as well as
their families back home.
Nevertheless, it does happen.
So how does someone defect from North Korea,
and what happens to those who do?
Well, a “defector” is someone who flees
to an enemy country, which for North Korea,
is basically anywhere outside its borders.
Although leaving North Korea without permission
is illegal and the country maintains rigid
border controls, hundreds of thousands of
North Koreans have successfully defected since
the mid 20th century.
Most escape through the country’s shared
border with China.
Under Chinese law, North Korean defectors
are considered illegal economic migrants,
and must be returned to their home country,
regardless of whatever punishments await them.
So, many continue onto a third country, but
some stay and hide in China.
An estimated 200,000 North Koreans are believed
to be secretly living in China today.
Alternately, many defectors seek asylum in
South Korea.
According to government estimates, roughly
29,000 North Koreans have resettled in the
South since the end of the Korean War in 1953.
For decades, South Korea was very accommodating
of these asylum-seekers.
In the early 1960’s the country provided
an allowance, stable employment and housing
for defectors.
But through a series of reforms in the 1990’s
these privileges were curtailed, and in 2004
the South Korean government reduced financial
aid for asylum-seekers by nearly two-thirds.
North Korea has accused the South of explicitly
encouraging their citizens to defect, however
South Korea has denied such claims.
Perhaps surprisingly, roughly 80 percent of
North Korean defectors are women.
A 2013 study found that women tend to suffer
the most from poverty and economic hardship,
one of the driving forces of emigration.
Male defectors, on the other hand, cited political
or ideological reasons.
Given all the reasons to flee North Korea,
and all the risks defectors take to escape,
it may come as a surprise that some end up
voluntary moving back.
These “double defectors” are known to
return for a range of reasons.
Most commonly, feelings of marginalization
and a lack of opportunity in their new country.
North Korea is known to punish any escapee
to years of hard labor in prison camps or
execution.
However In 2013, Kim Jong Un announced that
defectors would be welcomed back into the
country, and in some cases even offered cash
and an opportunity to share their experience
on state-run TV.
Ironically, many defectors in South Korea
are already semi-celebrities, as they regularly
appear on talk shows and reality TV.
In the end, a defector’s fate largely depends
on their destination.
Countries that are culturally western, like
the United States, Canada, and much of Europe,
tend to be more accommodating than others.
But wherever North Korean defectors land,
it’s probably better than where they came
from.
