For many, the journey is arduous. As the border between the two Koreas is one of the most militarized in the world, almost all defectors first flee to China until they can scrape together enough money to reach a third country, such as Thailand. They can then seek asylum in South Korea, which grants them citizenship after a security check.
Their resettlement should in theory be easier because they are settling in a country with a common language, culture and traditions. But North Korea's decades of isolation and lack of uncensored information have caused a deep rift with South Korea.
Once the North Koreans arrive, South Korea offers initial funding of 9 million won (6,900), job training and subsidies to employers for hiring defectors. Many live next to each other in cheap apartment buildings, often 25 square meter "rental apartments" provided by the government.
When support is lacking, they must support themselves, which often leads to disastrous results.
The unemployment rate for defectors is about twice the national average. Many older defectors retain a North Korean accent, which makes them stand out whenever they speak. Others carry scars such as psychological trauma or physical problems such as lung damage from mining coal in dangerous mines and without protective gear.
Nearly 90% of defectors in Seoul reported having difficulty settling into their new homes after a decade, according to a 2022 study by the Seoul Institute. North Korean defectors between 2017 and 2021 experienced suicidal impulses more than double the rate of the South Korean population, which is already among the highest in the world, according to a survey by the Seoul Institute.
In some cases, departure can prove fatal for family members who do not flee. Lee, who defected to South Korea in 2017 and only gave her last name for security reasons, could only afford to take one of her sons with her. When North Korean authorities discovered his defection, they beat his eldest son to death.
“I’m so alone,” Lee said. "I want to go back and die there. South Korea is as stifling as the North."
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