Each year, hundreds of North Koreans defect from the country and seek refuge in other places. It is extremely difficult to make the journey and comes with several risks to not only oneself but any family and friends that remain.
North Korean Defector Exposes The Brutal Torture Their Families Face After Their Escape
However, even after escaping the country, there are still dangers. One woman told of her escape and how the hands of those supposed to help her led to a nearly 20-year-long nightmare.
Right after finishing high school, a woman identified as Chae Ran made plans to escape the country after being assigned a job at a coal mine. Seeing other defectors cross the river into China encouraged her and a friend to contact a broker to help arrange the journey out of the country.
Honestly, they seemed poorer than my family. The houses in the village were made from mud and stones, and the windows didn’t have glass but thin paper.
— Chae Ran describing her new circumstances
Chae Ran became pregnant within eight weeks of her arrival, and she stated her “husband” was not “bad” but that she was forced to obey him. After the birth of her son, Chae Ran seemingly accepted her new fate.
An unrelated photo of a “mud home” similar to the one Chae Ran lived in. | Anthony Kuhn/NPR
There were even more issues for the woman due to her undocumented status. Because her “husband” and his family did not want to pay for a resident permit, Chae Ran remained fearful police would arrest and deport her back to North Korea.
I lived in China, but I didn’t exist as a person.
— Chae Ran
Her situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic when mandatory tests and health QR codes linked to IDs made it impossible for her to leave home for fear of detection.
A train passenger having their ID-linked heath code checked. | Xinhua
It wasn’t until April 2023 that Chae Ran escaped with other refugees, leaving her then 16-year-old son behind as he previously expressed no desire to leave. A long journey led them to Thailand, where they were detained until a South Korean embassy helped them make it to the country.
Since arriving in South Korea, the government has aided Chae Ran in supporting herself, and she was given identification papers for the first time in almost two decades. Chae Ran was also able to get in contact with her son and hopes to visit him one day in the future.
Chae Ran in her new home in South Korea. | Yoonjung Seo/CNN
Despite the issues she may face, Chae Ran is glad to be free after all these years.
I’m aware of discrimination against people like me in this society, but no matter how bad that is, it will be much better than living in China.
— Chae Ran
Check out some of the culture shocks North Korean defectors have experienced below.
North Korean Defectors Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They’ve Experienced Living In South Korea
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