If I’d had the chance to speak with them, I would have told them the truth [about inter-Korean history] and warned them that they could eventually face punishment from the North Korean regime, simply because they had already experienced life in the South" says Mr Lee
Given the rest of the article, it seems that the current SK president is trying to play nice with NK and isn’t exposing these drifters to historical facts. I still doubt they and their families will have a good time back home.
I hear life in South Korea is pretty bleak these days. But is it really worse than a North Korean gulag?
I saw a video about a support group for NK defectors in SK.
The main reasons for some people regret leaving NK were:
- They were born and raised in a rural environment without any technology and in SK you must know to use a digital device for almost all jobs.
- They miss family, friends, their environment, etc. They are now in a very strange place without the people from their lives.
- Some are treated as second class citizens, targeted cause being tech illiterate and having a noticeable different accent.
So it’s almost like time travel…
The stories are, that your family will be punished horribly, if you escape.
They’re going straight to the gulag aren’t they?
Probably not, they’ll be watched for the rest of their lives but might also live pretty well, they’ll be paraded around as examples of why leaving isn’t even worth it, these people tasted the outside and ‘came back to beautiful best korea’
Oh it’s almost like all we hear about north Korea is propaganda…
You should watch the documentary “Under the Sun”. North Korea agreed to let the director film with the understanding he would follow their directions, almost to the point of following a script. However he secretly kept filming. It’s pretty fascinating. https://imdb.com/title/tt5129818/
Visit, have a nice holiday there. Send us pictures.
Full disclosure the channel is left leaning, and I do not agree with all they say, but they have cool videos.
I hear they are opening that beach front tourist spot right? Sounds like a good time to visit. Maybe explore the rest of the country while you’re there
If I did, I’d be arrested. By America. Because its illegal for american citizens to travel there without state department approval.
Land of the free huh :)
Go there for a warm bier and tell us how your trip was.
