March 24, 2023
Ask A North Korean

Settling in Seoul: The biggest struggles in understanding South Korean society 

North Korea does not allow diversity of opinion, making liberal South Korea – especially online culture – hard to grasp

“Settling in Seoul” is a new NK News series in which North Korean defectors share their experiences adapting to life in South Korea.

In this week’s column, Sersong Han — who lived in North Korea until he defected in 2014 — writes about his time at the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees, better known as Hanawon.