June 09, 2023
Ask A North Korean

Settling in Seoul: How a North Korean defector found a second family on Chuseok

The joy of the holiday mingles with sadness of family separation for those who can’t visit hometowns and loved ones

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

Joshua Kim (a pseudonym) — who was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until he defected in 2019 — writes about what it’s like to celebrate the traditional fall holiday of Chuseok as a defector.