Settling in Seoul: How have you changed 10 years after escaping North Korea?

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Settling in Seoul: How have you changed 10 years after escaping North Korea?

Without friends or family, one defector reached a breaking point before resolving to build a life he could be proud of

David June 28, 2023

Settling in Seoul: How have you changed 10 years after escaping North Korea?

A North Korean man on a subway in Sept. 2015 | Image: NK News

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

David — who was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until he defected in 2012 — writes about his first decade in South Korea, how he overcame extreme loneliness, graduated college and built a life he is proud of.

About the Author

David

David is from Hamhung Province in North Korea. When he was younger, he was a footballer and later joined the North Korean army. In the army, David was deployed to the front lines and crossed the DMZ to South Korea in 2012. He graduated from university in South Korea and currently works as PR manager for North Korean human rights organization NAUH.

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