As South Korea awaits a crucial ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment set for Friday, North Korean defectors find themselves at odds over his leadership. Some see him as a defender of human rights and freedom, while others worry his recent actions — like declaring martial law — threaten South Korea’s democratic values. 

As the political crisis unfolds, the defector community, now numbering around 34,000, is divided on what democracy in South Korea should truly look like and how inclusive its political system is for those who escaped North Korea.

Ji-hyun Park, a defector and human rights advocate based