“Settling in Seoul” is an NK News series featuring interviews with and columns by North Korean defectors, most of whom left the DPRK within the last few years.

Readers may submit their questions for defectors by emailing [email protected] and including their first name and city of residence.

Idam, a pseudonym for a defector who left North Korea in 2019 and entered the South a year later, reflects on the challenges she faced after starting university later than most of her peers. 

Got a question for Idam or other defectors? Email it to [email protected] with your name and city. We’ll be