Social entrepreneurs are offering the defector community something rare: opportunities that are tailored for the difficulties they face in their lives. And with a business model focused on North Koreans, this kind of entrepreneurship is providing an alternative to the intense world of South Korean capitalism.

Kim Jeong-tae is CEO of an “impact investing” and consulting company, Merry Year Social Company (MYSC). MYSC invests in two social enterprises related to North Korean defectors – investments that other companies tend to avoid because of the low short-term return on investment.

MYSC was established in 2011 by stakeholders who wanted to put emphasis on