Ask A North Korean
Your chance to ask questions to North Koreans about life growing up in the DPRK
Settling in Seoul: How was the education center for new North Korean defectors?
The Hanawon resettlement facility helps new arrivals adjust to South Korean life, but not all defectors like going there
Ask a North Korean: Was there a specific experience that drove you to defect?
A defector describes how imprisonment by secret police separated her from family but strengthened her resolve to live
Ask a North Korean: What is the process for getting a loan in North Korea?
While the national bank does not provide loans, there are other ways to borrow money for business endeavors
Ask a North Korean: When did you first begin to consider defecting?
A young woman recounts the series of events that drove her to rethink her life in the DPRK
Ask a North Korean: Is it possible to get plastic surgery in North Korea?
Double eyelid surgery and cosmetic tattoos are popular, but such illegal medical procedures carry serious risks
Ask a North Korean: What was it like to vote for the first time in South Korea?
Joshua Kim explains the DPRK’s electoral process and why voters there don’t really have a choice
Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans think about different car brands?
Defector from an elite family explains the DPRK’s love of foreign cars, why so many drive wood-powered vehicles and more
Ask a North Korean: What stereotypes do defectors encounter in South Korea?
Capitalist South Korea requires an entirely new mindset from the socialist North, a source of friction for new defectors
Ask a North Korean: What North Korean brands do you miss the most?
The DPRK’s socialist system results in little brand awareness, but certain companies and products still stand out
Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans get a driver’s license?
Fuel shortages mean most get little driving practice before hitting the road, but there are ways to cheat the system
