Ask A North Korean
Your chance to ask questions to North Koreans about life growing up in the DPRK
Ask a North Korean: How do you talk to friends and family back home?
Defectors from border areas can arrange calls when sending money, but it’s more difficult for those from Pyongyang
Ask a North Korean: Do North Koreans go to the dentist?
A defector explains why many must procure their own implants, the growing popularity of teeth whitening and more
Ask a North Korean: How bright lights in China inspired a defection
‘You cannot change where you were born, but you can choose where you live’
Settling in Seoul: The best and worst aspects of life as a North Korean defector
Separation from family and fast pace of life in South are challenging, but freedom from want and fear are irreplaceable
Settling in Seoul: The biggest struggles in understanding South Korean society
North Korea does not allow diversity of opinion, making liberal South Korea – especially online culture – hard to grasp
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
