North Korean Resettlement

Remembering and Visiting North Korean Men in Prison

Our work is rooted in a specific mission: helping and sustaining North Korean refugee women and their children. But on a recent trip to South Korea, one of our staffers was given a rare opportunity to see a side of the refugee experience we don’t often encounter—incarcerated North Korean refugee men in South Korea.

Our visit that day was to Daejeon Prison, the largest correctional facility in South Korea, holding an estimated 6,000 inmates. Our staffer was accompanying “Pastor Y”, a man who regularly traveled all over South Korea to visit eight or nine prisons throughout South Korea and meet with North Korean refugee men. Before entering, they stopped at a local store to buy several boxes of Choco-Pies—a small gesture of humanity for men living in a world of stark realities.

Daejeon Correctional Facility

Inside, we learned, life is contained and isolating. Men are housed four to six per room, and these other faces become their entire world for the length of their sentences. A small lifeline of grace is provided through another ministry, which provides North Korean inmates with what prisoners jokingly call "payday"—a monthly stipend of 30,000 to 50,000 KRW (about $25-$40) for snacks and toiletries. It’s enough to create excitement for recipients and their cell mates, who often receive the fringe benefits of this monthly gift.

In a small, cluttered conference room, our staffer and Pastor Y spent the next two hours meeting with three men, each carrying the weight of a journey that didn't end when they reached freedom.

Incarcerated North Korean Refugee Men

The first was a tall, remorseful man who took what ended up being a harrowing 20-day trek through China, Laos and Thailand (referred to as the “10,000 kilometer journey” which speaks to the total distance traveled from North Korea to South Korea) with his wife several years before. They had built a stable life in South Korea, with the addition of two sons, now 8 and 10. He found steady work and a community of North Korean soccer league. But one night, after a game and dinner, a single, regrettable decision to try drugs with the group led to a police bust. He now spends his days in jail, holding onto letters from his wife, sons, and even his former boss, who has promised to rehire him upon his release in October 2026. Every weekend, his wife and boys make the six-hour round trip to see him. He told us he begs them not to come, pained by the burden he has placed on them, but they never fail to show up—a testament to a love that survives prison walls.

Next, we met a young man of 20. He had arrived in South Korea at 14 with his sister, following their parents who had already defected and settled in South Korea. He spoke without a trace of a North Korean accent, a kid who seemed to have assimilated well. But he was serving a five-year sentence for acting as a drug mule. By other North Korean contacts, he had been sent to Cambodia to bring back a package, and the police were waiting for him the moment he landed at Incheon. He seemed like a good kid caught in a terrible situation, and he expressed his thankfulness that he was caught on his first attempt and had never used the drugs himself. The prison worker who monitored us remarked to all of us in that room that if he hadn't been stopped then, his life surely would have been ruined.

Finally, an older man of 45 sat before us, a deep chip on his shoulder. He defected first with the hopes of bringing the rest of his family once he had settled in South Korea. This man believes his wife and daughter may still be alive in North Korea, but he has no way of knowing. After arriving in the South, he paid the same broker who helped him escape to get a phone and money to his family. The broker vanished, and so did his hope. He spoke of the prejudice he faced for his North Korean heritage, which led to fights and, ultimately, his incarceration. He was preparing to serve an extra 90 days to work off the debt from damages caused in a bar fight—a debt paid at a rate of 100,000 KRW per day of added time. He mentioned he was looking forward to the work of a lawyer who promised a retrial, and Pastor Y’s concern was immediate. Recognizing the hallmarks of a scam, the pastor gently steered him away, providing him with a list of reputable churches and other ministries in South Korea, as trustworthy resources for  looking into the validity of a retrial and even attempting to get information about his wife and daughter.

I was in prison and you came to visit me.
— Matthew 25:36b (ESV)

As we met with each man, Pastor Y actively took notes including writing down the names and numbers of the men’s wives and children. It sounded like he had tried contacting one of the wives after his last visit three months ago without success, but he would try again. It was amazing to see that this ministry doesn't end at the prison gate. He visits the families, offers support to the wives, and helps care for the children left behind. It was effectively a family ministry that reached far beyond these incarcerated North Korean men. The choices these men made, whether out of desperation, foolishness, or trauma, created ripple effects that directly impact the women and children we serve. The trip was a reminder that the journey to freedom is complex, and for some, the greatest challenges begin long after they’ve crossed the border. While Crossing Borders is experienced in caring for women in difficult circumstances, it was eye opening to see firsthand a lesser known population of refugees, grappling with a different kind of imprisonment, and the quiet, crucial work being done to hold their families together.

Hanawon City Tour of Seoul for North Korean Refugees

It is a scene that I will remember for a long time. As new refugees in South Korea – all women – and the volunteers of the event parted in tears as the bus took the refugees back to Hanawon. It was as if they were together for a whole week, but in reality it was only a few hours. 

North Korean refugees board a bus headed back to Hanawon after their city tour.

I have had the privilege of meeting North Korean refugees on many stages of their journey to freedom. Many stand out in my mind, but in March, I got to witness something special. It was the first day that North Koreans arriving in South Korea were allowed out of their cocoon at Hanawon. The event was hosted by a church in Seoul. Each refugee was assigned a “buddy,” or older South Korean woman from the host church.

The Resettlement Process

In their first months in South Korea, North Koreans are not afforded the freedom to explore their new country. They must pass a strict interview process conducted by South Korean intelligence to ensure they are not spies. Then they go to Hanawon, which is a facility where they learn the basics of South Korean life. They learn about democracy, receive job training, and are given comprehensive medical care in this 12-week program. During this crash course on how to live in the free world, they are gradually immersed into “regular” life on days like the one I witnessed. 

As we waited for the groups to return from their day out learning how to use public transportation, going to a grocery store, and venturing into other shops, our team from Crossing Borders went to a nearby cafe. After spending a few minutes at this cafe, we saw some women from this refugee group enter the same cafe. The business specialized in dessert waffles and the women seemed intrigued at the menu. 

After their time out, we all gathered at the host church. I was given the opportunity to speak to this group to introduce them to Crossing Borders and the services we provide in South Korea. But before I got into the details, I told them a story about how, just that morning, my colleague and I got on the wrong bus and were confused about paying for our ride. I assured them that it is okay to not know everything in their new country and that, eventually, they’ll be pros.

Returning to Hanawon

The church group was kind enough to give each woman gifts for their new lives in South Korea: pots and pans they can use in their new apartments. As officials and pastors stood and gave brief remarks, refugees listened intently. Many held hands with their South Korean guides. It had the feel of parents teaching their children how to live on their own.

When it was time for them to go back to Hanawon, last goodbyes were said, accompanied by warm embraces and tears. It is against Hanawon policy for any of the volunteers to exchange contact information with the women they met. So for many, that would be the last time they would see their new friends. It made me think about the hard journey ahead for the refugee women. They were all filled with hopes, fears, and dreams, and these emotions were palpable to all who were there.

I prayed that they would remember this church, its volunteers and Crossing Borders if and when they faced hardship. It is simply not possible for those present at the event or even for the South Korean government to cover all of the needs of North Korean refugees resettling in South Korea. But God calls us to care for the vulnerable and love the lost. Whether that is a few days, a few months or many years in their new home, we hope to share the hope of Jesus to all North Korean refugees.

Top NK Headlines - March 2023

SOUTH KOREA TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS’ RESETTLEMENT

  • South Korea’s Ministry of Unification announced its plan to improve the level of support for North Korean defectors by raising the resettlement basic subsidy from 1 million won ($760 USD) to 9 million won ($6,840 USD) per one-person household and the one-time living expenses-related emergency financial assistance from 1 million won to 1.5 million won ($1,140 USD) per case.

  • Following the lonely death of a North Korean woman in Seoul, the ministry also plans to closely monitor some 1,200 defectors to proactively detect and address their difficulties and provide more psychological support.

  • According to a survey by Korea Hana Foundation, 17.9 percent of North Korean defectors are self-employed due to discrimination in South Korean companies. The survey also shows that the longer they have lived in the South, the higher the self-employment rate.

  • “People from North Korea find it difficult to adapt to the workplace culture in South Korea,” commented Seo Jae-pyong, president of the Association for North Korean Defectors.

Source:
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230316005100325
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/03/356_347048.html 

NORTH KOREA HELD MEETING ON FARMING AMID FOOD SHORTAGES

  • North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, discussed issues on agricultural stability and urged officials to meet grain production targets amid reports suggesting that the country is facing a serious shortfall of food.

  • South Korean lawmakers said that the North is facing an annual rice shortage of 800,000 tons, while a recent United Nations report estimated that 60 percent of the North Korean population suffered from food insecurity by the end of 2021 compared to 40 percent prior to the pandemic.

  • Kim called to increase yields at all farms and eradicate “internal factors that have [a] negative effect on the development of agriculture,” while declaring that “nothing is impossible” under the leadership of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party.

  • Since Pyongyang has opted for a strict pursuit of self-sufficiency, almost all of its grain is produced domestically and “Achieving adequate agricultural output in North Korea’s unfavorable soils has, ironically, generated heavy reliance on imported goods and left the country exposed to global shocks, diplomatic conflicts, and adverse weather,” explained 38 North, a U.S.-based monitoring project.

Source: 
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/3/2/north-koreas-kim-says-nothing-impossible-amid-grain-push 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/28/north-korea-food-shortages-kim-jong-un-agriculture-grain-targets-sanctions 
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-convenes-meeting-agricultural-stability-amid-food-shortage-woes-2023-03-15/ 

NORTH KOREA’S TREE PLANTING DAY ORDERS

  • North Korea ordered citizens to plant trees to commemorate the annual Tree Planting Day, which first began when the country’s founder, Kim Il-sung, planted a tree at Munsu Peak in 1947.

  • Ahead of Tree Planting Day, the authorities called on its people to mobilize workers, housewives and even students throughout North Pyongan province to ensure there is enough saplings for people to plant trees on that day.

  • According to a North Korea official, the Union of Agricultural Workers planted about 4,000 trees of nine species this year around the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Site, which was also the birthplace of Kim Il-sung.

  • The country used to celebrate Tree Planting Day on March 2 (North Korea’s equivalent of Arbor Day), but the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly issued an ordinance last year changing it to March 14. The ordinance explained that the historical date marks the day when Kim Il-sung called for a pan-national effort to restore forests destroyed by U.S. bombings during the Korean War.

Source:
https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-korea-calls-on-people-to-actively-engage-in-springtime-tree-planting/ 
https://www.scmp.com/video/asia/3213761/north-koreans-celebrate-annual-tree-planting-day-capital-pyongyang 

SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN MENDS TIES AFTER NORTH KOREA FIRES LONG RANGE MISSILE

  • South Korea’s Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in Tokyo to meet Japan’s Fumio Kishida hours after Pyongyang fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (“ICBM”) that flew about 1,000 kilometers landing in waters west of Japan.

  • North Korea last fired an ICBM less than a month ago and experts commented that such missiles are particularly worrying due to their long range that could potentially reach mainland United States.

  • Yoon’s trip marks the first visit by a South Korean leader to Japan in 12 years.

  • The two countries pledged to set aside their long-term disputes and work together to counter urgent regional security challenges, namely the nuclear threats posed by North Korea.

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64972944 
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/15/world/asia/south-korea-japan-relations.html 
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-15/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-ahead-of-yoon-s-japan-trip
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-yoon-seeks-friend-tokyo-amid-regional-tensions-2023-03-15/