Seoul: North Korean Defectors to South Tripled in 2023

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Facts

  • The Ministry of Unification in Seoul has revealed that at least 196 North Koreans defected to South Korea in 2023, nearly three times the previous year.1
  • The sharp uptick from just 67 defectors in 2022 is partly attributed to the loosening of COVID border restrictions in North Korea and transit countries, such as China.2
  • According to the government data released on Thursday, more than half of those who left were in their 20s and 30s, while about 12.5% were women or girls.3
  • Furthermore, the defectors reportedly included approximately 10 'elite' individuals, like diplomats and international students — the most since 2017.4
  • In addition to the lifting of COVID restrictions, the ministry attributed the record number of defections in 2023 to growing dissent and a scarcity of food.1
  • More than 30K North Koreans have reportedly left for South Korea since the 1950s, with over 60% holding jobs and earning an average of $1,830 per month.5

Sources: 1The Guardian, 2NHK, 3Korea Herald, 4CNN and 5DW.

Narratives

  • Anti-North Korea Narrative, as provided by Associated Press. As the economic situation worsens and internal controls strengthen in Kim Jong Un's regime, younger North Koreans are left with no choice but to take a perilous journey to the liberal democratic South to escape their repressive homeland's dire human rights and impoverished conditions.
  • Pro-North Korea narrative, as provided by KCNA Watch. Just like the US, North Korea has the right to live without external limitations or interventions. However, due to the prevalence of disinformation about Kim's regime, misconceptions about North Korea are perpetuated in the public consciousness to further Western interests. People defecting to South Korea are economic migrants, nothing more.

Predictions