38 North Korean refugees enter South in first quarter, most of them young adults



News 38 North Korean refugees enter South in first quarter, most of them young adults Seoul says new arrivals largely left DPRK before pandemic, as North’s border controls continue to limit defections Jooheon Kim April 17, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON North Korean residents in Pyongyang \| Image: NK News (2015) A total of 38 North Korean refugees arrived in South Korea in the first quarter of 2025, according to government figures released Thursday, with more than half of the new arrivals in their 20s and 30s. Seoul’s unification ministry said the defectors who arrived between January and March included 37 women and one man, bringing the cumulative number of defectors in South Korea to 34,352. The figure for the first quarter marks a slight decrease from 43 arrivals in the same period last year, and a sharper drop from 55 in the fourth quarter of 2024. However, it remains © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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38 North Korean refugees enter South in first quarter, most of them young adults

Seoul says new arrivals largely left DPRK before pandemic, as North’s border controls continue to limit defections

Jooheon Kim April 17, 2025

38 North Korean refugees enter South in first quarter, most of them young adults

North Korean residents in Pyongyang | Image: NK News (2015)

A total of 38 North Korean refugees arrived in South Korea in the first quarter of 2025, according to government figures released Thursday, with more than half of the new arrivals in their 20s and 30s.

Seoul’s unification ministry said the defectors who arrived between January and March included 37 women and one man, bringing the cumulative number of defectors in South Korea to 34,352.

The figure for the first quarter marks a slight decrease from 43 arrivals in the same period last year, and a sharper drop from 55 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

However, it remains