Ask A North Korean
Your chance to ask questions to North Koreans about life growing up in the DPRK
Ask a North Korean: What superstitions and urban myths exist in North Korea?
The state has failed to fully root out folk beliefs, which range from wedding rituals to tall tales about Kim Il Sung
Settling in Seoul: Where South Korea succeeds in helping new defectors
Adapting to life in an alien country is a daunting challenge, one defector says, so any assistance can go a long way
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
