Jin is a pseudonym for a North Korean defector writer. She was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until she defected in 2014. She now resides in South Korea.
Online world can be overwhelming at first, but defectors quickly discover value of access to a world of information
The state gives out low-quality sweets on major holidays, but what people really covet are imported treats from abroad
Schools teach very little about the outside world as Kim regime focuses on nurturing pride for the DPRK above all
Most North Koreans have little choice over their course of study, unless they can pay hefty bribes
Ceremonies are simple affairs quite different from those in South, while food is an important part of the ritual
Much like people around the world, North Koreans like to eat, drink and play at the beach. The problem is getting there.
North Koreans can only move under specific circumstances, and even then finding affordable housing is nigh impossible
The final chapter in a harrowing escape from North Korea that forced one defector to leave her child and husband behind
‘You cannot change where you were born, but you can choose where you live’
A defector describes how imprisonment by secret police separated her from family but strengthened her resolve to live
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