The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Song Joong-ki marries British woman, expects baby

  • 3

    K-pop releases for February

  • 5

    Koreans reluctant to unmask on first day of eased indoor mask rule

  • 7

    Stock-leveraged investments rise again amid bullish KOSPI

  • 9

    Itaewon music fest brings love to the healing process

  • 11

    Busan seeks to take lead in expo race after BIE's April visit

  • 13

    Retailers seek to bolster beauty product sales as lifting of mask mandate approaches

  • 15

    Biohealth geared for growth

  • 17

    Smiling flower, mushroom bomb, zombie: What do Takashi Murakami's grotesquely 'kawaii' creatures tell us?

  • 19

    20 suggestions to improve Google Scholar and motivate global scholars

  • 2

    Korean Lunar New Year vs. Chinese Lunar New Year

  • 4

    Over 76% of South Koreans support development of nuclear weapons

  • 6

    Base taxi fare to rise by 1,000 won to 4,800 won next month

  • 8

    ANALYSISPandemic awakens demand for data-driven automation

  • 10

    SPC opens 120th Paris Baguette store in US

  • 12

    Most people masked up on 1st day of lifting of mandate rules

  • 14

    Hybe acquires 56.1 percent stake in AI sound startup Supertone

  • 16

    NK slams NATO chief's Seoul visit as 'prelude to war'

  • 18

    Cute canine film 'My Heart Puppy' reunites Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun

  • 20

    Korea-US defense talks likely to bring up extended deterrence

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • About the past
  • Imbricated Chaos
  • Voices from the North
  • Korea: deConstructed
  • Parchment Made of Sheepskins
  • Dialogues with Adoptees
Wed, February 1, 2023 | 04:49
'I have arrived in South Korea. Now what?' (1)
Posted : 2018-07-14 10:21
Updated : 2018-07-14 10:21
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Geumjoo, female, arrived in South Korea in 2008

After I arrived in South Korea, I sometimes thought about returning to North Korea. That would be like escaping to a torture room, so I never thought about it seriously. I really struggled when I first arrived here. The government was trying to offer me so many benefits, but I really wanted to make my own way. I was desperate about trying to find a job because of my unstable situation. I was so focused on working that I forgot about everything; it was just work, work, work.

I am having a great life here now. When I think back, I am amazed that I worked so hard, but now I am proud that I did it my own way. I can never forget that my father started getting sick before he escaped from North Korea. After a short time here, his condition got worse. If he had been in North Korea, he would have died after he got very sick. Despite the struggles, I know he was able to live and enjoy his life.

Eunhye, female, arrived in 2017

I have been here for a short time, so I still feel like I am a one-year-old baby. It has been difficult because I don't know which way to go; I feel lost at times. I lack confidence about what I can do here. I don't have real job skills for this country and I'm still trying to understand so many things. I hope I can advance in dog years, so I will be an adult after just a few years.

I thought I was lucky to be accepted into a university so quickly after arriving, but I think I wasn't ready. My grades were terrible and I had a miserable time. I have now changed to a new university and changed my major, so things have gotten a little easier.

I don't have many friends here now. The thing that I'm doing is studying English like crazy. All day long when I'm not in class I am watching English videos on YouTube. It is amazing because I didn't use the internet until I arrived here.
I'm still not sure about my future here, but this vacation I am studying English and learning computer skills. Even though I came from a middle-class family in North Korea, I feel like I'm so far behind here and I also need to gain some other skills.

Myung-ho, male, arrived in 2009

I came here with my family, so the transition wasn't difficult. We supported each other. As soon as we were released from Hanawon, we all got to work. I worked everywhere ―waiter, restaurant, construction, hard labor. I had no time to ponder how my adjustment was going. I was going from one job to the next, sleeping when I could.

At some point I realized that I needed to study in order to have a better life here. I didn't want to just keep working like a machine. I am now studying at a university and working part-time.

Financially, things are fine now, but I do suffer from discrimination sometimes. I don't know why I seem to have trouble with taxi drivers in particular.

Hyun Jeong, female, arrived in 2010

I love being here! It seems there are so many possibilities. I am in a free society, and that is exactly what I wanted. Even before I knew how bad North Korea was, I always had a sense that something was wrong. I couldn't understand why I couldn't leave North Korea or why I couldn't see things from other countries. I just pretended to care about things; escaping was always on my mind.

Here in South Korea, sometimes it seems that people around me find excuses not to do things, but I am always grabbing, trying, testing. It seems that I can do anything. I don't feel any cultural differences with native South Koreans.
I have four licenses related to computer skills. I even have a license certifying I can properly make a hanbok.
I came here alone. I knew that no one would help me, so I would need to do everything I could to make it difficult for people to discriminate against me.

I want to study English now. I don't want to fall behind because of English. I am so satisfied and I look forward to enjoying my life in freedom. Even if I fail or succeed, I'm always fine because it is my own effort and choice.

Jin-ah, female, arrived in 2012

I had so many bad things happen to me in China and North Korea that treatment here seems so gentle. At first I was afraid to meet foreigners. I guess the propaganda worked on me.

I still have family in North Korea, so I don't want to attract attention. I'm just focused on improving my life. My family doesn't know that I'm here, they think I'm in China. I don't want them to get into trouble in case the government finds out that I'm here. I cannot go back until North Korea changes, so I'm making my new life here.

I don't feel like I'm having adjustment problems, but because I still have a strong North Korean accent, it seems that South Koreans are having trouble adjusting to me! Many people seem to get embarrassed when they realize that my accent is different, and they seem confused when they learn that I'm from North Korea. I'm not embarrassed to be from North Korea, but these days I tell people that I'm from the southern part of Korea, then I try to change the subject.


Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, compiled these statements from interviews with refugees studying at the TNKR. TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee translated their comments from Korean to English.


EmailCJL@alumni.harvard.edu Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Korean Lunar New Year vs. Chinese Lunar New Year Korean Lunar New Year vs. Chinese Lunar New Year
2US bill introduced to honor Korean War hero US bill introduced to honor Korean War hero
3South Korea, US to expand size and content of joint military drillsSouth Korea, US to expand size and content of joint military drills
4Popular travel YouTuber recalls painful memories of being bullied at school Popular travel YouTuber recalls painful memories of being bullied at school
5Holy Moly concert series brings 4 punk bands to Haebangchon Holy Moly concert series brings 4 punk bands to Haebangchon
6Samsung refuses to cut chip output despite plunging profitsSamsung refuses to cut chip output despite plunging profits
7Yonsei University global forum Yonsei University global forum
8Cyber University of Korea offers online Korean language programs for foreignersCyber University of Korea offers online Korean language programs for foreigners
9IMF slashes Korea's 2023 economic growth outlook to 1.7%IMF slashes Korea's 2023 economic growth outlook to 1.7%
10Korea Exchange to toughen rules against unfair traders Korea Exchange to toughen rules against unfair traders
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Song Joong-ki marries British woman, expects baby Song Joong-ki marries British woman, expects baby
2K-pop releases for February K-pop releases for February
3Itaewon music fest brings love to the healing process Itaewon music fest brings love to the healing process
4Smiling flower, mushroom bomb, zombie: What do Takashi Murakami's grotesquely 'kawaii' creatures tell us? Smiling flower, mushroom bomb, zombie: What do Takashi Murakami's grotesquely 'kawaii' creatures tell us?
5Cute canine film 'My Heart Puppy' reunites Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun Cute canine film 'My Heart Puppy' reunites Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group