'I have arrived in South Korea. Now what?' (1)

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.