By Neng Nana 
By Editorial Staff, NK News
The border city of Hyesan, nestled along the Yalu River, has long served as a paradoxical gateway in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). For the millions living under the rigid state apparatus, it is a place where the proximity to China offers both a glimpse of the outside world and a constant reminder of the regime’s suffocating grip. For Lee Ju Won, a North Korean defector who successfully navigated the perilous route to South Korea in 2019, Hyesan was the crucible where his desire for freedom was forged.
In this installment of the Ask a North Korean series, Lee recounts a life defined by quiet observation, the subversive influence of South Korean media, and the harrowing decision to abandon his homeland. His narrative provides a rare, intimate look at the erosion of state-mandated loyalty in the face of burgeoning external information.
The Genesis of Dissent: From Hyesan to the Unknown
For many North Koreans, the decision to defect is rarely a single, impulsive act. It is, more often, a slow accumulation of cognitive dissonance. For Lee, the process began with the memory of his mother’s disappearance—an event that shifted his perception of the state’s absolute truth.
"I remember the fear, the confusion, and the silence that followed," Lee writes. While he was young at the time of his mother’s departure, the void she left behind became a permanent question mark in his life. The regime’s narrative—that those who leave are "traitors" who succumb to the "moral decay" of the South—did not align with the gentle, hardworking woman he remembered. This early crack in the state-sanctioned reality allowed other, more dangerous ideas to take root.
The Power of Forbidden Media
As Lee grew older, the state’s tight control over information began to falter. In Hyesan, where cross-border trade and the influx of smuggled USB drives and SD cards are rampant, South Korean television dramas and K-pop became the primary vehicles for ideological subversion.
"When you watch these programs, you aren’t just watching a story," Lee explains. "You are watching a different version of humanity." Seeing the prosperity, the freedom of movement, and the lack of constant surveillance in South Korean content forced Lee to confront the reality of his own existence. The contrast between the grey, fearful life in Hyesan and the vibrant, albeit foreign, reality on the screen created an insurmountable divide.
Chronology of a Departure
The path to freedom is rarely a straight line; it is a complex, multi-year process fraught with physical and existential peril.
- 2010–2015: The Awakening. During these years, Lee became increasingly exposed to foreign media. He began to internalize the inconsistencies of the Kim Jong Un regime’s propaganda, particularly regarding the standard of living compared to the outside world.
- 2016–2017: Heightened Crackdowns. The regime intensified its "anti-socialist" campaigns. Surveillance in Hyesan became suffocating, with "Non-Socialist Groups" (Group 109) conducting surprise inspections of homes to search for foreign media devices. Lee describes this period as a time of extreme paranoia.
- 2018: The Tipping Point. Faced with the prospect of forced labor or imprisonment due to his growing ties to those who facilitated the flow of information, Lee realized he could no longer stay. He began the covert process of contacting a broker.
- 2019: The Crossing. Under the cover of night, Lee navigated the freezing waters of the border region, eventually reaching Chinese soil. His journey through China was a frantic sprint through a landscape where he was a fugitive, constantly fearing repatriation.
- Late 2019: Arrival in Seoul. After successfully navigating the underground railroad, Lee reached the South Korean embassy, eventually undergoing the standard interrogation and integration process in South Korea.
Supporting Data: The Shrinking Space for Information
The crackdown that Lee experienced in the late 2010s was not an anomaly; it was part of a systemic escalation. According to data provided by the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB), the regime has prioritized the "Reactionary Ideology and Culture Denunciation Law," which carries the death penalty for those who possess or distribute significant amounts of South Korean media.
Social Dynamics and Vulnerable Populations
While Lee’s journey focuses on the ideological shift, the broader context of North Korean society remains grim. Today’s Ask a North Korean inquiry specifically touches upon the status of individuals with disabilities within the DPRK.
Official state rhetoric in Pyongyang claims that all citizens are equal and that the state provides for those in need. However, defectors consistently report a reality where individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities are marginalized, often hidden from public view, and excluded from the benefits afforded to those deemed "loyal" to the party. This institutional indifference mirrors the broader disregard for individual human rights that Lee witnessed during his final years in the country.
Official Responses and State Rhetoric
The North Korean government’s official stance on defectors—or "human scum," as they are often referred to in state media—remains uncompromising. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) frequently publishes pieces characterizing defectors as victims of human trafficking or as individuals who were coerced into leaving by "puppet forces" in Seoul.
However, international human rights organizations, including the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK, have consistently refuted these claims. The UN reports highlight that the primary drivers of defection are systemic starvation, political oppression, and the denial of fundamental human rights. The regime’s attempt to paint defectors as criminals is a defensive mechanism designed to prevent the "ideological contamination" of the remaining population.
Implications: The Long-Term Effects of Isolation
Lee Ju Won’s story is a microcosm of the larger challenge facing the North Korean regime: the inability to permanently seal the border against ideas. As technology evolves—moving from CDs and DVDs to micro-SD cards and satellite internet—the state’s ability to control the narrative continues to diminish.
The Cost of Freedom
The implications of Lee’s defection are twofold. First, there is the personal toll; the trauma of leaving one’s family and the lifelong fear of state retaliation against those left behind. Lee’s mother, who escaped years before him, serves as a beacon of hope but also a reminder of the fractured nature of North Korean families.
Second, there is the geopolitical implication. Every defector who successfully integrates into South Korean society serves as a living, breathing testament to the existence of an alternative. When thousands of people like Lee describe the reality of the North, it makes it increasingly difficult for the regime to maintain its internal legitimacy.
A New Era of Defection
As we look toward the future of the Korean Peninsula, the stories of those who have made the journey are essential. They provide the human texture to what is often viewed through the cold lens of nuclear proliferation and military strategy.
Lee’s journey from the shadows of Hyesan to the streets of Seoul underscores a fundamental truth: the hunger for autonomy is an innate human trait that no amount of barbed wire or state-mandated fear can fully extinguish. His story serves as a reminder that behind every statistic regarding North Korean defectors is an individual—a person who looked at a world of darkness and decided that the risk of death was preferable to the slow erosion of their soul.
As Lee settles into his new life in the South, he continues to advocate for the truth, hoping that one day, the borders that once defined his existence will no longer be necessary. For now, his voice—along with those of countless others—remains the most effective weapon against the isolation of the DPRK.
Disclaimer: "Ask a North Korean" is a series featuring firsthand accounts. The views expressed by the interviewees are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of NK News or the Korea Risk Group. If you are interested in submitting a question for a future guest, please reach out to our editorial team via our secure contact channels.
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