We made a viral thread about Yeonmi Park on Twitter (https://twitter.com/prolewiki/status/1666904605085630465) and in it, I said that the SK defectors who flee to the DPRK exist, but are not really covered.
I know they exist, but the problem is, when I try to google it, I of course only find DPRK “defectors” to SK because that’s what dominates the discourse.
Does anyone have some reading material or sources that could help me write this thread? Alternatively, you can help me write the thread for ProleWiki too if you want.
I don’t think south to north defectors are that common, you might be thinking about double defectors
They are much rarer because most “defectors” are just economic refugees fleeing poverty, along with the fact that if you’re poor and live in SK, there are normally other places you can go that are much easier, cheaper, and safer to get to than the DPRK.
It also bears mentioning that there’s a bit of human trafficking going from the DPRK to SK
I didn’t read it but https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korean_defectors
Another article on a defection: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59851097
From the wikipedia article:
contemporary South Korean defectors born outside of North Korea are generally not welcome to defect to the North. In recent years there have been seven people who tried to leave South Korea, but they were detained for illegal entry in North Korea, and ultimately repatriated. As of 2019, there are reportedly 5461 former South Korean citizens living in North Korea.
There has also been fatalities as a result of failed defections. One defector died in a failed murder-suicide attempt by her husband while in detention. One person who attempted to defect was shot and killed by South Korean military forces in September 2013.
It goes on to give a list of what it deems notable cases.
