Life in the country without taxes
In North Korea, the word “tax” does not exist. Instead, we talk of a “usage fee.” Why the euphemism? To be frank, I don’t know....
Does the fighting man’s morale still matter in modern warfare?
Lately, the world has begun to change in unsettling ways. After World War II, despite localized conflicts, it seemed as if global peace might last...
The value of a being a Party member
(Part Two) The most important factor for advancement is never ability or loyalty. It is family background. If your parents worked in the security services,...
The value of a being a Party member
(Part One) Every North Korean dreams of becoming a member of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. Why? To be more loyal to the Party...
North Korea: How much longer will their hollow dynasty last?
In November 2022, North Korea broke from its usual practice. Kim Jong-un presented his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, to the world. For a regime that keeps...
Can Chanel bags spark a revolution?
For those who have fled North Korea in search of freedom and arrived in the South, certain questions always follow. For example, how can we...
The low status and sorry life of scientists in North Korea
“Plant your feet firmly on your own soil, and set your eyes upon the world.” There is not a single university student in North Korea...
Kim Jong-un: What kind of leader is he really?
Until now, in writing about Kim Jong-un, I have focused on his humanity or lack of it. For example, I’ve noted what we all know,...
My life, and the lives of Koreans who relocated from Japan to North Korea
I sometimes wonder how it would have been if South Korea had not been a nation of single ethnicity but a multi-ethnic country. Would I...
The problem of anxiety inherent in capitalism
Why must capitalism lead to prosperity? Why must socialism lead to poverty? These were questions I had long before leaving North Korea. I suspect many...
What happens when cinema loses its freedom
Films have a great influence on our lives, whether we realize it or not. I can show this through my own life. If it weren’t...
Who digs through the garbage?
When I lived in North Korea, which was until recently, anything related to South Korea was completely taboo. All we knew was that it was...
Why North Koreans love the US dollar
Of course, no one hates money. But with North Koreans, there is an attitude to money that is rather unusual. Despite being steeped in intense...
The oppressed youth of North Korea
What does the word “youth” mean to us? Does it represent the most passionate period in the cycle of life? Or perhaps the most fun...
Changing loyalties in the North Korean military
Ideological education emphasizes sacrifice for the Leader and the Motherland. (Astrelok / Courtesy of Shutterstock) What is the meaning and purpose of the armed forces?...
Why North Korea has not collapsed
Don’t you find it puzzling that North Korea, which always seems like it could collapse at any time, is still standing strong? Our media constantly...
Where does patriotism come from?
What does it mean to love one’s country? It means to feel pain when the country suffers, and joy when it thrives. It means to...
How the social system deteriorates
What is the function of a society? Each country, each person may answer this in a different way, but there is one thing we can...