Evidence of slavery: North Korean workers evaluation
North Korean workers abroad are forced to submit evaluation papers reporting colleagues to prove their loyalty to state and regime (Image: iStock.com/narvikk)
Formal evaluation of employees may be a regular feature of corporate life, but the North Korean version, given the virtues and transgressions it highlights, and punishments that can result, underscore the widespread claim among human rights activists that its workers toil in a 21st-century slave society.
HRF has obtained a copy of one worker’s recent evaluation. For obvious reasons, we cannot reveal names. Nor can we reveal too much detail that might allow authorities to identify the company and the worker, who is still in North Korea. What we can say is the evaluation is by the company of an individual who was returning home after an overseas assignment.
It is labeled “evaluation paper” and marked “top secret.” At the top of the form, there is a slogan, “Let’s make the entire Party and society adhere to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il’s ideology.”
The detailed individual assessment indicates how the company views the employee ideologically, mentally, and physically and how devoted he was to the Party and the leader during the overseas assignment.
Each worker returning to North Korea is required to submit to this level of scrutiny and be approved for the resumption of normal life.
The examination process lasts from two weeks to a month or more. Each repatriated worker is required to write a self-criticism. During their time abroad, they must participate in regular mutual criticism sessions, documenting what they see, hear, and feel.
At these sessions, they report on their colleagues. Armed with this information, authorities can punish those who are too lenient on themselves. For instance, if one worker reports a comment made by another, but the latter fails to mention it in their own self-criticism, they will be forced to rewrite their report and face corresponding penalties.
During this examination, the evaluation of the on-site manager takes precedence over the workers’ subjective explanations. A person’s fate, in other words, can be determined by the manager.
Based on their evaluation papers, some workers face punishment, including the gulag, while others might face collective criticism in front of all employees.
The evaluation of this returning worker states:
“Dongmu (comrade) was a passionate patriotic youth who dedicated himself to solving the issues envisioned by our dear leader Kim Jong-un. Dongmu lived with high loyalty to accelerate the day when the ideology of our great leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il would flourish in our socialist stronghold under the leadership of our dear Marshal Kim Jong-un.”
It noted that the worker “prepared and presented bouquets with heartfelt loyalty” on April 15 (Kim Il-sung’s birthday) and February 16 (Kim Jong-il), as well as on other political holidays.
“Dongmu earnestly conducted the Ten Principles for the Establishment of a Monolithic Ideological System and the five educational teachings, striving to embody them in all aspects of work and life,” it reads.
“Dongmu also fervently engaged in the socialist patriotic movement, contributing to revolutionary tasks. Dongmu exhibited the communist virtue of mutual aid and cooperation, striving to achieve collective innovation in fulfilling the people’s economic plan with all conscience and passion.”
In the assessment, which the worker would surely be grateful for, the manager referred to “difficult conditions,” but said that despite this, “Dongmu aimed to complete even the hardest plans with extraordinary strength and enthusiasm, working to become the organization’s vanguard. Dongmu always maintained integrity and honesty in both work and life.”
Of course, there would need to be something wrong, otherwise the glowing report would not be believed. Thus, it says:
“However, a shortcoming was Dongmu’s insufficient acceptance of the organization and Dongmus’ critical support. This defect can be rectified through future criticism and support from the organization and other comrades.”
At the bottom, it is dated Juche 113 (2024), Month, Day and signed by the Consulate General of North Korea in Shenyang, China, Dandong Branch, and by the Branch Manager and Secretary of the Party Committee.
Given the importance of this document, workers know that they cannot express any frustration to their managers about their excessive workload, poor living conditions, or even homesickness. They are naturally mistrustful of their colleagues and have to engage in competition to increase productivity.
The 100,000 or so workers dispatched to China are mostly in their teens to their forties. Chinese workers say that these workers are unable to leave their workplaces for years and have to work over 14 hours a day and consider them worse off than Chinese prisoners.
Era is a North Korean defector and an experienced journalist who offers a unique perspective on one of the world's most secretive nations. Having escaped the oppressive regime, Era has leveraged her keen understanding of North Korean society to become a beacon of truth. Through her extensive network of in-country reporters, she maintains real-time communication with sources inside North Korea, providing unparalleled insights into the ground realities of the closed society.
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