North Korean Women’s Migration Through China and Beyond

Migration from North Korea is complex and highly dangerous. With strict border controls, political conditions, and limited pathways for movement, North Koreans risk their lives, and their families’ lives, to escape. Currently, around 70% of North Koreans who enter South Korea are women, yet their migration journeys remain largely overlooked.

Most women begin their journey by crossing the Tumen River into China, where they face surveillance, border enforcement, and significant personal risk. Once in China, many are trafficked into forced marriage or sex work.

Because they are not recognized as refugees under bilateral policies between North Korea and China, they are classified as illegal immigrants. This undocumented status denies them access to health care and education and exposes them to violence and exploitation. The persistent threat of repatriation and widespread intimate-partner violence drive many to undertake a second escape through Southeast Asia in order to reach South Korea. 

This project documents the experiences of North Korean women who have migrated through China and later resettled in South Korea. Through their stories, So Hyun Park examines key aspects of their journeys—including trafficking, forced marriage, statelessness, and the challenges of resettlement—and brings attention to the voices that are often silenced.