Deleted member 115407
D
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/world/asia/north-korea-defector-south.html
It always makes me happy when I hear about folks who make it.
I watched a documentary the other day that stated that the suicide rate for defectors is very high. That's after they've made it out. It makes me wonder what factors lend to the emotional trauma. Loss of and potential harm to family who remain? Inability to cope with and adapt to a free, highly educated society (because let's face it, just about everywhere is freer and more highly educated than NK). Post traumatic stress stemming from a life of fear and privation.
I also wonder how much of a shock it is to have your mis-perception of the world, one which has been force-fed to you at gunpoint, suddenly shattered... to find out that you and your countrymen weren't the victors, but the victims all along. Though, frankly, I suspect that most North Koreans already know that, and just play along to stay a live.
It always makes me happy when I hear about folks who make it.
I watched a documentary the other day that stated that the suicide rate for defectors is very high. That's after they've made it out. It makes me wonder what factors lend to the emotional trauma. Loss of and potential harm to family who remain? Inability to cope with and adapt to a free, highly educated society (because let's face it, just about everywhere is freer and more highly educated than NK). Post traumatic stress stemming from a life of fear and privation.
I also wonder how much of a shock it is to have your mis-perception of the world, one which has been force-fed to you at gunpoint, suddenly shattered... to find out that you and your countrymen weren't the victors, but the victims all along. Though, frankly, I suspect that most North Koreans already know that, and just play along to stay a live.
Last edited by a moderator:
