LIFE IN CHINA : Many North Korean women are trafficked and sold as brides in various parts of China. These forced marriages, devoid of consent, subject them to further exploitation and isolation, stripping them of their autonomy and dignity.

The Illusion of Safety

Seeking refuge from the hardships in North Korea, many women embark on a perilous journey to China, clinging to the hope of a better life. Little do they know, a different kind of nightmare awaits them.

Trafficked and Trapped: The Dark Underbelly of the Bride Market

On entering China, a significant number of North Korean women find themselves ensnared in a web of human trafficking. These women, desperate and vulnerable, are sold as brides in various parts of China.

Forced Marriages: Living with Strangers

Once sold, they are thrust into marriages with Chinese men they've never met. While some may find a semblance of acceptance, many others face exploitation, abuse, and a life of servitude in unfamiliar households.

Cultural and Language Barriers: Isolation in a Foreign Land

Beyond the challenge of forced marriages, these women grapple with language barriers, cultural differences, and the constant fear of discovery. Their illegal status makes them vulnerable, with no avenue for legal recourse or protection.

The quantitative research below shows that 90% of respondents have experienced trafficking, and 75.0% of domestic Chinese husbands agree on the severity of the trafficking market in China. While not all marriages are trafficked, marriages arranged through money transactions are more likely to involve unfair labor, domestic violence, sexual assault, and surveillance. In addition, the desire of North Korean women to escape their trafficked marriages makes their relationships unstable and vulnerable, as they do not start out on equal footing, but rather are determined in an unfair and hierarchical manner from the outset. The problems that emerge negatively impact not only the women, but also their husbands, their families, and ultimately their children.