The Invisible Wounds: Scars Unseen

Living in the Shadows of Fear Imagine a life where every moment is clouded by the anxiety of being captured, every face a potential threat, and every night a terrifying ordeal filled with nightmares of persecution. For two out of three North Korean women in China, this isn't just imagination - it's their daily reality. Even after spending over a decade in China, the looming dread of deportation to North Korea remains ever-present.

The Psychological Toll: Beyond Physical Boundaries The scars these women bear aren't visible, but they run deep. The relentless fear leads to severe psychological symptoms: an aversion to social interaction, an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, incessant crying, and haunting nightmares of public execution in North Korea. The trauma persists, with one in three contemplating death to escape the terror of repatriation. Alarmingly, several of these resilient women have even gone to the extent of keeping suicide pills at hand, with some having made the heart-wrenching decision to attempt ending their lives.

The Lingering Trauma: Beyond Borders The emotional and psychological scars don't vanish once they cross the border into South Korea. The trauma lingers, manifesting in challenges during resettlement. For these women, their past haunts every step of their journey, making healing and integration a constant struggle.