NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES

THERE ARE ABOUT 27,000 NORTH KOREANS LIVING IN SOUTH KOREA TODAY. IN THE PAST, MANY DEFECTORS WERE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO WORKED ABROAD AND THEN CHOSE NOT TO RETURN. THEY SHARED IMPORTANT INFORMATION WITH THE SOUTH AND, IN TURN, RECEIVED PROTECTION AND SUPPORT.

OVER THE LAST DECADE, CONDITIONS IN NORTH KOREA HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. AS A RESULT, MORE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM AREAS NEAR THE CHINESE BORDER NOW MAKE THE DANGEROUS JOURNEY SOUTH. THEY OFTEN ARRIVE WITHOUT EDUCATION OR SKILLS, AND THIS CHANGE CREATES NEW CHALLENGES FOR SOUTH KOREA.

ALTHOUGH MANY SOUTH KOREANS STILL FEEL A SENSE OF DUTY TOWARD THEIR NORTHERN NEIGHBOURS, THEIR SUPPORT IS SLOWLY DECLINING. AS THE SOUTH KOREAN ECONOMY FACES MORE PRESSURE, FEWER PEOPLE FEEL READY TO COVER THE COSTS OF RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS.

TO PROTECT FAMILY MEMBERS WHO REMAIN IN THE NORTH, MOST DEFECTORS USE NEW IDENTITIES AND AVOID PUBLIC ATTENTION. IF THEY BECOME VISIBLE, AUTHORITIES IN THE NORTH MAY TARGET THEIR RELATIVES. EVEN SO, SOME YOUNG SETTLERS HAVE STARTED TO SPEAK UP. THEY WORK HARD, BUILD NEW COMMUNITIES, AND BEGIN TO HOPE FOR A FUTURE THAT FEELS WITHIN REACH.

THIS PHOTO SERIES SHOWS PART OF THAT JOURNEY. I SHOT IT IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, AS A PERSONAL PROJECT. THESE IMAGES APPEARED IN THE GERMAN NEWSPAPER “DIE ZEIT” AND THE AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE “OPEN MANIFESTO.”

PHOTOGRAPHER

NILS CLAUSS

CLIENT

PERSONAL