The Oranckay points out a great article in the Blue House’s favorite paper (I’m being sarcastic, for those unfamiliar with the Dong-A’s situation) discussing life for North Korean defectors at the consular section of South Korean embassy in Beijing. As you may have already heard, said consular section has halted operations until “it can clear out some of the would-be defectors” - there are currently about 120 defectors camped out at the consular section, a place designed to house only 50. Apparently, the consulate office has been dubbed “The Consulate Hotel” by its staff, with the South Korean Consul earning the monicker “Hotel Manager” (isn’t he glad he put in all that work studying for the Foreign Service Exam!). As the Oranckay points out, one consular official likens the place to an army barracks, with mattresses spread out all over the floors, and since the refugees are forbidden from both entering the inner offices and venturing beyond the consulate gates, they spend most of their day reading books about Korea and watching KBS (on which, as we evil right wingers like to complain, they see only good things about North Korea) - the kids also study some English and math. And as the Oranckay pointed out as well, some of the refugees have apparently brought some of their problems from the Old Country with them. As Peter explains:
He [the consular official in the Dong-A article] goes on to say that among the defectors, there are often outbreaks of “serious conflict” because of differences in “social class/rank.”
There’s no knowing exactly what this means, best guess being that at least after months or years on the run in China after making their escape, some of the roughly 120 North Koreans in the South Korean consulate think they can still boss others among them around or that they deserve special treatment.
From what I’ve been told, South Korean immigrant communities abroad also keep alive some of the regional and class conflicts that plague the Fatherland. Of course, Koreans would hardly be alone in this - just go ask Andy over at Flying Yangban.
UPDATE: Andres Gentry over at Water points out this heartwrenching piece in the WaPo discussing the hardships - both physical and emotional - faced by North Korean defectors.
