North Korean men used to consider women from a family of high social class as apt candidates for their wives. However, the latest trend in the North is a preference for brides who have defectors in their families, according to a news report on June 12.
“There used to be a time when even mentioning the word ‘defector’ was considered a taboo. These days, however, men discreetly ask women if they have a family member who is a defector,” said the sources.
As hard as it is to maintain a living in North Korea just like the South in the 1970s, defectors to South Korea or China are considered scapegoats to take care of their families just like the factory girls in South Korea in the past.
“Even if the North Korea publicly disparages the South, nobody buys the story now. We all know that South Korea is a better place to live,” said one of the defectors.
From news reports()
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
