Research from the Korea Institute for National Unification shows that North Korean women earned about 70 percent of household income. This isn’t an indicator of higher work positions, though; they’re making money through the black market while men do state jobs. Though women make up half of the workforce and have six years of mandatory military service, they’re the ones expected to take care of all household matters. Even if the men of the household are the ones making less money, they aren’t expected to carry out any home duties except teaching their female relatives and children how to follow party ideology. Women are also taught that they aren’t as important as men.
Domestic abuse is fairly common and yields no punishment. The government doesn’t interfere in household violence. Sexual abuse is also common in the military, with high-ranking officers coercing sex from low-ranking female soldiers through their positions or violence.
Kim Jong-Un’s “Pleasure Squad” serves to punctuate the low status of women in North Korea. The “Pleasure Squad” is his harem of women, with many being in their early teens. Taken from their homes, the women and girls are forced to entertain Kim Jong-Un, his friends, and other senior officials. Though similar instances had occurred with predecessors, sex work is becoming more common and noticeable under his rule.
Even after escaping North Korea, the female defectors are in danger of being trafficked. Defecting women are often tricked or outright kidnapped by traffickers then are sold as brides. They endure horrific abuse at the hands of the traffickers and husbands.
Brief primer on social
issues
by Bia Nam
WOMEN