North and South Korean Couples Deal with Cultural, Language Differences
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Last year, Kim Seo-yun provided some extremely important private information to her South love interest that is korean.
She had fled North Korea about 10 years previously.
Kim supplied the details on her date that is second with Jeong-sup.
Lee asked jokingly if she had been a spy. Then he informed her there was clearly absolutely absolutely absolutely nothing incorrect with originating from North Korea.
Kim and Lee got hitched at a Seoul resort in June. But Kim’s household, nevertheless in North Korea, could perhaps maybe not go to the marriage ceremony.
“In Southern Korea, my better half is my every thing. We have no body else right right right here. I was told by him he would have fun with the part of not merely my hubby but additionally my moms and dads,” Kim stated.
Such marriages have become increasingly typical in Southern Korea.
Significantly more than 70percent of this 33,000 North Koreans who possess fled to Southern Korea are ladies.
There aren’t any official figures as to how North that is many koreans hitched South Korean males. But a 2019 study that is government-financed at 3,000 North Koreans living within the Southern. The findings recommended that 43% of married females from North Korea had South Korean husbands. Last year, that true quantity ended up being about 19%.
North women that are korean have actually problems adjusting to life in Southern Korea. They often times face discrimination and loneliness.
Some stated they married South Korean males to assist them to along with their brand new everyday lives.
“I feel just like my wedding is permitting me acclimate to the culture more profoundly without way too much hard work,” said Hwang Yoo-jung about her 2018 wedding to a South Korean guy.
Lots of women who flee North Korea seek out matchmaking agencies – organizations that assist North Korean women meet South Korean guys. Often run by North Koreans, the businesses charge South men that are korean $2,500 for all blind times in per year. Nearly all women do not need to spend.
Around 20 to 30 matchmaking agencies run in Southern Korea. Within the mid-2000s, there were just two such companies.
Kim Hae-rin heads a match-making agency in Seoul.
Kim stated she seems thrilled to assist people satisfy “because we additionally arrived right right right right here alone and understand (the suffering) of other refugees.”
A few of the partners, nonetheless, have actually problems. They share a language and ethnicity, however they can frequently look like foreigners one to the other. They truly are, in the end, trying to bridge a 75-year-old unit associated with the Korean Peninsula.
Lee stated he attempts to utilize less English words while talking to their spouse. She often confuses him through the use of North expressions that are korean he doesn’t comprehend.
Hwang said that she seems “really, really pleased” whenever her spouse Search Engine Optimization Min-seok, takes her up to a gathering of their friends 
and their spouses. She states they often times ask her questions regarding North Korea.
Search engine optimization stated he will not usually ask Hwang about her past in North Korea.
Ahn Kyung-su is just a researcher having a private team that studies health problems when you look at the North. Ahn said a few of the North Koreans that he has got talked to own told him that their South Korean husbands seemed straight down on it and abused them.
Kim Seo-yun stated she misses her parents and more youthful cousin in North Korea and hopes to reunite using them 1 day.
“Now, my hubby is filling my heart. My mother-in-law treats me personally well. Therefore does my sister-in-law. It is like having supporters that are strong my entire life, and I’m pleased now,” Kim stated.
I’m John Russell.
Hyung-Jin Kim reported with this tale when it comes to Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA training English. George Grow had been the editor.
Terms in This Tale
date – n. an event whenever a couple who possess or may have a connection do a task together
Role – n. the right component that somebody has in a family group, culture, or other team
adjust – v. to alter so that you can work or fare better in a brand new situation
acclimate – v. to regulate or adjust to a climate that is new spot, or situation — frequently + to
blind date – n. a romantic date or social task between two different people who possess not formerly met before
Couple – n. two people who are married or spend a complete great deal of the time together
confuse – v. to spot wrongly; to combine up
in-law – n. a member of family by wedding