Trafficking of North Korean Women in China Illustrates New Perspective on Refugees
Within North Korea, the limited access to proper food and shelter coupled with the fear of constant surveillance has created a stifling environment. As a result, many have chosen to flee to neighboring countries like China, Russia and South Korea in hope of establishing a better future. The news has highlighted the recovery and rebuilding process for these refugees. Defectors, like former soldier Oh Chong-Song and activist Park Yeon-Mi, have shared their stories of their escapes, urging for a greater emphasis on helping rebuild the lives of North Korean refugees. Their stories and messages are largely motivational and positive, painting an image of how North Korean refugees face an uphill battle that they will ultimately triumph over in a new country.
However, this emphasis on rebuilding and recovery overshadows an increasingly growing concern among refugees residing in China. With an increase of people entering the country in the last decade, a surge in cybersex exploitation, human trafficking and prostitution among young refugees, mainly young women, has occured. Most of these refugees in China live perilously without proper documentation, resulting in them having no legal rights and being exposed to abuse and manipulation. Around 60 percent of female refugees are exploited and forced into marriages, cybersex and prostitution in a highly lucrative industry. Once smuggled into a prostitution ring, these women can be sold for as little as ¥30 Yuan (four U.S. dollars) and forced into marriages for ¥1000 Yuan (146 U.S. dollars), with some women being as young as 12-years-old. This has resulted in an estimated 105,000,000 U.S. dollars in annual profits for Chinese smugglers.
Unfortunately, this problem is not new, and while lawmakers have urged for certain restrictions on human trafficking, smugglers have become increasingly elusive. With over 30 million members in various criminal organizations, prostitution and human trafficking have become deeply fixed in China. Under a complex system of interactions between human traffickers, public officials, brokers and clients, North Korean women are forced to work in brothels, entertain their clients or take part in online illicit activities.
These female refugees illustrate a bigger and more concerning image of what happens when there is not enough emphasis on the quality of refugees’ lives. With this lack of attention, few attempts to address the problem of human trafficking and prostitution industry have occurred. Most female victims perish in China since there is minimal government intervention. Only small organizations are making a continuous effort to improve the lives of these refugees. While there is a mass emphasis on helping North Koreans escape their country, the public opinion has turned a blind eye on the suffering that is occurring among refugees in China. These females fled from their country in hope of a better life, but they are instead being exploited and manipulated without any legal rights. Refugees have fled in fear of their own safety, and it is crucial that they receive the necessary protection and resources to restart and rebuild their lives.
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