North, South Korean Couples Deal with Cultural, Language Differences

North and South Korean Couples Deal with Cultural, Language Differences

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

No news supply now available

• 128 kbps | MP3
• 64 kbps | MP3

Last year, Kim Seo-yun provided some essential information that is personal to her South Korean love interest.

She had fled North Korea about 10 years previously.

Kim offered the data on her 2nd date with Lee Jeong-sup.

Lee asked jokingly if she had been a spy. Then he shared with her there clearly was absolutely nothing incorrect with coming from North Korea.

Kim and Lee got hitched at a Seoul resort in June. But Kim’s family members, nevertheless in North Korea, could maybe maybe not go to the marriage ceremony.

“In Southern Korea, my better half is my every thing. No one is had by me else right right right here. I was told by him he would have fun with the part of not just my hubby but in addition my moms and dads,” Kim stated.

Such marriages are getting to be increasingly typical in Southern Korea.

A lot more than 70percent associated with 33,000 North Koreans who possess fled to Southern Korea are females.

There are not any formal figures as to how North that is many koreans hitched South Korean males. However a 2019 study that is government-financed at 3,000 North Koreans living within the Southern. The findings advised that 43% of married ladies from North Korea had South husbands that are korean. 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 frequently face discrimination and loneliness.

Some stated they married South Korean males to greatly help them along with their lives that are new.

“I feel just like my wedding is permitting https://eurosinglesdating.com/ourtime-review/ me acclimate for this culture more profoundly without way too much hard work,” said Hwang Yoo-jung about her 2018 marriage to a South man that is korean.

Lots of women who flee North Korea seek out matchmaking agencies – businesses that assist North Korean females meet South men that are korean. Often run by North Koreans, the businesses charge South Korean males around $2,500 for a number of blind times in per year. Nearly all women do not need to spend.

Around 20 to 30 matchmaking agencies run in Southern Korea. When you look at the mid-2000s, there have been just two such companies.

Kim Hae-rin heads an agency that is match-making Seoul.

Kim said she seems very happy to assist people satisfy “because In addition arrived right right here alone and understand (the suffering) of other refugees.”

A number of the partners, nevertheless, have actually problems. They share an ethnicity and language, nevertheless they can frequently appear to be foreigners one to the other. They’re, all things considered, wanting to bridge a 75-year-old unit of this Korean Peninsula.

Lee stated he attempts to utilize less English words while talking to their spouse. She often confuses him by making use of North expressions that are korean he will not realize.

Hwang said her to a gathering of his friends and their wives that she feels “really, really happy” when her husband Seo Min-seok, takes. She states they often times ask her questions regarding North Korea.

Search engine optimization stated he will not frequently ask Hwang about her past in North Korea.

Ahn Kyung-su is just a researcher by having a group that is private studies medical issues into the North. Ahn said a number of the North Koreans that he’s got talked to own told him that their South Korean husbands looked straight down in it and abused them.

Kim Seo-yun stated she misses her parents and more youthful sis 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’ve or may have a connection do a task together

Role – n. the right component that some one has in a household, culture, or any other team

adjust – v. to alter so that you can work or fare better in a brand new situation

acclimate – v. to modify or adjust to a brand new environment, destination, or situation — frequently + to

blind date – n. a night out together or activity that is social two different people that have perhaps perhaps not formerly met before

few – n. two different people that are hitched or invest a great deal of the time together

confuse – v. to spot wrongly; to combine up

in-law – n. a family member by wedding