The dispatch of workers from North Korea's Ryanggang Province to China has accelerated further this year. ASIAPRESS previously reported on information from a Chinese reporting partner stating that "since early December, North Korean female workers have been entering the country in succession, already exceeding 100 people." Additional investigations conducted in late January by reporting partners residing in Ryanggang Province and Changbai County in China's Jilin Province revealed that over 300 people have already been dispatched this year. Meanwhile, communication issues appear to be emerging at dispatch sites. (HONG Mari / KANG Ji-won)
N.Korea Dispatches Wave of Female Workers to China... Over 100 Sent from Hyesan in December "Mothers with children selected to prevent defection"
◆ "100 times better than being here" – Even officials pay bribes to be dispatched
Reporting Partner A, who lives in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, stated:
"Over 300 people have gone to work in China since the start of this year. Previously they were dispatched to restaurants and seafood processing plants, but this year they're being sent to electronics parts companies to do assembly work."
As with last year's reports, selection prioritizes married women with children. This is due to concerns about defection. Unmarried women require letters of guarantee from parents, schools, people's units, enterprises, and the Youth League.
Many women reportedly wish to be dispatched despite being separated from their families for a certain period. Reporting Partner A conveyed the following about this popularity:
"So many people who meet the (dispatch) conditions have left that it's hard to find young people in the neighborhood. Wages are 700 yuan (98 USD) per month, but after deducting food, lodging, medical expenses, and snack costs, they actually receive about 300-500 yuan (42-70 USD).
“Since you can't properly earn money in North Korea, people are envious, saying it's 100 times better to go work in China. Seven people from the Women's League I belong to have gone, and even officials paid bribes to be selected. Households where women have gone to work in China are seeing their living situations improve."
Chinese companies are known to pay North Korea approximately 2,500-3,000 yuan (350-420 USD) per person monthly for labor costs, which means by simple calculation, three-quarters of wages are being exploited. Still, this is exceptional compared to the average North Korean worker's wage (monthly salary) level of 35,000-50,000 North Korean won (1.1-1.5 USD).
※100 yuan = 14 USD, 10,000 North Korean won = 0.3 USD (both as of late January)
Moreover, an interesting phenomenon is reportedly appearing.
"Most people are taking a handful of Korean soil with them to China. Some say they take it because they'll miss their hometown, and others say they'll use it for treatment if the water doesn't agree with them."
