Since Kim Jong Un took leadership, over twice the number of North Korea’s elite have defected to the South compared to the era of his father, Kim Jong Il. In 2022 alone, 196 North Koreans made the journey south—three times more than in the previous year, although still below pre-COVID figures, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Unification.
Many of these defectors are classified as “elite,” including diplomats, overseas laborers, and military personnel. Recent reports from South Korean newspaper The Chosun Daily reveal that 188 North Korean elites have been under the “exclusive protection” of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service since July 1997, due to their significance for national security.
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This figure is 134 higher than the number granted similar protection after Kim Jong Il’s passing in 2011. Elite defectors accounted for 1.22% of the total 10,985 defectors during Kim Jong Un’s first 13 years, a striking contrast to the mere 0.23% out of 23,027 defectors during his father’s 16-year rule.
Interviews with these elites reveal significant dissatisfaction with the current regime, as many believe it lacks a promising future. High-profile defections can challenge the North Korean government’s image of stability.
A notable incident last year was the defection of Ri Il Kyu, a senior counsel from the North Korean embassy in Cuba, who shared insights on the “bleak future” of the regime he fled.
North Korea maintains stringent control over information and imposes severe penalties for attempted defections, including long prison sentences or even execution. In recent years, tensions between North and South Korea have escalated again, despite a brief thaw in relations in the late 2010s. As a reminder of ongoing hostilities, a North Korean soldier crossed the heavily fortified border to defect to the South just this Tuesday.