Description
TitleNorth Korean migrants in China
Date Created2018
Other Date2018-10 (degree)
Extent1 online resource (354 pages : illustrations)
DescriptionThis study investigates the smuggling and trafficking (e.g. forced marriage, sex trafficking, and labor exploitation) of North Korean Migrants in China (NKMCs). It seeks to answer the following questions: First, how should we define the status of NKMCs (e.g. illegal economic migrant, refugee, or trafficking victim)? Second, are the NKMCs victimized? If any, what are the contexts and factors that contribute to such victimization, and how? Further, what are the characteristics of the victims, smugglers, and traffickers? Finally, what are the contributing factors and possible policy implications to prevent the victimization of NKMCs?
For this, one-on-one, face-to-face in-depth interviews with 58 NKMCs (47 women and 11 men) currently living in South Korea were conducted. Study participants were recruited through the purposive snowball sampling method. Interviews were conducted using a standardized questionnaire. This study suggests that 37 NKMCs (64%) should be classified as trafficking victims of forced marriage, commercial sex, or labor exploitation. There were 34 cases of forced marriage, 10 cases of sex trafficking, and 3 cases of labor exploitation among the 58 NKMCs. The most common pattern (22 cases, 59%) of trafficking victimization was being deceived by traffickers in North Korea, crossing the border with traffickers, and being victimized by forced marriage. This study suggests that high demand for marriageable women in China, vulnerabilities of victims due to fear of deportation, and lack of guardianship owing to the Chinese government’s indifference contributed to the trafficking victimization of NKMCs.
In sum, this study provides a general picture of the smuggling and trafficking of NKMCs. It also suggests the adoption of a criminal justice approach rather than a human rights perspective to the understanding of NKMCs’ victimization. Routine activity theory was adopted to analyze the contributing factors to the victimization of NKMCs. Finally, this study suggests the Chinese government should do more to protect NKMC trafficking victims.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Hyoungah Park
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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