As divorce charges rose attributable to financial troubles after the pandemic started, additionally they elevated as {couples} fled to South Korea.

In keeping with a February 2024 report by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification which surveyed 2,432 folks, 28.7 p.c of the ladies and 15.2 p.c of the boys have been divorced.

Whereas present North Korean divorce price knowledge just isn’t obtainable, the RFA report mentioned that solely three per cent of North Korea’s inhabitants was categorised as separated in 2008’s nationwide census.

A resident of the northern Ryanggang province advised the UK’s The Normal, “I went to the Kimjongsuk County Individuals’s Courtroom … the place 12 folks obtained divorce decrees.

“Instantly after the decision, they have been transferred to the county labour coaching camp.

“Till final 12 months, when a pair divorced, solely the one that first filed for divorce was despatched to a labour coaching camp.

“Beginning this month, all divorced {couples} can be despatched to labour coaching camps.”

In Korea, the act of divorce is closely frowned upon. Not solely is it thought of an affront to socialism but additionally to the normal Confucian values that each the north and south have been constructed on.

Elevated punishments for many who need to divorce might even discourage marriage, inflicting an extra lower in North Korea’s delivery price, which has already gone down to only 1.78 youngsters per lady.