In May 2023, a North Korean family led by brothers Kim Il-hyeok and Kim Yi-hyeok executed a risky escape from their homeland, navigating treacherous waters to reach South Korea. Their defection provides rare first-hand insight into life under the strict control of Kim Jong-un’s regime, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
The family, which included their mother, partners, children, and extended relatives, fled from the southwest county of Pyoksong and the coastal town of Kangryong, where Yi-hyeok had worked in a military-run fisheries company. For years, the brothers and their families endured severe hardships exacerbated by North Korea’s harsh pandemic restrictions. The government closed access to the sea with barbed wire and armed guards, disrupting Yi-hyeok’s fishing business and increasing their debts. Meanwhile, state elites continued accessing resources, deepening inequality.
During the pandemic, public executions surged as the regime sought to maintain control by inciting fear. Many were punished for offenses such as smuggling South Korean media or violating lockdown rules. The brothers described the atmosphere as an attempt to “erase any fantasy about the outside world,” with citizens forced to witness violent crackdowns.
Before their defection, the brothers communicated in coded language to coordinate their escape. Under the cover of night on May 6, 2023, the family placed their two young children inside burlap sacks to carry them more easily as they made their way over a mined coastal hill to a secluded shore. Their brother-in-law waited offshore by boat, which then ferried them toward Yeonpyeong Island, approximately nine miles from the South Korean coast.
The escape was nearly thwarted when a North Korean patrol boat appeared behind them. The family’s plan involved sending the women and children into the water with life jackets and flashlights to be carried south by currents while the men acted as a decoy. Ultimately, a makeshift fishing net tangled the North Korean boat’s propeller, allowing the family’s craft to evade capture. South Korean authorities intercepted them shortly after midnight and brought the nine family members aboard, welcoming them to what they called “paradise.”
Since arriving in South Korea, the family has faced both opportunities and difficulties adjusting to a vastly different society. Yi-hyeok resumed helmet diving for seafood, while his wife Yu-mi earned a certificate in accounting and found work at a local school. Il-hyeok has taken on various part-time jobs, including roles in restaurants and operating machinery, while raising his newborn daughters with his partner, whom he married in 2024.
Despite newfound freedoms, the family’s transition has been challenging. Yi-hyeok tragically died in a diving accident in late 2024. Additionally, their mother and Il-hyeok’s wife have been diagnosed with cancer. Il-hyeok has expressed frustration with South Korea’s high living costs and cramped government housing but remains resolute that their defection was the right choice.
Throughout their journey, the brothers carried with them the ashes of their father, honoring his wish to seek a life beyond North Korea’s restrictive regime. Their story sheds light on the resilience of defectors and the ongoing human cost of one of the world’s most closed societies.