Joy was born in North Korea and fled when she was only 18 in search of a better life. But on her way to freedom Joy was sold to a man in China. And sadly, she’s not alone. An estimated 60% of North Korean women who escape face the same fate.
It only took a few hours for Joy to be trafficked after escaping North Korea. The broker she had trusted to lead her to a better life sold her as a bride in China to a man she had never met.
“For three days, the broker paraded me around villages in northern china, and crowds of men gathered to bid on me...I was sold for $3,000.”
Joy was trafficked in an area we call "The Red Zone". This dangerous border region in China is notorious for its heightened security, increased surveillance, and financial incentives for locals who report North Korean refugees.
For North Korean women like Joy, this is where many of them disappear into forced marriages or the sex industry.
In The Red Zone, a few hours can be the difference between being sold or reaching freedom. Every moment counts.
With the help of Liberty in North Korea, Joy was eventually able to escape and make it safely to South Korea.
Give now to help rescue and empower refugees in some of the most dangerous hours of their lives before they’re sold as brides or arrested and sent back to North Korea.
We’ve helped over 1,200 North Koreans safely reach freedom. But that’s only possible because of the incredible support we receive from people just like you.
Liberty in North Korea is committed to working with the North Korean people to achieve their liberty. We work directly with North Korean refugees because of the humanitarian imperative, but also because of their potential as some of the most effective agents of change on this issue.
