By : Chung Eui-sung (North Korean defector)
People with disabilities in North Korea have long been marginalized, viewed as unnecessary due to their inability to contribute to socialist construction through labor. During the 1970s and 1980s, individuals with short stature were often sent to remote mountainous areas or isolated island facilities, as they were deemed detrimental to the beautification of urban culture.
By the 1990s, as the international community increasingly criticized North Korea’s human rights record, the regime began to take notice. In 2003, North Korea enacted the “Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities.” However, the law merely outlined general principles, such as treating disabled individuals kindly and without discrimination, and failed to bring about any real changes in their lives.
Under Kim Jong-un’s regime, the situation for people with disabilities has worsened. When a newborn with disabilities is born, families often regard the child as a harbinger of misfortune. In many cases, doctors recommend abortion or infanticide to the mother. Those who survive infancy often face bullying and discrimination at school, are ostracized by their peers, or neglected by teachers. These challenges severely affect their academic achievements and self-esteem, often driving them to abandon their education and seek a livelihood instead.
Even after completing school, people with disabilities struggle to integrate into society. North Korea places high value on physical labor, making it nearly impossible for disabled individuals to secure decent jobs. Their options are usually limited to low-paying jobs in “light labor workplaces” designated for disabled people, such as cobbler shops or clock repair services, which hardly provide enough income for survival.
Marriage poses another significant challenge.
Traditional views on marriage remain strong in North Korea, making it difficult for people with disabilities to start families. Even if they manage to marry and have children without disabilities, these children often face social discrimination because of their parents, leading to bullying and ostracism at school. The entire family suffers as a result.
Discrimination also varies by type of disability. For example, individuals with intellectual or mental disabilities face particularly severe challenges. Known as “Class 49” in North Korea, these individuals are heavily monitored by state agencies like the Ministry of State Security, as they are labeled potential “subversive and dangerous elements.” Those who express dissatisfaction with society or criticize the Supreme Leader may be sent to political prison camps or even executed.
Despite the enactment of the 2003 “Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities,” the law has had little impact on improving the lives of people with disabilities. Amendments made in 2013 under international pressure and the 2023 enactment of the “Law on the Protection of Disability Rights” were hailed by the North Korean government as achievements in its fourth Universal Periodic Review(UPR). However, these measures remain largely symbolic. They lack concrete policies to promote equal opportunities or shift societal perceptions.
North Korean people with disabilities continue to suffer from social discrimination and exclusion, and it remains uncertain whether they will ever achieve meaningful rights. True change requires not only laws and policies but also the attention and inclusion of all members of society.
The North Korean regime must recognize this reality. Until the day North Korea respects disability rights and eliminates discrimination, the international community, the UN, and human rights organizations must persist in their advocacy.