North Korea portrays a narrative of patriotic young volunteers eagerly taking on challenging roles, but the truth reveals a different story where many of these volunteers are escaping from harsh working conditions. Young volunteers known as “dolgyeokdae” at construction sites in South Pyongan Province have been fleeing their jobs due to the grueling work, hunger, and lack of sleep.
Runaways Facing Consequences
Authorities are tracking down these runaway workers, attempting to persuade them to return through ideological education. However, some individuals resort to extreme measures to avoid going back. The Socialist Patriotic Youth League and the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea are collaborating with police to locate and reintegrate the runaways.
The youth league and labor federation have been instructed to use various means, including legal consequences, to ensure the volunteers return to work. Despite these efforts, many young people avoid going back, creating challenges for authorities. The source shared that threats of labor camp sentences have only led to more runaways going into hiding, making the situation harder to resolve.
These struggles shed light on the harsh realities faced by young volunteers, showcasing the complexity of the situation and the lengths to which individuals will go to escape difficult circumstances.
Daily NK values the privacy and security of its sources. For more information, please visit our FAQ page.
For comments or inquiries, contact us at dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
Read in Korean