Nothing to Envy Terms

A Korean word for “tainted blood” used to single out individuals whose families’ prior sins—which might stretch back generations—make social mobility impossible. read analysis of Beulsun

The Bowibu is the North Korean national security agency that investigates political crimes. read analysis of Bowibu

Hanawon is aA halfway house and reeducation center just outside of Seoul where recent refugees from North Korea spend several months upon their arrivals learning about the outside world and acquiring the life skills needed… read analysis of Hanawon

The inminban, literally the “people’s group[s],” are cooperatives of about twenty 20 families whose job it is to “keep tabs on one another” and make sure their neighborhoods run smoothly. Each inminban, which… read analysis of Inminban

In North Korea, kochebi, or “wandering swallows,” are the masses of children orphaned and left alone after their parents die or abandon them in search of food. These children were named the kochebi at… read analysis of Kochebi

Songbun is the system of ascribed, often unchangeable status within the social hierarchy of North Korea. One’s songbun is based on the political, social, and economic statii status of one’s ancestors, stretching back at least… read analysis of Songbun

Songun is the North Korean political ideology which that emphasizes a “military- first” approach to government and society. Barbara Demick argues that the rhetoric of songun and other military-first propaganda has been used to justify… read analysis of Songun

The 38thth parallel is a popular name given to latitude 38 N—the latitude marker which roughly separates North Korea from South Korea. The 38thth parallel was chosen somewhat arbitrarily by U.S. military planners at… read analysis of The 38th Parallel

The Korean War was a war between North Korea, which was backed by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, which was backed principally by the United States. The war began in June of… read analysis of The Korean War

The Workers’ Party of Korea is the founding—and ruling—political party of North Korea. The W.P.K. espouses the juche ideology, the songun military-first policy, and the supremacy and infallibility of the Great Leader, who, as of… read analysis of The Workers’ Party of Korea