As the year comes to a close, many people

in South Korea find themselves busy at parties with friends, colleagues, and at

school reunions, but how about our neighbors to the north?

Defectors tell Daily NK that although

‘small reunions’ take place sporadically, large group events are hard to come

by. This is because with so many people working in the markets, it is hard to

find a time that can accommodate everyone’s schedule.

“Unlike in the South, where everyone meets

up with close friends at the end of the year, not a lot of people in the North

have that kind of time, so it’s hard to imagine,” Lee Geum Sun (age 51), who

escaped from North Korea in 2012, told Daily NK. “But those who have some money

are able to get together for smaller reunions,” she said.

Another reason why reunions do not take

place on large scale is because it is difficult to know who to trust. “You can

never tell who is spying for the State Security Department, so you only

contact those you are closest to,” Lee explained. “Also, more people have

become traveling vendors, so it’s hard to get in touch with them,” she added.

The class reunions that do take place amid

these difficulties are usually at someone’s home in an open and relaxing

environment, typically involving drinking and dancing.

“If the members are a bit older, they often

play cards, but when it comes to drinking and having fun, it’s not much

different from the South,” Kim Chang Gil (age 39), who escaped from North

Hamgyong Province, said.

“In the case of younger North Koreans these days,

because of the Hallyu (South Korean cultural wave) influence, they like to

watch movies or sing along to music from the South together.”

Perhaps the starkest contrast regarding reunions in each of the respective Koreas is that these gatherings north of the 38th parallel do not typically take place in restaurants or other public spaces. This is to avoid the

slightest possibility of being accused for engaging in “factional activities.”

which are, needless to say, strictly prohibited.

“The state always tries to intimidate

people through the security agency by telling them not to speak on politics

during reunions or gatherings with friends,” Lee Geum Sun said. “They also

carry out separate investigations into group gatherings like school and college

reunions,” she said, adding, “If your group is accused of being a subversive

gathering, you not only face punishment, you might be sent to a political

prison camp.”

Kim also explained that the state looks

into when, where, and with whom these gatherings take place, and it also

closely monitors what is being discussed. “This is why people are more

reluctant to get together in public,” he said.

Surveillance on Party cadres, who more

likely have enough clout to form groups, is even stricter, which is why there

are almost no gatherings among higher-ranking members. This is also the case

for the cadres’ offspring, reflecting the state’s intention of stamping

out any potential roots that could develop into political forces.

“In the case of Kim Il Sung University,

which is said to foster future cadre members, the word ‘reunion’ doesn’t even

exist,” said Lee. “The state has managed to build up a system that can monitor

each individual’s every move.”