North Korean Caste System is Modern Segregation

By: Miles Sullivan

North Korea's songbun system – a socio-political classification that discriminates against its own citizens – is the most oppressive forms of institutionalized discrimination in existence today. It’s abuses are so egregious that there is no parallel in the modern world. This state-imposed hierarchy is a modern form of apartide. 

Established under Kim Il-sung in the 1950s, the songbun system categorizes the North Korean population into three main classes: the "core class," seen as loyal supporters of the regime; the "wavering class," treated with suspicion; and the "hostile class," regarded as enemies of the state. These are further divided into more than 50 subcategories, determined by an individual’s ancestry, social background, and perceived loyalty to the ruling Kim family. Once assigned, songbun is nearly impossible to escape and often passed down through generations.

The consequences of this rigid system are devastating. Songbun affects access to virtually every aspect of life: education, employment, healthcare, housing, and even food. Those in the core class enjoy privileges such as residence in Pyongyang, access to higher education, and prestigious careers. Conversely, those in the hostile class are relegated to remote, impoverished areas, performing menial labor under harsh conditions. Many are sent to North Korea's notorious prison camps, where starvation, torture, and forced labor are routine.

For millions of North Koreans, songbun is not just a social classification but a life sentence. One’s position is determined by family background, often based on events as far back as the Korean War. A great-grandparent’s perceived disloyalty to the regime can condemn descendants to a lifetime of poverty and persecution. Even minor infractions or accusations of disloyalty can result in entire families being demoted to the lowest tiers of the system.

While apartheid in South Africa was built on racial segregation, North Korea’s caste system segrigates its people by perceived loyalty. The system strips individuals of agency, denying millions the chance to improve their circumstances or escape generational poverty.

International scrutiny of the songbun system has increased in recent years, thanks in part to the testimonies of defectors. Their accounts reveal a society where one’s survival depends entirely on their songbun status. During famine, for instance, food distribution prioritizes the core class, leaving those in the lower classes to starve. Access to education and healthcare is similarly stratified, with the hostile class receiving little to no resources. 

Despite growing awareness, addressing the caste system remains a monumental challenge. North Korea denies the existence of such discrimination, branding international reports as propaganda. The regime continues to isolate itself from the world, making external intervention difficult. However, organizations like the United Nations and human rights advocates have urged the international community to hold North Korea accountable for its systemic oppression. The global community must continue to shed light on these abuses, pushing for accountability and change for the millions trapped under North Korea's oppressive caste system.

Works Cited

Robertson, Phil. "North Korea’s Caste System." Human Rights Watch, 5 July 2016, https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/05/north-koreas-caste-system.

Shim, Elizabeth. "Ex-UN Official: North Korean Caste System Is the 'New Apartheid.'" UPI, 22 Oct. 2015, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/10/22/Ex-UN-official-North-Korean-caste-system-is-the-new-apartheid/1571445526152/.

"Songbun." Liberty in North Korea, 17 Dec. 2019, https://libertyinnorthkorea.org/blog/songbun.

"Songbun." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songbun#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Committee,into%20three%20primary%20castes%E2%80%94core%2C.