Imagine being born in a country where you can’t choose what to watch, read, say — or even think. A place where the government decides everything for you: your job, your hairstyle, and even who your friends should be.
That’s the everyday reality for people born in North Korea, one of the most secretive and controlled countries in the world.
Let’s take you inside what your life would be like if you were born there — and why it would feel like you never really knew what freedom means.
1. From Birth, You Belong to the Government 🍼
In North Korea, your life is controlled from the very beginning. You don’t get to choose your religion, political beliefs, or even where you want to live. Everything is decided by the state.
From a young age, children are taught to worship the country’s leader — currently Kim Jong-un — as if he were a god. His photo is placed in every home, school, and building, and everyone is required to show respect to it daily.
You would never hear criticism of the government. In fact, even thinking bad things about the leader could get your whole family punished. That’s not freedom — that’s fear.
2. No Google. No Netflix. No Instagram. 📵
If you were born in North Korea, you would have no access to the internet like the rest of the world. No YouTube. No WhatsApp. No chatting with people in other countries. ❌🌍
The only websites you could access are controlled by the government, and all news is carefully selected to show only what the regime wants people to see.
You’d grow up never knowing what K-pop, cricket, iPhones, or world news are — unless you risked your life to secretly watch smuggled foreign shows or listen to banned radio broadcasts.
And if you’re caught? Jail — or worse. 😢
3. You Can’t Travel – Not Even to the Next Town 🛑
People in North Korea cannot move freely from one town to another without government permission. Want to move to the capital city, Pyongyang? Not allowed — unless the government says so.
Leaving the country? Almost impossible. The borders are tightly sealed, and anyone caught trying to escape is punished harshly — sometimes with death. Families of escapees can be arrested and punished too, under the “three generations” rule.
So, if you were born in North Korea, chances are you would live and die in the same place, never knowing what other countries even look like.
4. Forced to Worship a Leader Like a God 🙏
North Korean children are taught to cry and praise Kim Il-sung (the founder), Kim Jong-il (his son), and Kim Jong-un (his grandson).
It’s not a choice. It’s mandatory.
School lessons, posters, TV programs — everything is designed to teach you that the leaders are always right, always kind, and better than everyone else in the world.
You might even have to write letters thanking the leader for the food you eat, even if it’s just a bowl of plain rice.
Imagine living your whole life without ever questioning the people in power — because doing so could get you or your loved ones killed or sent to prison camps.
5. Food Shortages and Starvation Are Normal 🍚❌
If you were born in North Korea, chances are you would go hungry — a lot.
Millions of people there live with not enough food, especially those outside the rich capital. In the 1990s, a huge famine killed hundreds of thousands of people.
The government controls the food supply. You can’t go to a supermarket and buy whatever you like. Most people rely on ration cards, and those cards depend on your loyalty to the regime.
If your family is seen as “disloyal” or “suspicious,” you may not get food at all.
6. Your Future Is Decided by Your Family’s Past 📜
In North Korea, your family background decides your future. This system is called “Songbun.”
It means the government looks at how loyal your parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents were to the ruling party. If anyone in your family ever disobeyed or doubted the regime, you’re seen as “untrustworthy.”
That could mean:
- You can’t attend good schools
- You can’t live in better cities
- You can’t work in government jobs
- You’ll be watched closely your whole life
No matter how smart or hardworking you are, your fate is mostly sealed by your bloodline.
7. Prison Camps for Speaking the Truth 😔
North Korea has secret prison camps where thousands of people are held — without a fair trial — simply for speaking out, trying to escape, practicing religion, or even listening to foreign music.
In these camps, people are forced to:
- Work long hours with little food
- Live in dirty, overcrowded cells
- Be tortured or beaten
- Watch others be executed
And the worst part? Many people are born into these camps and spend their entire lives without knowing the outside world exists.
8. You Might Not Know the Truth Exists 💭
If you were born in North Korea, you might not even know what you’re missing.
Because you’d be told:
- North Korea is the best country
- People in the outside world are poor and suffering
- The leaders are loved by all
- Foreign countries are evil and jealous
With no internet, no free press, and no travel — how would you ever know otherwise?
Final Thoughts: A Life Without Choice 🕊️❌
Being born in North Korea means living in a world where you don’t have control over your future. No freedom to think, speak, or move. No chance to explore, question, or grow.
And the scariest part? You wouldn’t even know what freedom feels like.
Freedom is not just about voting or traveling — it’s about being able to dream, explore, and choose your own path. Sadly, for millions of North Koreans, those things are still just a dream.
