Sending money to North Korea used to be a risky endeavor, but now it has become even more challenging.

Every year, North Korean defectors who have resettled in South Korea send money back home to help their families. However, this practice has become increasingly dangerous as both countries crack down on illegal money transfers. Hwang Ji-sung, a broker in South Korea who is also a defector, describes the process as being like a spy movie. It requires a covert network of brokers and couriers spread across South Korea, China, and North Korea. Secret calls are made using smuggled Chinese phones at remote locations, and code names are used to maintain secrecy. The risks involved are extremely high. If caught, North Koreans risk being sent to political prison camps known as kwan-li-so, where many people have died over the years. Despite the dangers, a survey revealed that around 63% of North Korean defectors have transferred money to their families in the North. In recent years, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has intensified his crackdown on brokers to stop the flow of money and South Korean influence. As a result, the number of brokers in North Korea has decreased significantly. South Korea also bans such transfers, but authorities have previously turned a blind eye. However, that is changing now. In April, Hwang and his wife's home was raided by police, and she is now facing charges for violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. These illicit money transfers begin with phone calls between defectors in the South and their families in the North. Chinese phones smuggled in border provinces make these calls possible. Brokers in North Korea facilitate the calls, and then defectors make deposits into Chinese accounts through brokers in South Korea. China closely monitors foreign currency flow, so this process is risky. Chinese brokers are responsible for bringing the money into North Korea, and couriers are employed to deliver the funds to the families. The borders between China and North Korea are relatively porous due to their alliance. Sometimes, remittances from defectors are disguised as transactions between Chinese and North Korean trading companies. Brokers have to use aliases and develop secret codes to communicate and ensure the safety of the transactions. Despite these measures, some families are afraid to accept the money, as they fear it could be a trap set up by security forces. Once the money is delivered, brokers take a significant cut, usually around 50%. They risk their lives for a relatively small amount of money. However, for the families in North Korea, even a small sum can make a significant difference in their daily lives. The crackdown on brokers in both countries has put this lifeline for North Korean defectors and their families in danger. However, many believe that defectors will continue to find ways to send money back home. Hwang asserts that these remittances not only provide financial support but also bring news of the South's prosperity and wealth, which terrifies Kim Jong Un. Despite the risks, defectors like Hwang remain committed to sending money to their loved ones. They are willing to go to extreme lengths, even traveling to China themselves if necessary, to ensure their families have a better life. Hwang, who now works as a lorry driver in South Korea, saves as much as possible so that he can send money to his wife and two sons in the North every year. He is willing to do whatever it takes to support his family, no matter the obstacles.