Patterns of Adjustment in Shopping and Food Consumption of North Korean Defectors (Saeteomins) in South Korea from Extreme Poverty to Affluent Society

Sang T. Choe¹, Hyun Jeong Cho^2
(1. University of Southern Indiana, USA; 2. Keimyung University, South Korea)

Abstract: North Korean defectors (saeteomins) are not fully capitalizing their newly-found freedoms to buy, to own, and to consume in a choice-loaded South Korea. The study reveals saeteomins are having some difficulty in adjusting to their new marketing environments in the South, which is one of Asia’s richest countries. They experience discrimination in market places and ignorance of brand names, all of which discourage them from going to modern supermarkets or even to traditional Korean markets. Instead, they shop for food items in nearby expensive neighborhood stores. The saeteomins eat rice two times more than they did in North Korea while the consumption of potatoes, corn, and wheat flour has decreased substantially.

Key words: North Korea; defectior; saeteomin; food consumption

JEL codes: D91, P46