Trail of Tears: North Korean Women Defectors' Perceptions of Trauma

North Korean women defectors are exposed to many traumatic events before they finally settle in South Korea. This can lead to severe mental health issues and compound the struggle to adapt to their new lives. However, there is a lack of research on trauma from their perspective. This study aimed to understand how North Korean women defectors perceive trauma by employing a Q-methodology study with 18 North Korean women defectors as its sample. The findings revealed four overarching types of perceptions about trauma. The first type of perception focused on how economic hardship exacerbates trauma. The second centered around how trauma reduces life satisfaction. The third emphasized trauma caused by sexual violence. The fourth type strongly perceived the need for additional support for psychotherapy. The significance of this study lies in providing a foundation for further research to understand and assess the economic, psychological, and mental health needs of North Korean women defectors more comprehensively, contributing to a globally informed perspective on their trauma experiences.