1990년 이후 북한주민의 소비생활에 나타나는 추세 현상 연구: 북한이탈주민의 경험담을 중심으로

Abstract

North Korean society experienced a sort of paradigm shift in accordance with internal and external environmental changes. In this situation, many North Korean defectors claimed that there was a new trend in the North Korean’s appearances and consumption that corresponded to the phenomenon. This paper will recollect the experiences of the North Korean defectors and aim to meticulously depict and record the trend of the North Koreans’ everyday life after 1990. In retrospective, North Korean society before 1990 remained relatively stable, and the residents generally lived in a unchanging environment as well. Many residents have predictably spent their entire lives in their hometowns with relatively little changes. However, the daily life after 1990 was no longer predictable due to collapse of the distribution system and the beginning of the Arduous March following the death of the “Eternal Leader” Kim Il Sung, the increasing number of defectors (defection becoming more and more common), the expansion of the market, and the proliferation of corruption and bribery. The situation affected the lifestyle of North Korean residents as well. Before 1990, there were little differences to distinguish the lifestyles of the residents. However, after 1990, social trends in women's outfits and house decorations as well as bribed items and the excessive use of money have been observed. The emergence of trends in the North Koreans’ daily life after 1990 can be perceived as the result of the changes that have already occurred. However, on the other hand, it can also be seen as a driving force towards eliciting greater changes.