A North Korean defector, Charles Ryu, has opened up about his childhood experiences in North Korea, describing a school system dominated by propaganda and the extreme hunger he endured during a period of detention.
Ryu, who says he escaped the country twice, spoke about his experiences during a recent appearance on the Home Room Show podcast. He has been publicly sharing his story since 2018 in an effort to raise awareness about life inside the secretive state.
School Curriculum Focused on the Kim Family
According to Ryu, much of the education system in North Korea is structured around glorifying the ruling family.
He said his school curriculum consisted of six main subjects, two of which were entirely dedicated to the lives and histories of the country’s founding leaders — Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il.
Alongside these subjects, students also studied North Korean mathematics, arts and crafts, and other basic lessons.
Ryu recalled that even mathematics could be framed through ideological messaging. In one example, he said teachers sometimes used political metaphors to reinforce loyalty to the state.
“One plus one is one,” he remembered being taught, explaining that lessons often incorporated symbolic interpretations tied to the military or national unity.
Human rights groups have long reported that the education system in North Korea emphasises unwavering loyalty to the ruling Kim family.
Childhood Dreams Shaped by Propaganda
Ryu also described how propaganda influenced the ambitions of many children growing up in the country.
While children in other parts of the world may aspire to careers such as doctors or lawyers, he said students in North Korea were encouraged to devote their lives to protecting the nation’s leadership.
“As a child, I imagined becoming a human shield for Kim Jong-il,” he said, recalling how he once pictured sacrificing himself to save the leader in a hypothetical attack.
Today, North Korea is ruled by Kim Jong-un, the third generation of the Kim dynasty.
Severe Hunger During Detention
Ryu also shared harrowing details of a period when he was detained after attempting to flee the country.
During his confinement, he said extreme hunger forced him to resort to desperate measures to survive.
According to Ryu, he was so malnourished that he ate newborn rats he found in a hole in the wall of his cell. At times, he added, he even searched for undigested food because of severe starvation.
Food Insecurity Remains a Major Concern
International organisations have repeatedly warned about chronic food shortages in North Korea.
According to the United Nations, millions of people in the country remain vulnerable to food insecurity due to economic isolation, international sanctions, and recurring natural disasters.
Speaking Out After Escape
After eventually escaping the country and reaching safety abroad, Ryu said he decided to speak publicly about his experiences.
Defectors’ testimonies remain one of the few sources of information about everyday life inside North Korea, where independent journalism and outside reporting are heavily restricted.
By sharing his story, Ryu says he hopes to shed light on the realities faced by people living under one of the world’s most secretive regimes.