As part of my school's volunteer service, I applied and was accepted to volunteer with an organization called Teach North Korean Refugees. The organization connects English speakers with refugees who wish to learn English regardless of their level of the English language.
North and South Korea weren't always split. Before 1945, the two countries were joined as one. As the Soviet Union took over the North and the United States took over the South, the two sides split into what are now known as North and South Korea.
According to the Teach North Korean Refugees organization, there are 25 million people living in North Korea, and 25,000 have escaped as refugees. Many refugees live in South Korea. Some live in the United States. In Los Angeles, California, there is a Koreatown where a lot of Korean immigrants (including North Korean refugees) live.
The world doesn't know much about North Korea. It is very secretive and closed-door about the country's life and operations. It's estimated that work income there is less than $2,000 a year. Since it is a Communist country, all occupations get paid the same amount of money. This means a doctor gets paid the same as a policeman and a teacher. The cost to flee the country as a refugee can cost up to $17,000.
