LiNK's Shelters (The Underground)
For well over a decade, hundreds of thousands have fled North Korea seeking basic necessities such as food and medicine or even freedom. It is estimated that up to 300,000 are hiding in the underground today. Similar to the Underground Railroad of 19th century America that saved over 30,000 slaves, the modern day underground railroad comprises a network of safe houses and escape routes from North Korea to China, Mongolia, Russia and Southeast Asia. Refugees must traverse over mountains, deserts and other unfriendly terrains and families are frequently separated during the journey in the underground. No outcome is ever certain.
Often left behind or lost along the way are North Korean children whose parents cannot return home or have separated or abandoned them. These children end up illegally in China, homeless and without any documentation, left to find a way to survive or to escape to another country where they could be eligible for resettlement or asylum. Without protection or any rights, they are of the most vulnerable and are at high risk of exploitation or abuse.
Of the North Korean refugees who are hiding or have come through China, the majority are women and over 80 percent are trafficked or voluntarily marry Chinese men. Some of these women, however, leave their families for fear of being caught and sent back to North Korea or to escape abuse. Once the North Korean mothers leave, the Chinese fathers often find themselves struggling or unable to provide for their children, leaving these "stateless" children to be cared for by relatives or altogether abandoned. Stateless children lack documentation that prove their citizenship and allow them to receive education, work legally or have basic rights, leaving them at high risk of exploitation or abuse.
LiNK's Response
China
Working closely with our partners on the ground, we support dozens of children with food, shelter, access to education, transportation to school, scholarships and necessary paperwork. We also protect and shelter some of these children who have been abandoned, abused or are at risk of being sold or exploited.
Southeast Asia
LiNK operates the only major shelter in Southeast Asia for US-bound North Korean refugees. This shelter - which also assists North Koreans seeking to resettle in South Korea - provides protection, shelter, food, education, counseling and medical care before refugees are transferred to the care of free nations that will resettle them.
All refugees are placed under the care of LiNK staff (or Protection Officers) who live with the refugees and walk them through every step – from accompanying them to required medical exams to ensuring their interviews are on track. Protection Officers also prepare refugees for resettlement by beginning the acculturation process as soon as they step into our shelter. A US-bound refugee, for example, is taught English and American history, lives in an environment that incorporates aspects of American and Korean culture, and learns different skills to widen their career options once they have resettled. Ultimately, our goal is to equip North Koreans with the tools they need to thrive once they move on.
What You Can Do
All of our field operations are run solely by LiNK staff and partners as a purely humanitarian endeavor, and continue to be made possible with the generous support of individuals, foundations, and private organizations who have allowed us to keep the doors of our shelters open. We do not accept any form of payment from refugees in exchange for our protection or assistance. Please consider giving to help us continue caring for North Korean children in China and protecting those in Southeast Asia. If you are interested in working on the ground or in our shelters, learn more about opportunities here.