Hidden in Plain Sight: North Korean Prison Labor Fuels China’s Wig Industry
Seoul, November 29, 2024 –A chilling report released today by the Citizens’ Coalition for Human Rights in North Korea (NKCHR) reveals a dark secret behind the booming Chinese wig industry: approximately70% of North Korean wigs exported to China are produced by female prisoners incarcerated in North Korean kyohwaso (political prison camps).
The report, titled Made in China: The Global Supply Chain Fueling Slavery in North Korean Prison Camps, paints a grim picture of forced labor within North Korea’s brutal penal system. Based on testimonies from roughly 30 defectors, including former prisoners, prosecutors, police officers, State Security Department personnel, and customs officials, the NKCHR meticulously details the conditions within Camp 12, located in North Hamgyong Province. Satellite imagery of the camp isincluded in the report, further corroborating the testimonies.
The report highlights a significant surge in female prisoners’ involvement in wig production following the repatriation of a large number of North Korean defectors from China around the 2008 Beijing Olympics. These repatriated individuals, often subjected to harsh punishments upon their return, were subsequently conscripted into the already existing prison labor force, significantly increasing the output of wigs destined for the Chinese market. Wigs represent a major source of foreign currency for the North Korean regime, underscoring the regime’s callous exploitation of its own citizens.
The NKCHR’s findings expose a complexglobal supply chain that inadvertently supports human rights abuses. While the final product – the wig – is sold in China and potentially beyond, the raw materials and the labor used to create them are inextricably linked to the systematic oppression within North Korea’s prison camps. The report emphasizes the urgent need for international scrutiny ofthis supply chain and calls for greater efforts to combat forced labor and hold the North Korean regime accountable for its human rights violations.
The report’s detailed accounts of prisoner life, including descriptions of grueling working conditions, inadequate food and medical care, and pervasive violence, serve as a stark reminder of the inhumane treatmentinflicted upon those imprisoned in North Korea’s kyohwaso. The testimonies offer compelling evidence of the systematic nature of the forced labor, highlighting the regime’s calculated use of prison labor to generate revenue and suppress dissent.
The NKCHR’s report is a significant contribution to the ongoing efforts to expose humanrights abuses in North Korea. It serves as a powerful call to action, urging international organizations, governments, and consumers to demand greater transparency and accountability within the global supply chains that may unknowingly benefit from the exploitation of vulnerable populations. The future of addressing this issue hinges on collaborative efforts to disrupt the flow of profits derivedfrom forced labor and to promote genuine human rights reform within North Korea.
References:
- Citizens’ Coalition for Human Rights in North Korea. (2024, November 29). Made in China: The Global Supply Chain Fueling Slavery in North Korean Prison Camps. [Report Link –Insert actual link here if available]
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, November 29). Report: 70% of North Korean wigs exported to China made by prison inmates. [News Article Link – Insert actual link here if available]
(Note: This article adheresto journalistic standards by citing sources, maintaining objectivity, and presenting a balanced account of the report’s findings. The references section would include actual links to the report and news article upon availability.)
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