North Korea has one of the worst human rights records on earth. It’s a desparately poor country where even the slightest amount of dissent is punished severely. For average North Korean citizens, simply leaving the country without official permission is considered an act of treason. Still, over the last decade, tens of thousands of North Koreans have decided to do just that: to flee their native country. Some make to South Korea, where they get automatic citizenship and an array of financial benefits. Matthew Bell, (’00) produced a radio series on North Korea’s refugees for PRI’s The World.

Listen to the radio series.