A North Korean couple from different parts of the country—the man from the interior and the woman from the border—may have to call off their engagement as they struggle to process the paperwork needed for the would-be groom to update his official domicile. North Korea’s rigid restrictions on changing one’s domicile are even throwing a wrench in young people’s wedding plans.
“A man from South Hwanghae province who was discharged from the border guard in April and a woman in Sinuiju are preparing to hold their wedding in December, but the ceremony is currently in danger of being cancelled because the man cannot get the documents needed for a change of residence,” a source in North Pyongan province told Daily NK recently.
According to the source, the future groom (“A”), who is from a rural area in South Hwanghae province, met the bride-to-be (“B”) while he was doing his military service with the border guard in Sinuiju in North Pyongan province. After three years of dating, the two held an official engagement ceremony this spring, pledging to tie the knot after “A” completed his military service.
Because of the severe disparity between rural and urban areas in North Korea, many parents are reluctant to marry off daughters to men from the countryside. Sure enough, “B’s” parents were reportedly opposed to the match because of her boyfriend’s country pedigree. “A” managed to win them over by promising to change his domicile to Sinuiju.
But there are numerous obstacles to changing one’s official residence in North Korea, and the wedding now hangs in the balance.
Traditional customs reversed by urban-rural divide
“For a long time, it was the custom for women to move to their husband’s hometown upon marriage. But since women are averse to living in the countryside, men from rural areas are expected to make the move when they marry a city woman. But you can’t just change your residence on a whim here, so many such couples end up unable to follow through on their wedding plans,” the source said.
To change one’s domicile in North Korea, an individual must receive a “residence removal certificate” from their current area and then register their domicile in the new area. Arranging those papers, however, is apparently a very convoluted process.
In addition, urban youth are being basically compelled to take on rural assignments every year given the chronic shortage of farm workers. That makes it virtually impossible for “A” to change his domicile from the countryside to a city—and not just any city, but a border city where people are better positioned to attempt to cross the border into China.
“Since there aren’t enough young workers in farming areas, the state is not issuing residence removal certificates to young men fresh from the military who want to move to cities or other areas. And since [this young man] wants to change his domicile to a city on the border, there’s even less chance of him receiving the residence removal certificate or registering his new residence there,” the source said.
“Even if the couple puts off the paperwork and goes ahead with the wedding, they’ll ultimately have to live apart from each other. As a discharged soldier and a party member, ‘A’ risks being stricken from the party rolls if he doesn’t perform his organizational duties. That means ‘A’ cannot leave his hometown until he’s issued a residence removal certificate,” the source explained.
Under these circumstances, “B’s” parents have turned against the marriage. “You ought to just call it off. When so many people get divorced after having children, breaking an engagement is nothing to be ashamed of,” “B” was reportedly told.
“If the couple had enough money for a bribe, they might have been able to take care of the residence removal certificate and the new residence registration. As more and more restrictions are imposed, bribes are costing even more. Right now, poor people are finding it hard to even get married,” the source remarked.
“The couple’s friends sadly say that while ‘love knows no borders,’ in North Korea, love is doomed even inside the country’s borders. It’s really unfortunate that this young couple will have to break up because of these restrictions,” the source added.
