Defection facts for kids

Defection is when a person leaves their home country in a way that their home country says is against the law. To that first country, the person might be seen as a traitor. This term is often used by governments that have very strict control over their people.

More generally, defection means leaving someone, a group, or an idea that you were once loyal to or had a duty towards.

What is Defection?

Defection happens when someone decides to leave their country, often because they disagree with the government or feel unsafe. The government of their home country usually sees this as an illegal act. They might believe the person has betrayed their country. This is different from simply moving to another country legally.

Why Do People Defect?

People choose to defect for many reasons. Sometimes, they are seeking freedom that they don't have in their home country. This could be freedom of speech, religion, or simply the freedom to live their life how they choose. Others might be looking for better opportunities, like jobs or education, that are not available where they live.

Safety is another big reason. People might defect to escape war, violence, or unfair treatment by their government. They might fear for their lives or their families' lives if they stay.

Defection Today: The Case of North Korea

A well-known example of defection today involves people from North Korea. Many North Koreans try to escape their country to live in new places, like South Korea or the United States. The North Korean government makes it illegal to leave the country without special permission.

The punishments for trying to leave are very severe. People who are caught trying to defect often face harsh prison camps or worse. Since a big famine in North Korea, around 33,000 people have successfully defected from the country. These people are often called defectors. They take huge risks to find a new life and freedom.

Images for kids

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  A Soviet Lavochkin La-7 fighter aircraft, that crash-landed in Sweden after being flown there by a defecting pilot, May 1949

See also

In Spanish: Defección para niños