"At Age 11, I Was a Joy Brigade Candidate... Forced to Undress in Front of Men": Shocking Testimony from North Korean Defector

"Selected as a Joy Brigade Candidate at Age 11"

"Height Over 165cm and Absence of Scars Are Key Criteria"

The inhumane selection process and actual conditions of the so-called "Joy Brigade," which operates under the pretext of serving North Korea's ruling Kim family, have once again shocked the public through vivid testimony from a North Korean defector.

North Korean defector broadcaster Kim Seoah. Instagram capture

Seoah Kim, a North Korean defector and broadcaster, recently exposed details of the Joy Brigade selection examinations based on her own experiences through her YouTube channel, "Seoah Kim TV." According to her account, she was first selected as a candidate for the Joy Brigade at just 11 years old. After undergoing continued screenings, she was summoned directly by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea at age 17, which marked the start of a formal verification process.

"We Had to Take Off Our Pants and Turn Around Back and Forth"... Shocking Joy Brigade Examinations

The examinations were conducted not at a regular hospital but at a special facility reserved for high-ranking officials, under strict supervision. Kim revealed that she underwent her first-ever gynecological checkup there and was also subjected to so-called "virginity inspections" to determine whether she had ever had sexual intercourse.

Particularly shocking are the degrading and dehumanizing treatments in the process. "About ten female candidates were lined up, and five male officials entered and commanded us to remove both our tops and bottoms and turn around front and back," Kim recalled. "At the time, we tried to console each other since we were all going through the same ordeal, but looking back, it was a moment of unbearable and indelible humiliation," she added.

Taller Than 165cm, No Scars Allowed

It is also known that the standards for being selected for the Joy Brigade were extremely demanding. Kim explained that, in addition to attractive appearances, candidates had to be at least 165cm tall and free from physical scars, which were essential criteria during the assessment.

The Moranbong Band is performing at the celebration event of the Workers' Party of Korea Congress held in Pyongyang. Photo by Yonhap News Agency, KCTV.

Views among North Korean residents regarding such selection are said to be sharply divided. If a child is ultimately chosen as a Joy Brigade member, some parents welcome it, believing it opens the way to higher social status and upward mobility within the regime. On the other hand, a significant number of parents reportedly feel extreme anxiety and sorrow, as selection means at least ten years of virtually no contact or visits with the family.

Kim said that although she went through several rigorous screening rounds, she was ultimately not selected in the final stage. "At the time, I may have been disappointed, but in the end, it allowed me to make the decision to defect and enjoy a free life in South Korea today," she added.

The North Korean authorities completely deny the existence of the Joy Brigade to the outside world. Nevertheless, according to consistent accounts by defectors, members are assigned to perform work—entertainment, event support, and villa management—at the luxury private retreats called "Special Residences," designated for the Kim family.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.