From 9 to 10 September 2025, Global Rights Compliance’s (GRC) North Korea (DPRK) Team, the Center for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS), and the Graduate School of International Studies Yonsei University hosted a workshop titled “Investigating DPRK Forced Labour Overseas: Where Theory Meets Action” in Seoul, South Korea. The workshop brought together members of the affected communities, researchers, analysts, journalists, investigators, and activists to unpack and examine the complex machinery behind DPRK’s overseas forced labour system.
The two-day, in-person workshop was held within the framework of a project funded by the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), which was launched in September 2024. The Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), a long-standing and trusted partner of GRC, played a vital role in both the planning and execution of the workshop.
The two-day workshop at a glace
The workshop examined DPRK’s overseas forced labour system, explored relevant legal frameworks and investigative methodologies, discussed the roles of China and Russia, and shared investigative tools and strategies in a collaborative space.
Day 1 opened with welcome remarks from Anna Gallina, – Project Lead at GRC-, followed by a powerful keynote from the Director of Daily NK, Lee Sang-yong, who drew on fifteen years of experience investigating North Korea’s forced labour system. The Daily NK Director walked participants through testimonies from DPRK workers sent overseas, revealing the harsh realities behind their contracts, and highlighting the scale and structural nature of their exploitation.
The following sessions were delivered by OSINT expert C4ADS and focused on open-source investigations into these types of violations and the relevant data environments. Specifically, C4ADS delivered in-depth trainings on how to navigate Russian and Chinese data landscapes, critical for anyone seeking to uncover DPRK’s overseas labour networks. Participants were introduced to Russia’s vast corporate and judicial registries, Chinese official and unofficial databases, unique identifiers and how these can be used to trace hidden facilitators and business structures, amongst others. Attendees also learned how to leverage publicly available information on Russian and Chinese social media platforms to map networks, relationships, and even family ties.
Day 2 opened with Hubert Y.H. Lee, Executive Director of TJWG, who powerfully framed the discussion by connecting DPRK’s tactics of transnational repression with its overseas forced labour system. He reminded participants that forced labour is not an isolated issue, but part of a broader machinery of control, and urged the community to work collectively.
His remarks set the tone for the following two sessions, led by Yeji Kim, GRC’s DPRK Advisor. The first session focused on forced labour’s international legal framework, unpacking what constitutes forced labour, when it becomes a crime against humanity, and what accountability avenues can be pursued. The second one examined DPRK’s overseas forced-labour programme through the voices of those who lived it and escaped it. The workshop concluded with an open discussion where participants shared personal stories and reflections. They spoke about how the regime exploits workers’ expectations, controls their every move, and inflicts both material deprivation and psychological trauma. The discussion also addressed key challenges in investigating forced labour. In their final thoughts, participants highlighted the importance of collaboration and stressed the need to prioritize what victims themselves truly want, while recognising that these priorities may differ from person to person.
Lessons learnt
The workshop underscored the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing as a foundation for advancing accountability. Creating a space for open exchange allowed diverse actors to engage in discussions that were both professional and intimate, making it possible to address sensitive issues with depth and nuance. Defectors’ stories played a central role, reminding participants that accountability must begin with listening to the affected communities and understanding their lived experiences. Media perspectives reinforced this point, stressing their responsibility of amplifying these voices so they can reach wider audiences and influence both public awareness and policy debates.
At the same time, the workshop highlighted the need for innovation in investigative approaches. Training sessions showed how open-source investigations can be a powerful tool to uncover hidden facilitators and supply chain links. Yet participants also cautioned against blunt or uniform responses. Tackling such an entrenched system demands holistic strategies tailored to the realities of workers themselves, ensuring they are the reference point for any accountability, reform, or reparation efforts. Building on these insights, GRC’s DPRK team will move forward by deepening investigations, expanding partnerships, and developing survivor-centred strategies to push accountability and action into the coming year.