Summary

On her first night in her new apartment, Hyeonseo is frightened and unsettled by the reality of freedom. She spends the night at Ok-hee's and the next day she and Kim are reunited. With his help, her adjustment to life in Seoul goes more smoothly than for most other defectors. However, higher education is extremely valued in South Korean society and is an important marker of social status. Because of the lack of equivalent education in their home country, North Koreans often end up in low-paying jobs and are looked down upon in South Korea. For this reason, Hyeonseo worries that she will have to continue to hide her identity to be accepted in her new country.

Hyeonseo soon realizes that her lack of family background, higher education, and high status career will make it difficult for Kim's family to accept...