I Was Selected for North Korea’s Pleasure Squad: My Experience (Part 1)

Summary

In this personal recount, the speaker shares their experience of being selected for North Korea's elite Pleasure Squad. The process involved intense scrutiny, physical tests, and the pressure to meet rigid beauty standards. The speaker, despite feeling the weight of separation from their family, was selected due to their height and appearance. As part of the squad, they lived in luxury, away from the harsh realities of everyday life in North Korea. The speaker reflects on the stark contrast between their pampered life and the suffering of ordinary citizens, offering a rare glimpse into this secretive world.

Takeaways

• 😀 The narrator shares their personal experience of being selected for North Korea's Pleasure Squad, a highly prestigious and secretive position within the regime.
• 😀 In North Korea, being chosen for the Pleasure Squad is seen as an honor, typically reserved for young, attractive women with good family backgrounds and specific physical attributes.
• 😀 Height was an important factor in the selection process. While the narrator was 5'7" (too tall for Kim Jong-un's preferences), the regime switched to selecting women who were around 5'3" to 5'5" after Kim Jong-un’s visits to Russia.
• 😀 The selection process was invasive and rigorous, involving investigations into personal background, visits to the narrator’s parents, and even a virginity test at the age of 20.
• 😀 The narrator was brought to Pyongyang for the final selection process, with all contact with family severed for security reasons once the girls were chosen.
• 😀 Despite the mother's emotional reluctance, the narrator was determined to go, viewing it as a great honor that would bring prestige to her family.
• 😀 Traveling to Pyongyang involved overcrowded trains, with many people standing for days on end. However, the narrator, due to her special status, was given better conditions, traveling in a sleeper car.
• 😀 Upon arriving, the narrator was one of 12 girls selected from over 50, after a meticulous examination of physical attributes like teeth, scars, and body proportions.
• 😀 The girls selected for the Pleasure Squad were given luxuries not available to ordinary North Koreans, such as nutritious meals and access to a sauna, in stark contrast to the general population's harsh living conditions.
• 😀 The narrator describes the transformation of the girls, who went from sunburnt and malnourished to radiant and healthy, thanks to the special care and luxurious conditions they were provided.
• 😀 The process of becoming a member of the Pleasure Squad included learning military-style rituals and saluting, despite having no actual military training, with the girls being given officer status after a few weeks.

Q & A

What factors determine the selection of girls for the Pleasure Squad in North Korea?

The selection for the Pleasure Squad in North Korea primarily depends on a young woman's physical appearance, including factors like having good skin, a pretty face, and a decent family background. Height is also an important factor, with the ideal height being between 5'3" to 5'5", as taller women like the narrator were considered less ideal due to height differences with Kim Jong Il.

How does the narrator feel about the idea of being selected for the Pleasure Squad?

The narrator initially views being selected for the Pleasure Squad as a great honor for both herself and her family, as it was considered prestigious in North Korean society. She believed that it would offer a way out of the ordinary, difficult life in North Korea.

What was the process of medical examination like for the narrator during the selection?

The narrator underwent a series of examinations, including a virginity test, despite having no prior experience with intimacy. She mentions that there was no sexual education in North Korea, which made her feel terrified and confused about her own body and its functions.

What was the significance of the narrator's family and her mother’s reaction to her selection?

The narrator's mother was deeply concerned about her being selected for the Pleasure Squad. She feared losing contact with her daughter, as she had heard stories about girls who disappeared after joining the Pleasure Squad and never returned home. Despite her mother’s emotional plea for her to stay, the narrator felt that it was a great opportunity and insisted on going.

What was the experience like during the journey to Pyongyang for the final selection?

The journey to Pyongyang was long and uncomfortable, with the train being overcrowded, sometimes taking days or even a week to arrive. The narrator, however, was given special treatment because of her selection for the Pleasure Squad and allowed to travel in a sleeper car to ensure she arrived in the best condition for selection.

How were the final selections made for the Pleasure Squad?

At the final selection in Pyongyang, the girls were meticulously examined by military officers. They were asked to perform various movements, such as turning in different directions, while the officers checked for imperfections like scars, straightness of teeth, and the alignment of their legs. Only the most perfect candidates were chosen, with the narrator being one of the final 12 selected.

What kind of living conditions did the narrator and the other girls experience in Pyongyang?

Upon arrival in Pyongyang, the narrator and the other girls were placed in a guest house that resembled a military barrack. The living conditions included shared dormitory-style accommodations with bunk beds, luxurious pink floral blankets, and basic bathing necessities. Despite the harsh living conditions in the rest of North Korea, they were provided with nutritious meals and a comfortable environment.

What did the girls do during their stay in Pyongyang to prepare for their roles?

While staying in Pyongyang, the girls underwent various training, including practicing singing, dancing, and military salutes. They were also sent to a sauna every other day to improve their skin, which had been damaged from hard labor and malnutrition. The girls' appearances were polished, and they were groomed to fit the expectations of the Pleasure Squad.

How did the girls' physical appearance change after being selected?

After being selected and undergoing the transformation process in Pyongyang, the girls' appearances changed significantly. Their skin became fair and radiant, and their eyes regained life and sparkle. Many of the girls, especially those from harsh living conditions, experienced a dramatic physical transformation, gaining a more youthful and vibrant look.

What does the narrator’s story highlight about life in North Korea for ordinary citizens?

The narrator’s story highlights the stark contrast between the lives of ordinary citizens in North Korea and those selected for special treatment, such as the Pleasure Squad. While ordinary people struggled with malnutrition and harsh living conditions, those in the Pleasure Squad enjoyed luxurious food, comfortable living conditions, and a life of privilege, revealing the deep inequalities within the regime.