North Korean Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

North Korea occupies the northern half of the Korean peninsula and is one of the most closed countries in the world. Leaving is dangerous and rare. Britain's small North Korean community, made up of people who have escaped, is centred in New Malden in south-west London, where it lives alongside a large South Korean community.

The community in numbers

The 2021 Census does not publish a separate Birmingham figure for the North Korean community, which is counted within the census's figure for people of Korean heritage, which does not separate North and South. By any measure it is one of the city's smaller communities, which makes the ties between its members all the closer.

Working for Birmingham

North Koreans who settle in Britain often start from nothing, learning English and new skills while rebuilding their lives. Many work in catering, retail and care, and some have become students, campaigners and business owners. Their resilience is an inspiration, and anyone who makes their way to Birmingham finds a city used to welcoming newcomers.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The North Korean community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

North Koreans share the Korean language, food and traditions with South Koreans, including kimchi, cold noodles known as naengmyeon and the harvest festival of Chuseok. Many choose to share their stories publicly, helping people in Britain understand life in one of the world's most secretive states.

Like so many of the communities that make up modern Birmingham, the North Korean community shows how a city can be home to many cultures at once. Its members are proud of where they come from, and just as proud to be Brummies.