Who Violates Censorship Laws?

Although research has explored censorship and foreign media consumption in authoritarian regimes, less is known about who chooses to violate censorship laws. Using data from North Korean refugees resettled in South Korea (2010–2019), we investigate the predictors of such violations. North Korea, where they can carry the death penalty, provides a critical case for understanding broader authoritarian contexts. We test three main predictors: economic independence from the state; college education; and socialization under an authoritarian welfare state (the “pre-jangmadang generation”). We find the first two are good predictors, while the third is not. Among the controls—exit age, ruling-party membership, perceived regime instability, proximity to China, and family in South Korea—exit age is significant, and perceived regime instability plays a minor role. These results highlight the role of socioeconomic autonomy and higher education in shaping dissent under authoritarian censorship.