What Explains Individualism in North Korea?

Is engagement in private market activities associated with individualist attitudes and support for capitalism in North Korea? Using a unique survey data set from the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies that focuses on recent arrivals to South Korea from 2011-2020, we test several hypotheses derived from the literature that explains the rise of individualism globally. We find younger people who were in engaged in private business in North Korea are significantly more likely to embrace individualism (but not capitalism). We discuss the implications of this finding for the future of the regime, especially as North Korea marketizes its economy.