Man Documents Visits to North and South Korea, Reveals Eye-Opening Differences in Daily Life

North Korea vs South Korea Jacob Laukaitis

Defining himself as a “location independent entrepreneur” Jacob Laukaitis has spent the past four years traveling around the globe and documenting his experiences on YouTube. Last year, during a 7-day guided trip to North Korea, which he calls “the weirdest country I've ever visited,” he vowed to return to South Korea in order to understand how the divide has influenced both countries.

The differences he discovered are heartbreaking and profound. In his newest video, Laukaitis discusses just how much Korea has changed from north to south in just a few generations. Moving across South Korea, from Seoul and into the countryside, he can't help but notice the striking differences in freedom and lifestyle. “In the South, people could freely express themselves in absolutely any way they wished, whereas in the North everyone was part of some big group, where they dressed the same, looked the same and acted the same,” Luakaitis shares with us via email.

During his time in South Korea, the travel enthusiast was able to spend time with a man who was born and raised in North Korea, but managed to escape the country 10 years ago. He worked for 3 years on a farm in China before paying off the debt to the smugglers who helped him leave and get his documents together in order to move to South Korea. It's experiences like this, along with Laukaitis' visit to an amusement park just kilometers from the North Korean border, that make his short film documenting the experience a cut above the rest.

While many photographers visit North Korea and document their guided tours, few projects paint the side by side picture that Laukaitis does. Through his photography and video, he forces us to ask further questions and realize just how much a political divide can rip apart one culture in a short time.

Jacob Laukaitis traveled to North Korea on a strictly guided 7-day tour. One year later, he visited South Korea in order to better understand how the divided country has evolved since it was separated a little over 60 years ago.

Using photographs to compare daily life in North and South Korea paints a striking picture of just how different this once unified country has become.

Youth Culture

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life South Korea

South Korea

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life North Korea

North Korea

 

City Streets

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life South Korea

South Korea

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life North Korea

North Korea

 

Leisure Time

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life South Korea

South Korea

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life North Korea

North Korea

 

University Life

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life South Korea

South Korea

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life North Korea

North Korea

 

Rural Scenery

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life South Korea

South Korea

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life North Korea

North Korea

 

Train Station

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life South Korea

South Korea

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life North Korea

North Korea

 

Parking Lot

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life South Korea

South Korea

Jacob Laukaitis travel daily life North Korea

North Korea

Jacob Laukaitis: YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Jacob Laukaitis.

Related Articles:

Interview: Photographer Spends Week Capturing Life in North Korea

Soldier’s B&W Photos Capture Rare Glimpse of Seoul Rebuilding After Korean War

Tourist Illegally Documents Trip to North Korea and Shares Insightful Photos He Smuggled Home

Documenting the Chinese Border Between Russia and North Korea

Fascinating Instagram Photos from Inside North Korea

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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