songbun

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Korean 성분(成分) (seongbun).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɒŋbuːn/

Noun

songbun (uncountable)

1. A system of ascribed status in North Korea, based on one's political, social, and economic background and the behaviour of relatives.
   • 2015, Hyeonseo Lee, The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story:

     And to cap it all, both his family and hers had good songbun, which made their position in society secure. Songbun is a caste system that operates in North Korea.

Translations

a system of ascribed status in North Korea

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 出身成分 (chūshēn chéngfèn)

• Japanese: 出身成分 (しゅっしんせいぶん, shusshin seibun)
• Korean: 출신성분(出身成分) (chulsinseongbun)
• Russian: сонбу́н m (sonbún)