I’ve been watching the Korean peninsula for a long time and have seen some of them. You’re exactly right. Even Viktor Belenko (Soviet pilot who defected with his aircraft) almost broke down and went back. I remember that the DPRK defectors had some kind of an isolated sanctuary that they could go to, which was kind of spartan to cut off the sensory stimulation of the ROK and talk with fellow defectors.
I remember an interview with a Russian immigrant who came here after the fall - they said that it was extremely disturbing and confusing just to go into a supermarket, and see so many choices. They just had no concept of that kind of bounty and choice, and it was very upsetting to them.
I also recall one of the defectors from NK remarking that one thing they missed from NK was seeing the stars at night - I’m sure we all have seen the satellite pics of dark North Korea, and bright South Korea. No light pollution in the North.