S Korean TV show

Laughter... tears.... and everything in between. A South Korean variety show aims to bridge the culture gap amongst women from the North and the South.

The program "Now on my way to Meet You" is a hybrid talk-talent show for women and features North Korean defectors talking about what matters to them.

From husbands, to plastic surgery, to life under a communist regime... women on the show are given a forum to speak their mind, a freedom most of these women have never known.

(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 25-YEAR-OLD NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR SHIN EUN-HA SAYING:

"I have had a hard life so far, so honestly I have never imagined I would have this experience. However, I'm on TV like this and have my fan club. Still it is a surprise and I don't know how I am supposed to do. On the other hand, I want to do better in the show and have more fans."

The show's producer says the public's response has been phenomenal.

(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRODUCER LEE JIN-MIN SAYING:

"I have never seen this kind of reaction from viewers in my 10 year TV career. Comments like "I cried for the first time in 10 years together with my husband," and "We decided not to divorce next week" and "Thank you for changing the perception toward North Korean defector".

There are about 23,000 North Koreans who've defected to the South since the 1990's.

Julie Noce, Reuters