From the publisher: Although most North Koreans say ‘yes’ in front of power to avoid trouble, they murmur something different behind its back. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the ‘hidden transcripts’ of the ordinary powerless in contemporary North Korean society. Based on refugee testimonies, the paper examines how mere mortals question, mock, and challenge official rhetoric of the regime at the ever-prospering markets. In particular, a discourse analysis of ‘those who think differently’ and a practice analysis of ‘those who act differently’ are provided. The long-term effects of hidden transcripts of the ordinary powerless on the evolution of the North Korean system are discussed in the conclusion.