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Sun, April 21, 2019 | 11:40

Opinion > Blogs > Voices from the North >

Unthinkable in North Korea: Ordinary and elite defectors mingle in Seoul

On July 22, Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) held a special forum with Thae Yong-ho, the former North Korean diplomat who escaped to South Korea in 2016. In attendance were four students studying at TNKR. Two of them gave the following responses to meeting Thae.

Voices from the North | 2018-07-29 14:52

'I have arrived in South Korea. Now what?' (1)

After I arrived in South Korea, I sometimes thought about returning to North Korea. That would be like escaping to a torture room, so I never thought about it seriously. I really struggled when I first arrived here. The government was trying to offer me so many benefits, but I really wanted to make my own way. I was desperate about trying to find a job because of my unstable ...

Voices from the North | 2018-07-14 10:21

Why North Korean defectors learn English (5)

I feel pressure to learn English because so many people around me use it. I am desperate now because of my university classes, where sometimes I have to make presentations in English.

Voices from the North | 2018-07-07 09:51

The seven stages of Donald Trump

In the past two years, I have talked with numerous North Korean refugees about U.S. President Donald Trump. Like others who go through “stages” for things such as grief, dementia, life or love, North Korean refugees have now gone through seven stages of Trump. Stage 1: The unknown. With Hillary Clinton anointed as the next president until the electoral votes were counted, can...

Voices from the North | 2018-07-01 09:45

Defectors' views on Kim-Trump summit

I cried when I saw the Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un shake hands. When I was in North Korea, I was taught to hate Americans and America, that North Korea must destroy the USA, and that I must attack Americans whenever I see them. Now that I am free,

Voices from the North | 2018-06-23 11:08

Why North Korean defectors learn English (4)

There have been so many “moments” when I realized that I needed English. When I was living in China, I saw South Korean videos and dramas for the first time. And so many times, they would say words I didn't understand even though they were speaking Korean.

Voices from the North | 2018-06-10 12:42

Which businesses will be hot if North Korea opens its market?

If there is change in North Korea, then I think the architecture and real estate businesses will be hot. There is a lot of land that is not being used, so people involved in designing and building museums, office buildings and homes will be needed.

Voices from the North | 2018-06-03 10:19

North Korean defectors' view on Trump's summit cancellation

He is a businessman, so if the terms of the deal change, then he will return to the negotiation table. If it looks like a deal won’t happen, then he will do what he said: Walk away from the table. North Korea probably thought it could get away with the same tactics it used with other U.S. presidents, that they could push him. So I’m not disappointed, I see this as being part ...

Voices from the North | 2018-05-26 15:58

Why North Korean defectors learn English (3)

On my freedom flight to South Korea, I saw flight attendants talking to everyone in different languages. That moment touched my heart. Being able to fly around the world represents true freedom for me, unlike my life in North Korea. I am now preparing for the flight attendant exam. When I was in North Korea last year, I was studying piano and singing, so I had only memorized ...

Voices from the North | 2018-05-19 10:07

North Korean refugees and public speaking

After I gave a speech last Friday at an international school in Seoul last Friday, I was thrilled to answer a South Korean middle school student who had stunned me by asking an informative question that I had never heard or been asked. I have heard so many of the same questions at events where I have spoken, moderated or attended that I started compiling a list of frequently ...

Voices from the North | 2018-05-13 13:22

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