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by Ethan Lee
Hometown Weekly Contributor
On Wednesday, April 27, Wellesley College hosted a talk organized by the Wellesley College Advocates for North Korean Human Rights (ANKHR). Korean dinner was served at the free event, with an attendance of over 50. Speakers and North Korean defectors Seong-Min Lee and Grace Jo presented their experiences in North Korea and their methods of escape.
Mr. Lee is currently an undergraduate studying Political Science at Columbia University, and Ms. Jo serves as the vice president of the NKinUSA, a non-profit advocate group for North Korean refugees.
Mr. Lee lived in North Korea as recently as 2009, and defected successfully to South Korea in 2010. Ms. Jo escaped twice from North Korea, only to be imprisoned the first time but successful the second.
Although there has been considerable progress made regarding the defections of North Koreans, Mr. Lee explained that the defecting process has been closely monitored and blocked by North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un.
“The Chinese government sends defectors back to North Korea…[and] needs to change its rules and regulations and consider North Koreans as refugees.” Despite these dire circumstances, many escaped North Koreans have trouble speaking out about the situation in North Korea. Ms. Jo advocates for this situation to change:
“We have to have the courage to come to that stage and speak out. We got freedom...and saw people suffering in prison. They were hungry, tortured...They had no hope when sent back to North Korea. After we got out and had our freedom, we couldn’t sleep peacefully at night...I want to be their voice.”
Mr. Lee and Ms. Jo emphasized the significance of freedom that they have learned upon defection. Furthermore, they have continued to pass obstacles in their ways in order to fight for new laws in China, North Korea, and the US to deliver this concept of freedom to their fellow refugees. Furthermore, Mr. Lee and Ms. Jo will not stop until they have helped all of their compatriots in North Korea, as Ms. Jo explained, “If I can help these people in North Korea with those testimonies I will keep doing this.”
Reception to the talks was impressive, with excitement from the crowd as curious audience members questioned the speakers. For more information on the ANKHR, visit https://ankhr.wordpress.com.
