By Yi Whan-woo
A former North Korean defector who starred on South Korean television shows appeared in a North Korean propaganda video, Sunday, fueling speculation she was kidnapped by the repressive state.
The video, titled "The truth revealed by Jeon Hye-sung who was used for anti-DPRK propaganda," shows the woman depicting a "painful" life in the South after defecting from the North in January 2014 and returning home this June.
Jeon claimed she was forced to criticize the Kim Jong-un regime against her will on South Korean cable TV.
The video was released by the Pyongyang-run Uriminzokkiri propaganda website.
"I viciously slandered and spoke ill of the DPRK as I was told to," Jeon said.
She went by the name Im Ji-hyun here but claimed that was an alias.
"I went to the South, led by fantasy that I could eat well and make a lot of money. But in the country where everything is judged by money, I was haunted by physical and psychological pain although I worked my butt off at bars and other places," she said. "Now I'm in the motherland, staying with my parents in Anju, South Pyongan Province."
Jeon appeared as a guest on "Moranbong Club," a kitsch talk show produced by cable network TV Chosun, from December 2016 to April this year.
She also starred in a reality show, "South Korean Men and North Korean Women," produced by TV Chosun as well.
Intelligence authorities said they are investigating how she re-entered North Korea.
Some North Korean defectors speculated she was abducted by North Korean agents on the China-North Korean border while attempting to help her family members flee their country.
The Uriminzokkiri video features another former North Korean defector, Kim Man-bok, who returned to the North two years ago.
He joined Jeon in criticizing the South, saying "The anti-DPRK TV programs are filled with lies from beginning to end."
A former North Korean defector who starred on South Korean television shows appeared in a North Korean propaganda video, Sunday, fueling speculation she was kidnapped by the repressive state.
The video, titled "The truth revealed by Jeon Hye-sung who was used for anti-DPRK propaganda," shows the woman depicting a "painful" life in the South after defecting from the North in January 2014 and returning home this June.
Jeon claimed she was forced to criticize the Kim Jong-un regime against her will on South Korean cable TV.
The video was released by the Pyongyang-run Uriminzokkiri propaganda website.
"I viciously slandered and spoke ill of the DPRK as I was told to," Jeon said.
She went by the name Im Ji-hyun here but claimed that was an alias.
"I went to the South, led by fantasy that I could eat well and make a lot of money. But in the country where everything is judged by money, I was haunted by physical and psychological pain although I worked my butt off at bars and other places," she said. "Now I'm in the motherland, staying with my parents in Anju, South Pyongan Province."
Jeon appeared as a guest on "Moranbong Club," a kitsch talk show produced by cable network TV Chosun, from December 2016 to April this year.
She also starred in a reality show, "South Korean Men and North Korean Women," produced by TV Chosun as well.
Intelligence authorities said they are investigating how she re-entered North Korea.
Some North Korean defectors speculated she was abducted by North Korean agents on the China-North Korean border while attempting to help her family members flee their country.
The Uriminzokkiri video features another former North Korean defector, Kim Man-bok, who returned to the North two years ago.
He joined Jeon in criticizing the South, saying "The anti-DPRK TV programs are filled with lies from beginning to end."
![[INTERVIEW] Reform, foreign talent crucial to revitalizing Korean economy: McKinsey](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/b6015d6d242a4b9399ee2ed3f94d6ba1.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Allgot hits jackpot with frozen gimbap in US](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/1df9ff6b3481420ea192de6aa1d5c3ed.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Korea, Netherlands to sign multiple deals in chip, energy, defense on Yoon's state visit: Dutch ambassador](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/15208505b4dc4e918fb52aeecd0a840c.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/4431833759c44bdaa414cb314e90f2fe.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
