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Tue, November 13, 2018 | 12:25

Opinion > Blogs > Voices from the North >

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

Defectors' perspective: Is Kim Jong-un's denuclearization commitment sincere?

If North Korea opens, then I should be able to see my parents. It is unbelievable; I can't trust anything from North Korea because I was deceived by it so many times. Everything about the leadership is propaganda, that's why I'm still upset at the images of South Koreans applauding Kim Jong-un.

Voices from the North | 2018-05-05 10:29

Defectors vs. refugees over North Korea's denuclearization

In my blog post two weeks ago, I discussed the optimism that North Korean defectors have about the possibility of change in North Korea. Since then, I have heard from a few North Korean refugees who are not convinced. It isn't 100 percent uniform, but I have noticed a general split between defectors and refugees when it comes to prospects for change in North Korea.

Voices from the North | 2018-04-22 10:16

Why do North Korean defectors learn English? (2)

Q: Many North Korean refugees struggle to learn English. Many refugees who drop out of college cite English as a major reason. What was the moment you realized you needed to learn English to adjust to life in South Korea?Suhyeong, female, arrived in South Korea in 2015I studied basic English when I was in North Korea, but I feel like a baby at English here. What I learned was...

Voices from the North | 2018-04-15 13:57

How much longer can North Korea survive?

At almost every discussion featuring speakers discussing North Korea, I have heard the question: How much longer can North Korea survive? The usual answer since the early 1990s has been: five to seven years. Recently, I have detected a change. Instead of five to seven years, a few former members of the North Korean elite have told me that they expect it will be months before ...

Voices from the North | 2018-04-08 14:30

How are North Korean women supposed to speak?

“How are North Korean Women Supposed to Speak” was presented Wednesday night by University of British Columbia professor Ross King at the 72nd Societas Koreana Lecture Meeting. After learning about ways the North Korean government expects North Korean women to speak, I returned to my office to learn that seven North Korean refugees had been captured in China.

Voices from the North | 2018-03-31 10:58

Defectors' wish-list in reunified Korea

Question: What would you do if and when the two Koreas are reunited?

Voices from the North | 2018-03-24 11:03

Why do North Korean defectors learn English?

When I was in North Korea, I hated English. After learning about how terrible Americans were, I would feel disgusted using their language. We were taught to learn English so we could use it to confront Americans, but if we were supposed to kill them, did we really need to speak to them in fluent English?

Voices from the North | 2018-03-18 12:55

And the winner isn't …

The “Wide World of Sports” on ABC used to start shows with scenes of athletes celebrating “the thrill of victory” in sporting events. But the opening scene would also show “the agony of defeat” as skiers and motorcyclists tumbled. Within the last month, I publicly experienced the thrill of victory, but also what some may consider the agony of defeat. After I announced on soci...

Voices from the North | 2018-03-09 16:30

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Choking on worsening air pollution