Casey Lartigue Jr. is co-founder of Freedom Speakers International, a Seoul Honorary Citizen, and co-author of Greenlight to Freedom.
'Have you ever considered returning to North Korea?' (Part 2)
Casey Lartigue Jr.
By Casey Lartigue Jr.
Yeonhee, escaped North Korea in 2014, arrived in South Korea in 2015
No, I haven't thought about it. North Korea was hell for me. I had to pretend to be someone I wasn't so I wouldn't get into trouble. It wasn't until I was in South Korea and traveled abroad that I could start to be me, to figure out who I am as a person, about the things that I want to do in this life. It would make no sense for me to return to North Korea. I would again be put in a cage with no freedom. The person I have become would be destroyed by the regime's agents.
Yumi, female, escaped North Korea in 2017, arrived in South Korea in 2017
Never. Life can be challenging here, but I have never considered returning to North Korea. I can understand why some others return. I came here recently, I felt so lonely and depressed at first because I have no family here. Life wasn't that bad for me in North Korea, but here I must really work for everything so it can be challenging at times. Still, as long as North Korea is still an oddball country, there is no way I can return.
Jimin, female, escaped North Korea in 2015, arrived in South Korea in 2019
I just arrived, and I am not thinking about returning. I never heard about people returning to North Korea, even when I was there.
Juyeon, escaped in 2003, arrived in 2005
I never thought about returning to North Korea, it would be lunacy to return. About the people who return, there seems to be two types. The first group are those who fail to adjust to capitalist society. They struggle with the expectations and competition because North Korea did not prepare them for living in this world. I remember one person who was in Hanawon along with me who escaped. He was handicapped. The South Korean government arranged for him to have a fake leg so he could walk. He also got financial support. But it seemed that he wasn't ready for adjusting to life here, so after six months he returned. The second type who return do so because of Chinese or Korean agents tricking them into returning to China to meet family, then kidnapping them and sending them back to North Korea, or telling them their families are in trouble because of them.
Eunjoo, female, escaped in 2011, arrived in 2011
Never. I am so happy I can breathe free air here. Life was hell for me in North Korea. I think people who think about returning haven't truly put their energy into adjusting here. Refugees complain about perceptions of South Koreans, but we need to focus on gaining skills and finding a way to have a good life here instead of worrying about what some shopkeepers or other strangers think about us. The ones who return have the wrong mentality or they didn't try hard enough. It isn't easy here, but this is a country of freedom. If you are struggling, then just work all day, earn and save money so you can have a good life.
Jinsu, female, escaped North Korea in 2011, arrived in South Korea in 2011
I have never thought about returning to North Korea and I don't understand the people who do. I don't complain about the ones who do. Everyone has freedom here, so they have the freedom to return. If my own mother wanted to return, then I wouldn't try to stop her, but if she asked my opinion, I would tell her that she was doing the wrong thing and would regret it.
Kyeong-ju, escaped North Korea in 2001, arrived in South Korea in 2004
I was young when I arrived here so it wasn't really my choice to come here. From my understanding, the people who do return are usually pressured by the North Korean government. North Korean or Chinese agents will contact them here in South Korea, tell them about their families, say that their family members will be in trouble if they don't return. There are also some cases of North Koreans contacting their family members here and asking them to return, I have heard that is also because of pressure from North Korea. So many North Koreans feel guilty if they have left family members behind, so they wonder if they should return or not.
Misun, escaped North Korea in 2013, arrived in South Korea in 2013
At times I do think about my life in North Korea, but I don't seriously think about returning. It is still a police state with no freedom of movement. What I regret is that the North Korean government still doesn't give us the freedom to talk with our families. I have so many good things happening for me here in South Korea, but I can't easily share it with my family, with my mother. That is so sad and it really upsets me when I think about it. I can understand why some want to return, even though life is better here and there is more freedom to live as we wish.
Bonghee, escaped North Korea in 1998, arrived In South Korea in 2001
I have not considered returning to North Korea and I would never do so unless it becomes a free country. The people who return have really made bad decisions, they will definitely be used for propaganda purposes. I know of one person who returned, his parents were part of the elite and I am sure they treated him well, at least initially. However, he will realize that North Korea is going to control him, he will only be allowed to denounce South Korea. It is really a mystery to me why anyone goes back, but from what I have heard, the North Korean government threatens them directly or has family members recruiting them to return. It is like returning to hell. Short term, I'm sure they will be treated well, but long-term, you can only be a slave of the regime if you are in North Korea. I wish others who praise North Korea would go there along with those North Korean refugees who choose to return.
The comments were collected by Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center. Lartigue was the 2017 winner of the "Social Contribution" Prize from the Hansarang Rural Cultural Foundation and was recently named the 2019 winner of a "Challenge Maker" Award from Challenge Korea. TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee translated the remarks of the refugees from Korean to English.