Contributor
Casey Lartigue Jr. is co-founder of Freedom Speakers International, a Seoul Honorary Citizen, and co-author of Greenlight to Freedom.
Elections have consequences. The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is the latest U.S. government agency on the Trump-Musk chopping block. If it gets shut down or its operations get dismantled so that it exists in name only, then it will have an impact on many North Korean refugee and North Korea-focused organizations that currently receive support from NED and affiliated government entities.
There is no shortage of people who want Jung Yu-na’s time. She is a singer, dancer, violinist, actress, model, businesswoman, movie consultant and TV personality. She has graced television screens, provided expert consultation for major productions like 2019's “Crash Landing on You,” and captivated audiences with her performances. She is a multilingual entertainer who could easily spend all her time in the entertainment industry, focused on her rising career.
Over the years, I’ve heard a number of accusations about myself, ranging from I am allegedly brainwashing North Korean refugees to I am allegedly a CIA spy.
Before she became a public speaker, author, influencer, political commentator, podcast co-host with me and Ivy League graduate, I received an unforgettable phone call from North Korean refugee Park Yeon-mi in late 2013 or early 2014. It was the first and only time in 13 years of knowing her that I have heard her yell.
In moments of frustration or impatience, Americans often count to 10 to regain composure. Living in South Korea, I’ve found myself taking this practice to new extremes — counting to 10, then continuing to 110, and then back down to 1. As chairman of the board of Freedom Speakers International (FSI), this method of self-control has served me well, especially in the early days of our revamped board.
On Jan. 7, I met with Harvard graduate students visiting South Korea, thanks to a fellow Harvard alum informing me about their visit. After hearing about my work with North Korean refugees, the organizers of the Harvard Korea Trek invited me to return with a North Korean refugee the following Monday for a meeting at the Ministry of Unification.
Impostor syndrome is a pervasive challenge, especially in high-pressure environments like Harvard. Many individuals, regardless of their accomplishments, experience feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Despite its prevalence, impostor syndrome has never been a part of my personal journey. From my earliest experiences at Harvard, I developed a mindset rooted in confidence, authenticity and a deep understanding of my value. In this post, I reflect on my journey, share insights from transformative moments and offer perspectives on how I make impostor syndrome irrelevant in my life.
On Sept. 26, I participated in Chatter and Cheers, a reception at the Harvard Graduate School of Education intended to foster conversations between students and alumni. I was invited to be the VIP at a table featuring alumni working in nonprofits.
On Sept. 26, 2024, I was a VIP guest at the “Chatter and Cheers” event hosted by the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), connecting alumni and students. I was asked by HGSE administrators to introduce my career after graduating from Harvard and about co-founding a non-profit organization in South Korea. During the event, I had fascinating conversations with graduate students who were curious about my career. One question kept coming up: How do you manage your time?
When I was growing up in North Korea, I didn’t know about a country called India. The reason is that I was busy just surviving in the countryside of North Korea. Our family lived in extreme poverty, so we didn’t even have a TV at home. Because of the difficult life circumstances, I had no opportunities to access information about the outside world.