Contributor
Casey Lartigue Jr. is co-founder of Freedom Speakers International, a Seoul Honorary Citizen, and co-author of Greenlight to Freedom.
For years, Freedom Speakers International (FSI) has worked to empower North Korean refugees by recognizing their talents and contributions within our own organization. However, I have noticed that, because we work with them on a daily basis, it often felt like we were “friends nominating friends” for awards and recognition.
Should North Korean refugees be recruited to become human rights advocates? Why do most North Korean refugees avoid public advocacy? How can we empower their voices without imposing external agendas? And what does it take for a North Korean refugee to naturally transition into advocacy?
On October 16, 2024, three North Korean Refugee Author Fellows in Freedom Speakers International (FSI) wrapped up a two-day conference with high school students visiting South Korea.
This year, I finally began saying “we” about the Korea Times newspaper. My association with the paper started in 2013 as a columnist, and in 2018, I added my “Workable Words” weekend blog to the mix.
Two weeks ago, I briefly told the story of my birthday gift battle with North Korean refugee Sharon Jang. She started it by sending almost $200 to me to celebrate my birthday a few years ago. When it was her birthday a few months later, I sent her almost $200. We have been sending that $200 to each other for a couple of years now, probably confusing any bankers wondering why neither one of us is claiming that $200. There is much more to the story with Sharon.
I will start by issuing a warning that there could be numerous heart attacks at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club as a result of this blog post.
It might sound like an overly dramatic plot twist in a low-budget spy thriller, but it’s true: some Westerners in South Korea went undercover trying to destroy the volunteer project I co-founded in 2013.
After having a career game, NBA player D’Angelo Russell reflected on how public criticism shaped his competitive edge: “Public humiliation has molded me into the killer that y'all see today.”
It's not unusual for me to receive messages from people who have stumbled across my work and words from years gone by. But 21 years later?
Han Song-mi, the co-author with Casey Lartigue of the book "Greenlight to Freedom," poses with the book. The paperback version of her memoir is scheduled to be released at a book talk, May 14. Courtesy of Casey LartigueBy Han Song-miGrowing up in North Korea, I was a tomboy who wanted to play, run and wrestle. I was so active, I had so much energy, and I was constantly in motion as a child.This turned out to be a disaster for my uncle who was often my babysitter. Uncle Gicheol had recently been discharged from the military after being diagnosed with tuberculosis. The 1990s were a tough time in North Korea; many people were dying of starvation and various diseases. Because he was too sick to work, he would be at home during the day, mainly reading, and keeping me from destroying the house.I was three years old. I couldn't understand why he was so interested in reading all day. To distract him, I would throw a pillow at him. War had been declared in our living room. He would throw the pillow back at me, to let me know that he had accepted my challenge.He was kind, like my grandma. He a