North Korean voices in Warsaw

When Jang Sha-ron worked in a coal mine for 15 hours a day in North Korea, when Han Song-mi grew up in dire poverty in North Korea’s countryside and was only aware of six countries in the world and when Eom Yeong-nam was an obedient soldier in North Korea’s military for a decade, none of them imagined they would one day become authors and public speakers sharing their stories on international stages.

Along with FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo, I’m currently in Warsaw, Poland, participating in the Warsaw International Book Fair alongside three North Korean Refugee Author Fellows in Freedom Speakers International (FSI).

Song-mi, Sha-ron and Yeong-nam each published books through Freedom Speakers International detailing their lives in North Korea and their journeys to freedom. This week, they’ve been sharing those stories with international readers, engaging with attendees and signing their memoirs at one of Europe’s largest book fairs.

Throughout the fair that has an estimated 150,000 attendees, our booth has welcomed a steady flow of visitors from a wide range of countries. Not a single attendee said they had met a North Korean refugee before. Many asked thoughtful questions, stayed for extended conversations and expressed genuine interest. A few even returned to thank the authors by bringing gifts, asking for hugs and shedding tears.

During this trip, the authors have spoken with students, professors, journalists and other curious people, and were interviewed by YouTubers who wanted to understand more about life under North Korea’s dictatorship and the realities of escape and resettlement. We will finish the trip with two events at the University of Warsaw and a visit to Auschwitz.

This is the first time any of the three authors has traveled to Eastern Europe. They all fled North Korea, escaping across China and Southeast Asia before resettling in South Korea. As we reflected on the book fair, Sha-ron said she felt encouraged by attendees who described her as wonderful and inspiring. She said the experience motivated her to improve her English so she can continue to communicate with international audiences.

Song-mi described the book fair, Poland, the people and everything as “perfect.” She was surprised by the constant buzz at our booth. “I didn’t expect that many people,” she said. “Some of them were crying when they visited our booth and during the forum when we spoke.” She was especially struck by South Koreans who said they had never met a North Korean refugee in South Korea and didn’t expect to do so in Poland.

Yeong-nam, who said his family had a Polish TV when he was growing up in North Korea, added that he had no idea what to expect before arriving. He said he was particularly impressed by how many young people showed interest in our work. He noted that Poland’s fateful experience with communism may be a reason attendees connected so well with our authors.

In North Korea, these authors were told the outside world was hostile and uncaring. In South Korea, their stories can sometimes be misunderstood, doubted or politicized. But here in Warsaw, the response has been simple and sincere. People are listening, asking thoughtful questions and responding with openness and respect. After our forum, we had a line of people waiting for autographs and finally security had to kick us out of the room.

FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo recently pointed out all three of our authors first reached out to me directly. I remember the moment they first contacted me, our first meetings and now — years later — seeing their growth as authors and speakers. As we enter the final day of the fair, I feel deeply grateful for the chance to support them and to witness what happens when North Korean refugees are given the space to speak for themselves. Even far from the Korean Peninsula, their voices are being heard, and people are listening.

As they were praised by attendees, the authors turned to thank us for starting FSI and giving them this opportunity. In particular, my co-author, Song-mi, publicly proclaimed that I am her “hero” and “life mentor.” Saying it directly to me is one thing, but saying it publicly is another, especially in the presence of North Korean refugees and South Koreans is yet another.

It was a special occasion with South Korea serving as the guest of honor at the book fair in partnership with the South Korean government — although our organization and booth were not part of the official delegation. When some attendees learned we had not been included, they questioned if it was because we work with North Korean refugees and they voiced their disappointment to the organizers. As a result, we have now been invited to return next year with VIP status.

Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@alumni.harvard.edu) is the co-founder of Freedom Speakers International with Lee Eun-koo, and co-author with Han Song-mi of her memoir "Greenlight to Freedom: A North Korean Daughter’s Search for Her Mother and Herself.”