North Korean defector speaks out for freedom

Oh Se-hyek speaks during the Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) English Speech Contest in Myeongdong, Seoul, Saturday. / Courtesy of Casey Lartigue

By John Redmond

North Korean refugee Oh Se-hyek won the Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) English Speech Contest in Myeong-dong, Seoul, Saturday, speaking on the topic of “What freedom means to me.”

Seven North Koreans were given a 10-minute time limit to speak in front of an audience of 50 people.

TNKR co-founder Casey Lartigue said, “For the refugees, it was a contest. For TNKR, it was a speech celebration. It was a celebration of refugees being able to speak out.”

The event was a celebration of refugees improving their English and improving their prospects to find their own way and tell their own stories.

The winner, Oh, is a 38-year-old North Korean refugee who escaped from North Korea in 1999. He lived in China for two-and-a-half years and arrived in South Korea in 2002.

In his speech, Oh spoke about freedom.

“My freedom has changed throughout my life depending on the circumstances. From being ignorant of what freedom is, and to becoming rebellious to the unfairness imposed by the system of North Korea,” said Oh.

“Now what freedom means to me is to overcome social and personal limitations. I realized, because of freedom, I could harbor thoughts of challenging all the social discriminations and barriers and my personal limitations,” he said.

“When I put my thoughts into action, I realized I am feeling freedom and that was the real freedom to me.”

Oh also praised the TNKR program.

“Before I applied for this speech contest, I knew what this organization was doing ― helping defectors to study English. This organization just helps whoever he or she is, the defector. I believe defectors will be aware of themselves through TNKR. Then defectors act not only for themselves and other defectors, and the country North Korea,” said Oh, thanking the audience.

When asked about advice for refugees he stated, “I know some defectors already became international figures. I have some messages to defector activists. I think not all defectors will be activists for North Korea. I experienced as often as I was exposed to the media and people's attention, I was afraid of becoming known to more people.”

“I just wanted go into seclusion for no reason. Maybe that was my turning point. I asked myself, ‘Are you happy doing this? Why? What made you do so? Did somebody push you to do so?’ Actually everything was that I must do it because the action I have done so far was for my family and my hometown and my brothers suffering. I hope defector activists will be able to continue their actions."