By Casey Lartigue Jr.
It happened. Halfway during a beautiful forum last Friday with four North Korean refugees speaking before more than 300 U.S. military members, the moment that I dread happened. A North Korean refugee began to cry. No matter how much we prepare North Korean refugees for public speaking by having them work with speech coaches, teachers and mentors, emotion defeats preparation.
The event started off upbeat. The first of four refugee speakers, TNKR Special Ambassador Ken Eom, was addressing the U.S. military for the third time. After his first speech in 2015, Ken said it was "the most unexpected and unusual experience in my life" as he looked into a sea of faces in U.S. military uniforms.
Unexpected and unusual are an understatement for a man who served in the North Korean military for a decade, taught to kill American soldiers on sight. The only purpose for learning English is apparently to yell grammatically correct English as they are killing the hated U.S. enemy. Ken had met the enemy. The enemy was friendly, respectful, congratulated Ken, took selfies with him, and even gave him a huge gift basket.
I suppose that if he is ever questioned by North Korean authorities about the forum, he could still tell the truth. "Comrade! Is it true that you gave a speech before depraved enemy U.S. soldiers? I hope you showed them no mercy." Ken: "They cried. They applauded, hugged me, and gave me gifts. It was the most unexpected and unusual experience in my life."
The second speaker on Friday first joined us in May 2014 at the ABC level in English. On Friday, Eunmi gave her first public speech in English, telling funny anecdotes about experiences that motivated her to learn English. She hopes that learning public speaking will help her after she becomes an elementary school teacher.
Contrary to the belief of reporters and researchers who believe there is a "cottage industry" of refugees seeking to "cash in," only a handful of North Korean refugees seek to tell their stories. I have learned that many refugees want to get to know the people they will be sharing their stories with in media outlets they often don't know about.
That doesn't fit with the timeline of reporters, researchers and film-makers dropping into town for a few days, expecting refugees to immediately discuss painful experiences and answer personal and probing questions in detail with strangers. Then the questioners disappear, occasionally notifying us when the story has been published or documentary posted. Once refugees open up, the tears come, sometimes in practice sessions, and sometimes on stage as happened on Friday with the third speaker.
The young lady began to cry as she discussed her mother's sacrifices to get her to freedom. I could see that the tough military personnel were moved.
The 6th Battalion, 52nd Regiment gave us each a Certificate of Appreciation and audience members thanked me and co-director Eunkoo Lee for making it possible for refugees to share the "human side" of North Koreans. The airmen made three main points. One, several said they were unaware about North Korea's human rights problem or that China repatriated refugees. Two, even if they must "fight tonight" against North Korea, hearing directly from refugees made them realize that not all North Koreans are brainwashed and that the regime must impose numerous measures to keep people loyal. Three, several said they want to volunteer with TNKR, they had no idea there were many refugees in South Korea and that English is one of their adjustment challenges.
In my case, I'm still not sure what to do when a refugee starts crying _ at various time I've stood next to them, at other times I've had water and tissue ready, and at other times, like Friday, I've applauded and encouraged the audience to do the same. In every case, much to my relief, the refugees have thanked me.
I learn something new every time I organize a forum featuring North Korean refugees, like a good book providing new insight every time you read it. One of the most disappointing things I have heard from one of our regular volunteers is that she "wasn't going to miss anything" because she had already heard a speech by one of the refugees.
When speakers address different crowds, they discuss a different aspect of their stories, they are asked questions from a different vantage point, and mention things they had not thought to be relevant. It is a process of helping refugees develop and find their voices, not a frozen snapshot. Despite occasional tears from speakers and audience members, I look forward to those moments when I see refugees gaining more confidence as public speakers, even sharing their stories with former enemies.
Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@post.harvard.edu.) is co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center (TNKR).
Casey Lartigue Jr.
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The event started off upbeat. The first of four refugee speakers, TNKR Special Ambassador Ken Eom, was addressing the U.S. military for the third time. After his first speech in 2015, Ken said it was "the most unexpected and unusual experience in my life" as he looked into a sea of faces in U.S. military uniforms.
Unexpected and unusual are an understatement for a man who served in the North Korean military for a decade, taught to kill American soldiers on sight. The only purpose for learning English is apparently to yell grammatically correct English as they are killing the hated U.S. enemy. Ken had met the enemy. The enemy was friendly, respectful, congratulated Ken, took selfies with him, and even gave him a huge gift basket.
I suppose that if he is ever questioned by North Korean authorities about the forum, he could still tell the truth. "Comrade! Is it true that you gave a speech before depraved enemy U.S. soldiers? I hope you showed them no mercy." Ken: "They cried. They applauded, hugged me, and gave me gifts. It was the most unexpected and unusual experience in my life."
The second speaker on Friday first joined us in May 2014 at the ABC level in English. On Friday, Eunmi gave her first public speech in English, telling funny anecdotes about experiences that motivated her to learn English. She hopes that learning public speaking will help her after she becomes an elementary school teacher.
Contrary to the belief of reporters and researchers who believe there is a "cottage industry" of refugees seeking to "cash in," only a handful of North Korean refugees seek to tell their stories. I have learned that many refugees want to get to know the people they will be sharing their stories with in media outlets they often don't know about.
That doesn't fit with the timeline of reporters, researchers and film-makers dropping into town for a few days, expecting refugees to immediately discuss painful experiences and answer personal and probing questions in detail with strangers. Then the questioners disappear, occasionally notifying us when the story has been published or documentary posted. Once refugees open up, the tears come, sometimes in practice sessions, and sometimes on stage as happened on Friday with the third speaker.
The young lady began to cry as she discussed her mother's sacrifices to get her to freedom. I could see that the tough military personnel were moved.
The 6th Battalion, 52nd Regiment gave us each a Certificate of Appreciation and audience members thanked me and co-director Eunkoo Lee for making it possible for refugees to share the "human side" of North Koreans. The airmen made three main points. One, several said they were unaware about North Korea's human rights problem or that China repatriated refugees. Two, even if they must "fight tonight" against North Korea, hearing directly from refugees made them realize that not all North Koreans are brainwashed and that the regime must impose numerous measures to keep people loyal. Three, several said they want to volunteer with TNKR, they had no idea there were many refugees in South Korea and that English is one of their adjustment challenges.
In my case, I'm still not sure what to do when a refugee starts crying _ at various time I've stood next to them, at other times I've had water and tissue ready, and at other times, like Friday, I've applauded and encouraged the audience to do the same. In every case, much to my relief, the refugees have thanked me.
I learn something new every time I organize a forum featuring North Korean refugees, like a good book providing new insight every time you read it. One of the most disappointing things I have heard from one of our regular volunteers is that she "wasn't going to miss anything" because she had already heard a speech by one of the refugees.
When speakers address different crowds, they discuss a different aspect of their stories, they are asked questions from a different vantage point, and mention things they had not thought to be relevant. It is a process of helping refugees develop and find their voices, not a frozen snapshot. Despite occasional tears from speakers and audience members, I look forward to those moments when I see refugees gaining more confidence as public speakers, even sharing their stories with former enemies.
Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@post.harvard.edu.) is co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center (TNKR).
Casey Lartigue Jr.
