Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, compiled these statements from interviews with the refugees.
Question: What would you do if and when the two Koreas are reunited?
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Sohyun, female, arrived in South Korea in 2011
Before I recently changed jobs, I was working here as an insurance counselor. I learned so many things. After reunification, I believe that I could upgrade insurance in North Korea. I would like to be an insurance counselor for North Koreans after reunification, to make sure they have good insurance coverage.
It may sound like a personal grudge, but I would also like them to know that juche is a lie, that North Korea was never really independent. I was brainwashed by the regime. Now that I am free, I can read anything and watch documentaries, and I know that North Korea told me so many lies.
I would like North Koreans to know the truth about the government and to be free to learn as they wish. So in addition to my possible career as an insurance counselor, I would like to have opportunities to give speeches to North Koreans, spreading information and being able to talk with people about the lies North Korea has told them.
Hyun, male, arrived in South Korea in 2013
I have always been interested in architecture. I hope to make that my career here in South Korea. After reunification, I will go back to my hometown, then I will rebuild the home I grew up in and also try to improve my neighborhood.
I believe that it is important to contribute to society not only as a person who does valuable things in my career, but also to contribute to society in other ways. The house I grew up in was always in poor condition. The way houses are designed in North Korea has always seemed inefficient to me. I hope to be able to make a difference one day.
Jihye, female, arrived in South Korea in 2015
So many bad things happened to me in North Korea and China that sometimes I want to forget about them. I was usually starving in North Korea and so many terrible things happened to me in China that at first I blocked everything out of my mind. When people I don't know well ask me questions about them, I have nothing to say.
I think people cannot understand what North Koreans go through. But some people in South Korea have been so nice to me ― especially a nun who is like a big sister to me, you and (TNKR co-founder) Eunkoo Lee ― that it has let me know that there are good people in the world.
I hope that after reunification I can help North Koreans find good people who can help them. I want to share love and kindness so that people who are suffering can live good lives.
Question: What would you do if and when the two Koreas are reunited?
-------------------------------------------------
Sohyun, female, arrived in South Korea in 2011
Before I recently changed jobs, I was working here as an insurance counselor. I learned so many things. After reunification, I believe that I could upgrade insurance in North Korea. I would like to be an insurance counselor for North Koreans after reunification, to make sure they have good insurance coverage.
It may sound like a personal grudge, but I would also like them to know that juche is a lie, that North Korea was never really independent. I was brainwashed by the regime. Now that I am free, I can read anything and watch documentaries, and I know that North Korea told me so many lies.
I would like North Koreans to know the truth about the government and to be free to learn as they wish. So in addition to my possible career as an insurance counselor, I would like to have opportunities to give speeches to North Koreans, spreading information and being able to talk with people about the lies North Korea has told them.
Hyun, male, arrived in South Korea in 2013
I have always been interested in architecture. I hope to make that my career here in South Korea. After reunification, I will go back to my hometown, then I will rebuild the home I grew up in and also try to improve my neighborhood.
I believe that it is important to contribute to society not only as a person who does valuable things in my career, but also to contribute to society in other ways. The house I grew up in was always in poor condition. The way houses are designed in North Korea has always seemed inefficient to me. I hope to be able to make a difference one day.
Jihye, female, arrived in South Korea in 2015
So many bad things happened to me in North Korea and China that sometimes I want to forget about them. I was usually starving in North Korea and so many terrible things happened to me in China that at first I blocked everything out of my mind. When people I don't know well ask me questions about them, I have nothing to say.
I think people cannot understand what North Koreans go through. But some people in South Korea have been so nice to me ― especially a nun who is like a big sister to me, you and (TNKR co-founder) Eunkoo Lee ― that it has let me know that there are good people in the world.
I hope that after reunification I can help North Koreans find good people who can help them. I want to share love and kindness so that people who are suffering can live good lives.
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