'Have you ever considered returning to North Korea?' (Part 1)

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Opinion

Tue, October 3, 2023 | 09:25

'Have you ever considered returning to North Korea?' (Part 1)

Posted : 2019-09-29 15:06

Updated : 2019-09-29 15:07

Casey Lartigue Jr.

Eunsun, female, escaped North Korea in 2004, arrived in South Korea in 2008

I thought about it a lot when I first arrived. I had left my family behind in North Korea, I was here on my own. South Koreans seemed to be so unsympathetic and uncaring. After I went through the interrogation with the NIS and then through Hanawon, I was really wondering if this country was for me. I even wondered if the North Korean government had been correct about South Korea. The workers tried to be nice but it was just a job for them. At times I would not leave my home unless it was absolutely necessary; I got tired of seeing the frowning and angry faces on the street. Finally I started to meet more nice people and began to feel like I could live here. I have now settled down so I don't think about North Korea, and I cry when I meet people who have arrived recently, their stories remind me about why I left. Of course, if North Korea became a free country, I would love to return and I would go back to help others.

Eunhee, female, escaped in 2009, arrived in 2009

I have thought about it, but not in any serious way. When I went through tough times, I wondered about what my life would be like if I had stayed in North Korea. I can understand why some return. People miss their families and hometowns so much. It seems to be sentimental thoughts, I know of some people who have returned and they got tortured, and even some who initially were treated like heroes were always watched and considered to be criminals who could not be trusted.

Kwang-il, male, escaped North Korea in 2010, arrived in South Korea in 2010

I have thought about it, but that is like everything in life, you can analyze your choices. I have talked to friends who have said they thought about returning to North Korea. Some of them did go to other countries, so it wasn't just about North Korea, but about the freedom to travel. If we can travel, why shouldn't North Korea be another place we could visit? When I talk about this, South Koreans get alarmed, they don't seem to understand the context of people being separated from their countries and guilty about leaving others behind. As I said, I have thought about it, but just in passing. I have been here for almost a decade and I will be here the rest of my life.

'Have you ever considered returning to North Korea?' (Part 2)

2019-09-30 09:51 | Workable Words

The comments were collected by Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center. Lartigue was the 2017 winner of the "Social Contribution" Prize from the Hansarang Rural Cultural Foundation and was recently named the 2019 winner of a "Challenge Maker" Award from Challenge Korea. TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee translated the remarks of the refugees from Korean to English.

CJL@alumni.harvard.edu