NK refugees speak of hope at TNKR speech contest
In a rare opportunity to meet and listen to North Korean refugees, nine North Koreans residing in South Korea gave 10-minute speeches at an English speech contest held by the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center (TNKR), Sunday.
The 10th English Speech Contest was held with the theme “I am from North Korea” at the Grand Hyatt in Itaewon, Seoul. It was hosted by TNKR co-founders Casey Lartigue, Jr., and Lee Eun-koo, who are sponsored by law firm Shin & Kim and The Korea Times.
The nine contestants spoke of their lives in North Korea, as well as the new challenges they faced once they arrived in South Korea. Able to make their own choices in a free country, the contestants distinguished themselves by speaking of the pursuit of their dreams, be it sports, medicine or journalism. However, they all shared a common hope for a better future for all North Koreans.
The grand prize winner was Song Chae-eun, who escaped to South Korea in 2007 and joined TNKR in 2018. Her speech on the “three types of freedom” told of the importance of free speech, education and private property as fundamental freedoms. “Having experienced years of oppression and tyranny, I am finally able to talk about true freedom,” she said.
Living in the northeastern Rason Special Economic Zone bordering China and Russia, her father ran a business which was seized by the government. He died planning the family’s escape when Song was 16 years old.
“The world is big — you must have a big dream,” her father had told her.
At age 21, Song escaped from North Korea, arriving in China before moving to Myanmar and then Thailand, where she spent five months in jail before she was released and traveled to South Korea. “For the first time I was on a plane, and my dream had come true,” she said. “Now my life is what I make of it.”
“In time dictators will fail and freedom will prevail,” Song told the audience. “To all of you, the rights and freedoms you enjoy are fundamental from the day you are born.”
“I am so proud...,” her teacher, Karen, said, “and truly honored and humbled to have been a part of this.”
Behind her, the first prize went to Eom Yeong-nam (Ken), who joined TNKR in 2018. He spoke about the importance of self-acceptance, not only for North Korean refugees but also for those in the audience.
Born and raised in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, Eom served in the North Korean military until “life threw (him) a curveball” and he escaped to South Korea. After working and studying in Canada, Eom returned to Seoul to earn a master’s degree at Korea University.
Eom spoke of the difficulties he had after graduating from the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees (Hanawon) and feeling shameful about his North Korean origins. He finally opened up to his teacher and classmates. “That day was the greatest day of my life. I became a star,” he said.
“If you do not accept yourself for who you are, then how can you expect others to accept you?”
Citing the high suicide rate for North Korean refugees in South Korea, Eom highlighted that discrimination remains a challenge for his compatriots. “To my fellow North Korean defectors who have considered suicide, don’t. Be proud of your heritage,” he said. “You should be commended and not discriminated against. But it starts with you.”
Ju Chan-yang, who joined TNKR in 2013, received the second-place prize. She spoke of her childhood in North Korea, growing up listening to the Voice of America on a black market-bought radio and watching American movies like “Charlie’s Angels.”
Her father escaped from North Korea in 2008, and her mother and siblings followed soon after. Finally, she was able to escape too with their help.
“I remembered dreaming of my family every night, and I was afraid that this too was a dream,” she recalled.