her book "in order to live" is inspiring! She was able to survive and support terrible experience and She keeps fighting for justice thank you for your story and your example Yeonmi Park
In China, because of news blackout, less people know about the real situation of North Korea. Be safe and be strong, Yeonmi, I heard your voice! Wish I could do something one day.
Yeah. Like some of comments below, I have also noticed some inconsistency from her previous videos. For example, I know she mentioned about burying her farther's body in a video and burying her farther's ash in another. But... But, I don't think she wanted to make up a lie, though. I think, I can fully understand her small mistakes. She is young and she seems to have just faced the awareness of the responsibility of the freedom. By the responsibility, I mean, she was confused when she was asked with "what's your favorite?" or "what do you think?", she said (in another video), and she was confused because she didn't understand why her thought does any matter to others, she said. By the responsibility, I mean, I think she needs to be consistent in case she ever claims something with this kind of public speech, which she is not used to unfortunately at the previous videos. Though she made small mistakes, I think her story is reasonable to me and I think she will be stricter to herself later. And I think, the most important thing to me is that she dares to share her private life for the sake of other struggling people in N. Korea, which I could not dare to do if I were in her shoes. I appreciate her great courage!
In her book which is a biography on her life she explained that she didn't fully explain the story correctly because she didn't want to reveal everything but later on she decided to let it all out.
Dongzin Choi her talk is kind of all over the place here and hard to understand if you've never heard her story before. She omitted some things and jumped around the timeline. She has given a reason for leaving things out in her biography. I would definitely suggest reading up on her and watching other videos about her first before watching this. I don't think she's making things up or lying, I think she's nervous here and simply hard to understand.
What a brave girl to come up in a social media to preach her harsh life story. Always welcome to Mongolia! I seen many North Korean people live in Mongolia. As a human being every one should have freedom to live!
She's so right! all the western news and movie's are about mocking their leader and people, none of them show that their people are treated as puppets and as slaves under a huge oppression, fear and military pressure! These people need help, they want to escape but they cant! It's terrible, absolutely heartbreaking. she's such a pure and innocent soul :'(
The most naive people can be found in every facet of society. The motivations of this girl are highly questionable, and her stories have many inconsistencies which are too great to be blamed on a language barrier.
are you seriously defending North Korea? A heavily traumatised young girl states a few inconsistencies, what a surprise. If you read the book you would know one of the reasons behind it was due to her initially giving the answers she thought she was meant to whilst she was still adapting to the freedom and learning how to think for herself. And how is her motivation questionable?
sirbarletta91 Nobody is defending North Korea. But you have to understand cultural aspects to be able to see the point I guess. She wrote the book herself. And yes her current motivations are opportunistic if not outright questionable - too many discrepancies and the context in which her escape was made. I have asked her myself a few critical questions, and she had no comment. A sincere person would not run from such questions. It has nothing to do with North Korea being a totalitarian state. There is a minority of people who are very powerful and wealthy because of such a system. But money makes conflicts, and people can be ostracized or worse. The whole point is this... Do you think she would have tried to escape with the help of her dad if he had never been prosecuted for his corruption (dealing on the black market) ? OF COURSE NOT.. She would still be there, because she would not need to escape due to living an unprivileged life. It's all about money! What kind of excuse is this which she gives "Oh... you see... we did not have any work to do, so we had to dabble in the black market in order to make money" .. COME ON MAN! A true case of injustice does not occur like this... Her dad was doing something he shouldn't have been doing, but it was normal (NOT because they were poor and starving)... but because they were a wealthy family .... How do you think he was able to get his contacts in the market and run his operation??? As much as the North Korean Gov watching its citizens?? Are you kidding me?? Her dad was right there among those bastards who oppress the masses and tell them to sacrifice all for the country and the leader, and not to believe the evil capitalist imperials in America... but behind closed doors they are the biggest capitalist pigs on this planet. I can see right through this girl. She is a classic case of elite people. They will wear any mask they need sometimes, in order to keep their money and status... They will do things like stabbing their own relatives in the back just to get some benefit. And when they are kicked out of their clique, they will seek revenge and even change sides (join the "enemy").
beautiful strong girl , she will be the first crack and dent in an iron wall that eventually will fall thanks to her and many other courageous brave people. prayers to Yeonmi for a happier life.
What a brave girl to come up in a social media to preach her harsh life story. Always welcome to Mongolia! I seen many North Korean people live in Mongolia. As a human being every one should have freedom to live!
As someone who was born, raised and escaped a religious cult I empathized with Yeonmi Park. The idolization, living the way your leader dictates with cloths, behavior, loyalty and fear are common cult signs. I understand how alienating it feels to not know how to use money, use a bank, or make your own decisions. It opens a whole new world that you are grateful for every day. North Korea with its cult leader and family has brainwashed and hurts its own people for far too long. Everything that Yeonmi Park describe is horrible and demeaning to humans. The UN, China and the US need to do something about it. It is Waco or Jones Town in the making.
goldktgal The main reason is that US doesn't want a war with China. Once China gets sick of NK, I guarantee nearly half the world is going to go after Kim Jong-il. The second problem, would be introducing North Koreans to a non-totalitarian society. Defectors face a lot of discrimination in... everywhere in East Asia. It has to be done somehow, but I don't know how to do it.
Do you remember why Wac and Jonestown happened/ It wasn't because they started out as suicide cults. It is because those people, when confronted with violence by the US government trying to "do something" chose to kill themselves. Anyone calling for the US or anyone else to "do something" must likewise understand that any military campaign or invasion would lead to the deaths of tens of million of people, all innocent civilians, out of necessity. They would be caught in the bombs dropped and bullets shot by Americans there to "help" them. Not to mention the millions who would die because Kim Jong-Un would most likely decide to bomb South Korea and Japan simply because he wouldn't want to die without hurting his enemies in anyway he could. Violence cannot be the "something" we do. This is why I favor Park's method myself. Instead of cutting North Korea off, we should throw the doors open. Let Western goods food the country. It would alleviate much of the immediate suffering while promoting economic freedom that inevitably leads to people demanding more political freedom. Take Kim's most powerful tool of oppression away form him- the fear of foreigners which allows him to present himself as a savior and protector- and the people will not just be able to demand more freedom but to take it.
This brought me to tears. I have been listening to stories of North Koreans who have escaped. They are very lucky but few and far between. Everytime you use your cell phone or watch Netflix or post a cat video on Facebook (I'm guilty of that at least weekly), please think of the people in the concentration camps. Think of the people being publicly executed for watching a movie or saying something negative about their "great leader". When you want to complain about our president or presidents past... be thankful that we are free. Please don't take that for granted. If even just for one minute of one day of your life. Please don't take that for granted. Think of them. My heart goes out to them all. I wish I could help rescue them or shower them with copies of Titanic. Their false honor and totalitarianism is all they know. 💔😢
the world sucks! where's the western world when no money is involved? where's the US, UK and the rest of the world standing by instead of going in and taking this regime down?!
Yeonmi you should come to see Donald Trump in the Withe House and tell him your story. He will listen to you. It may not be easy but you have determination
When she says 2009, is not different calender, it's international calender and she is talking to international publicum! By the way, here also she says : "My father died of cancer *in that first year* and soon we had used all of our money. Around this time we met some South Korean missionaries. They said we could finally be free if we could make it to South Korea. (I am a North Korean defector By Yeonmi Park, April 7, 2014) , In that first year , It means *during March 2007( they escaped) and March 2008!!* It never becomes 2009 Februray !! And she also says she was 13 when they escaped, and she buried her father when she was 14! They escaped to Mongolia when she was 15! So, save your calender for Yourself!!
In the world so many people needed freedom,because there government system,in this world so many weapons are made and trillions of money invested in military, what happened if government don't invest money on this things, I won't to see freedom from borders and so many weapons, if this was happen life was looks so beautiful and peace full,know one fight for there country ✨🙁😔😔😔😔
What this lady told is horrifying. Now, that we have heard her and watched this video,,,, is anyone going to do anything about this ? Or this is going to be just another video liked or disliked , or maybe just watched…….
linda historia, mas nesse meio tempo quando ela teve tempo de aprender a falar inglês?? aprender uma linguá nova é muito difícil e demora anos pra aprender tão bem, mas parece que entre a travessia do rio congelado e o deserto da Mongólia alguém a ensinou muito bem, como dizem na minha terra, tem caroço nesse angu
It is brave of her to give a public speech. After all, she is still scared that the dictator will get at her later. Going public means putting yourself in danger. It means letting others know your existence so that someone can find you.
A great video to watch, humbling and touching. Amazing this young lady's resilience and courage. It is hard for normal people to imagine the hardships people from dictatorships have to endure. Each further story of how this despicable dictatorship oppresses its people will hopefully make more people take action as best they can, including not supporting the enables of the regime worldwide. The human trafficking is an equally horrific phenomenon, worldwide. Vulnerable people, none with the intent of being exploited.
I have watched many of her videos, I have noticed subtle inconsistencies/ changes in her story (don’t get me wrong, I am far from a DPRK/ Kim family sympathizer) she is extremely compelling and very beautiful!
