What I learned about freedom after escaping North Korea | Yeonmi Park | TED

Summary

The speaker, born in North Korea in 1993, recounts her childhood marked by hunger and her father's imprisonment for feeding the family. At 13, she and her sister fled to China, driven by starvation. She describes North Korea as a place where concepts like love and freedom are distorted, and critical thinking is absent. Now in the U.S., she stresses the importance of teaching compassion and fighting for human rights, warning that freedom is fragile and can be lost in just three generations.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The speaker was born in North Korea and experienced extreme poverty and hunger.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's father was sent to a labor camp for engaging in 'illegal trading' to feed his family.
• 🚸 At the ages of 16 and 13, the speaker and her sister decided to escape North Korea to avoid starvation.
• 🌃 The concept of 'escape' in North Korea is driven by the desperate need for survival.
• 🔥 The decision to escape was akin to jumping out of a burning building, with no clear plan or knowledge of what lay ahead.
• 🌐 Life in North Korea is described as being on a different planet, with no concept of romantic love or critical thinking.
• 🤔 The speaker was unaware of the luxury in which the North Korean leader lived, believing him to be a god-like figure.
• 🔒 The true nature of isolation and oppression is not recognized by those who are cut off from the outside world.
• 🌟 The speaker emphasizes that concepts like compassion and justice must be taught, as they are not innately understood.
• 🌱 After escaping, the speaker learned the value of compassion and the importance of fighting for human rights.
• 🌍 The speaker warns of the fragility of freedom and the importance of advocating for those who are oppressed.
• 💪 Despite a past filled with hardship, the speaker believes in the possibility of miracles and a better life.

Q & A

Where was the speaker born and what was their family situation?

The speaker was born in 1993 in Hyesan, a town in the northern part of North Korea on the border with China. They had loving parents and one older sister.

What happened to the speaker's father and why?

The speaker's father was sent to a labor camp for engaging in illegal trading, which involved selling clogs, sugar, rice, and later copper to feed the family.

Why did the speaker and her sister decide to escape from North Korea?

The speaker and her sister decided to escape because they were starving, and hunger meant death in North Korea. They saw the lights from China and hoped to find food there.

What was the speaker's understanding of the concept of 'escape' at the time?

The speaker didn't fully understand the concept of escape but was driven by the hope of finding food and a better life, similar to the instinct to escape a burning building.

How does the speaker describe the experience of living in North Korea?

The speaker describes living in North Korea as being on a totally different planet, with conditions and concepts that are unimaginable and indescribable to those who haven't experienced it.

What was the only meaning of the word 'love' in North Korea according to the speaker?

In North Korea, the word 'love' had only one meaning: love for the Dear Leader. There was no concept of romantic love.

How did the speaker feel about the Dear Leader growing up, and how did this change after escaping?

Growing up, the speaker believed the Dear Leader was an almighty god who could read thoughts and was starving for the people. After escaping, she learned he was a dictator living an ultra-luxurious life.

What is the main question people ask the speaker about North Korea's lack of revolution?

People often ask why there has been no revolution in North Korea despite 70 years of oppression, questioning if the people are unaware or lack the will to fight for freedom.

What does the speaker believe is necessary for humans to understand right from wrong?

The speaker believes that everything, including the concepts of justice, compassion, and what one deserves, must be taught to humans; they do not inherently know the difference between right and wrong.

How does the speaker feel about the current situation of human rights discussions involving North Korea?

The speaker is concerned that human rights are not being prioritized in discussions with North Korea, and she fears the implications of a world where dictators can be praised despite their oppressive actions.

What message does the speaker have for her fellow North Koreans still living in the country?

The speaker wants her fellow North Koreans to know that an alternative life is possible and that they should believe in the possibility of freedom and a better life.

What lesson does the speaker say she learned from history, and why is it important?

The speaker learned from history that nothing is forever in this world, which is why she believes in miracles and the importance of hope, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.