Hyeonseo Lee: My escape from North Korea
イ・ヒョンソ : 北朝鮮からの脱出
As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee thoght her country was the "best on the planet." It wasn't until the famine of the 90s that she began to wonder. She escaped the country at 17-years-old to begin a life in hiding as a refugee in China. Hers is a harrowing, personal tale of survival and hope -- and a powerful reminder of those who face constant danger, even when the border is far behind. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
という歌を歌って育ちました
敵だと教えられました
“この手紙が届くころ我々家族5人は
覗きこんでいました
こちら側は暗いのか常に不思議でした
詳しくは話せません
暮らすのは過酷なことでした
生活は極めて過酷で
起こりました
奇跡でした
存在にも気づきました
北朝鮮の人間なのか?
自分は一体誰なのか?
順応するのは大変でしたが
突き止めたのです
しなければなりません
国境へ向かいました
辿りついたのですが
あらゆることをしたのに
かけてくれたのです
“あなたを助けるわけじゃない
新たな希望の象徴です
今最も欲していることです
差し伸べられる思いやり
希望の光なのです
あるいは全くありません
活動をしています
たくさんの支援と
世界中で活躍することを
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Hyeonseo Lee - ActivistAs a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee thoght her country was the "best on the planet." It wasn't until the famine of the 90s that she began to wonder. She escaped the country at 17-years-old to begin a life in hiding as a refugee in China. Hers is a harrowing, personal tale of survival and hope -- and a powerful reminder of those who face constant danger, even when the border is far behind.
Why you should listen
Hyeonseo Lee grew up in North Korea but escaped to China in 1997. In 2008, when she was 28-years-old, she came to Seoul, South Korea, where she struggled to adjust to life in the bustling city. North Korean defectors often have a hard time in South Korea, she noted in the Wall Street Journal: "We defectors have to start from scratch. Prejudice against North Koreans and icy stares were other obstacles that were hard to cope with."
Now a student at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, she has become an advocate for fellow refugees, even helping close relatives leave North Korea after they were targeted. Her dream? As she told the Korea Times, she'd like to work at the UN or an NGO that advocates for the human rights of North Koreans, including their right to be treated as political refugees.
She has a new book called The Girl with Seven Names.
Hyeonseo Lee | Speaker | TED.com