From the moment I was born, I was fed propaganda. I viewed the Kim dynasty not only as our fearless protectors from… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
In communism, we never had any freedom - of movement, of speech, of press. We didn't even make own decisions for our… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
My mom told me many times that when you are outside, you have to be careful what you are saying, and don't… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
North Korean defectors can usually tell when other defectors are lying about their past. — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
My mom told me many times how I need to be careful living inside the regime. We didn't say 'the regime.' We… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
Here in South Korea, I'm continuing to learn English in order to boost my prospects. When North Korean defectors try to get… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
The border crossing is the most dangerous moment for anyone attempting to escape. But my brother and mother had been waved off… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
When I was little, I thought my country was the best on the planet. And I grew up singing a song called… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
For years, my Chinese family supported me, but they wanted me to have an arranged marriage, so I ran away and worked… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
The moment I escaped to China, I didn't have any money; I only had one address in my hand of some long-distance… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
This is a divisive issue, but I really hope for unification. Even though we have been divided for a long time, we… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
When I was growing up, my mum was doing illegal smuggling with China. Sometimes she would see a fortune teller for advice.… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
Like every country, North Korea has some very smart people. They could be contributing a lot more to science and other areas,… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share Image
Leaving North Korea is not like leaving any other country. It is more like leaving another universe. — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
North Korea is still my homeland, my country. I suffered on the outside because I was alien, without identity. I was nobody. I was… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
The kindness of strangers and the support of the international community are truly the rays of hope we North Korean people need. — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
A huge famine hit North Korea in the mid-1990s. Ultimately, more than a million North Koreans died during the famine, and many only survived… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
Most people in the country didn't - and might still not - know about how powerful the United States is. They think North Korean… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
I just wanted to see China with my own eyes. I wanted to see whether North Korea was the best country in the world… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
People who live in North Korea, they die for food, but living in the free world, the cat even eats expensive sushi. — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
If defectors say they had high-level connections in Pyongyang or came from an esteemed institution in the North, they can gain better employment in… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
Certainly in North Korea, man is always superior to woman. Even the government treats women horribly. What is the slogan? Woman is a flower. — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
When I was little, I thought my country was the best on the planet. And I grew up singing a song called 'Nothing To… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
The border crossing is the most dangerous moment for anyone attempting to escape. But my brother and mother had been waved off by every… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
I lived near the border with China, and one night, I simply left home and walked across the iced-over river that separated the two… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
Hyesan people have money, the most after those in Pyongyang, because it's near the border with China. Illegal smuggling businesses and Chinese trading companies… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
North Korea is not the dictator's country; it's 25 million citizens' country, and they are suffering under the dictator. North Koreans are really nice,… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
I think it's possible that China is ready for a serious change regarding its North Korean defector policy. Chinese people are starting to realize… — Lee Hyeon-seo Copy Share
