Korea Quotes by Lee Hyeon-seo

When I was young, I thought Kim il-Sung or Kim Jong-il is hero.

— Lee Hyeon-seo

In North Korea, we learnt all Americans are the enemy; they are not human.

— Lee Hyeon-seo

When I was 14, during Kim Il-sung's funeral, I wondered, 'How could a god die?'

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Due to hate, fear, and oppression, the North Koreans cannot help themselves.

— Lee Hyeon-seo

China is a heaven compared to North Korea.

— Lee Hyeon-seo

We can have reunification if another power replaces Kim Jong Un. I don't know who it could be, but I hope and…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Leaving North Korea is not like leaving any other country. It is more like leaving another universe.

— Lee Hyeon-seo

We were taught North Korea is a heaven. They told us how people in western countries die in hospital or have no…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Even after arriving in South Korea, it's dangerous. As a North Korean defector, I need to be careful from the spies to…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

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

Inside North Korea, we have many informants and spies watching everyone; they're paid by the government. Even a husband and wife can't…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

I can't be sure of exactly when and how North Korea will change. But I do believe it will happen, hopefully in…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

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

When I explain to people what was the situation in North Korea, they think, how can such a country exist? They know…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

A huge famine hit North Korea in the mid-1990s. Ultimately, more than a million North Koreans died during the famine, and many…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

I hate the Chinese government. If you do not want to embrace North Korean defectors in your country, I understand. But we…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Most people in the country didn't - and might still not - know about how powerful the United States is. They think…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

North Korea is still my homeland, my country. I suffered on the outside because I was alien, without identity. I was nobody.…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

My favourite place in South Korea is Jeju Island: it's a tropical paradise with sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and the magnificent Geomunoreum…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

As a child, every North Korean is very happy. We were very happy because we learned horrible things about the outside world,…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Living in China, I found out that the bright new world was not for me, not for defectors. My life in North…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

It was very shocking for me to read newspapers that openly criticised the government in South Korea. That is impossible in North…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Kindness towards strangers is rare in North Korea. There is a risk to helping others. The state made accusers and informers of…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

I don't think the North Korean leadership is interested in a genuine deal to end their WMD programs or their stranglehold on…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

We refugees, we become always a punchbag. A political punchbag between China and South Korea and North Korea.

— Lee Hyeon-seo

The North Korean regime really can control people. I think they are the best dictator in the whole planet.

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Hyesan people have money, the most after those in Pyongyang, because it's near the border with China. Illegal smuggling businesses and Chinese…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

I just wanted to see China with my own eyes. I wanted to see whether North Korea was the best country in…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

North Korean defectors who speak out against the regime always feel nervous. We never know what the North Korean government is planning.…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Even though some heartless North Korean, Korean-Chinese, and Chinese citizens have exploited vulnerable defectors for money, I witnessed many acts of kindness…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

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

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

North Korea is not the dictator's country; it's 25 million citizens' country, and they are suffering under the dictator. North Koreans are…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

North Koreans are tragically oppressed. Despite the risks to my personal safety, I feel a strong obligation to tell the world about…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

I think it's possible that China is ready for a serious change regarding its North Korean defector policy. Chinese people are starting…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Many people - when they think about North Korea and the dictatorship, or the military or nuclear weapons, nuclear missiles, those things…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

Some people criticize North Koreans and ask, 'Are they stupid? How can they believe those ridiculous things?' But I say, It doesn't…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

I am one of the lucky North Koreans who made it out of China. North Korean defectors in the country are terrified…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

In North Koreans, the moment we are born, we don't know there's another life existing outside of our country. The regime always…

— Lee Hyeon-seo

North Koreans are forced to work at state jobs in a moribund economy. Countless parents watch their children go to bed hungry.…

— Lee Hyeon-seo