--- title: "6 Korean Defectors Quotes By Lee Hyeon-seo" description: "6 Korean Defectors quotes by Lee Hyeon-seo. Plus more from Lee Hyeon-seo and more Korean Defectors sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_government_living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bri_1355382.jpg" --- > [Living in China, I found out that the bright new world was not for me, not for defectors. My life in North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bright-new-world-was-not-for-me/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_government_living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bri_1355382.jpg) > [North Korean defectors who speak out against the regime always feel nervous. We never know what the North Korean government is planning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korean-defectors-who-speak-out-against-the-regime-always-feel/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_difficult_north-korean-defectors-who-speak-out-aga_1434052.jpg) > [I am one of the lucky North Koreans who made it out of China. North Korean defectors in the country are terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/i-am-one-of-the-lucky-north-koreans-who-made-it-out-of-china-north/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_borders_i-am-one-of-the-lucky-north-koreans-who_1898552.jpg) > [North Korean defectors can usually tell when other defectors are lying about their past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korean-defectors-can-usually-tell-when-other-defectors-are/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_korean_north-korean-defectors-can-usually-tell_2042738.jpg) > [Here in South Korea, I'm continuing to learn English in order to boost my prospects. When North Korean defectors try to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/here-in-south-korea-i-m-continuing-to-learn-english-in-order-to-boost/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_korean_here-in-south-korea-i-m-continuing-to-le_2514955.jpg) > [I hate the Chinese government. If you do not want to embrace North Korean defectors in your country, I understand. But we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/i-hate-the-chinese-government-if-you-do-not-want-to-embrace-north/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_best_i-hate-the-chinese-government-if-you-do_3139101.jpg) ## More by Lee Hyeon-seo > [Leaving North Korea is not like leaving any other country. It is more like leaving another universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/leaving-north-korea-is-not-like-leaving-any-other-country-it-is-more/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korea-is-still-my-homeland-my-country-i-suffered-on-the-outside/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [The kindness of strangers and the support of the international community are truly the rays of hope we North Korean people need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/the-kindness-of-strangers-and-the-support-of-the-international/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 only survived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/a-huge-famine-hit-north-korea-in-the-mid-1990s-ultimately-more-than-a/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [Most people in the country didn't - and might still not - know about how powerful the United States is. They think North Korean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/most-people-in-the-country-didn-t-and-might-still-not-know-about-how/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/i-just-wanted-to-see-china-with-my-own-eyes-i-wanted-to-see-whether/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/people-who-live-in-north-korea-they-die-for-food-but-living-in-the/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/if-defectors-say-they-had-high-level-connections-in-pyongyang-or-came/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [Certainly in North Korea, man is always superior to woman. Even the government treats women horribly. What is the slogan? Woman is a flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/certainly-in-north-korea-man-is-always-superior-to-woman-even-the/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [When I was little, I thought my country was the best on the planet. And I grew up singing a song called 'Nothing To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/when-i-was-little-i-thought-my-country-was-the-best-on-the-planet-and/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [The border crossing is the most dangerous moment for anyone attempting to escape. But my brother and mother had been waved off by every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/the-border-crossing-is-the-most-dangerous-moment-for-anyone/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/i-lived-near-the-border-with-china-and-one-night-i-simply-left-home/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 trading companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/hyesan-people-have-money-the-most-after-those-in-pyongyang-because-it/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 really nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korea-is-not-the-dictator-s-country-it-s-25-million-citizens/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 to realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/i-think-it-s-possible-that-china-is-ready-for-a-serious-change/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-defectors/lee-hyeon-seo/#itemlist", "name": "6 Korean Defectors Quotes By Lee Hyeon-seo", "numberOfItems": 6, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Living in China, I found out that the bright new world was not for me, not for defectors. My life in North Korea had been OK; suddenly, in China, I had to feed myself and earn money. Worst of all, North Korean defectors are hunted by the government.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Hyeon-seo" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bright-new-world-was-not-for-me/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_government_living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bri_1355382.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_government_living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bri_1355382.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_government_living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bri_1355382.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“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", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "North Korean defectors who speak out against the regime always feel nervous. We never know what the North Korean government is planning. It's really difficult for us to show our faces and speak out, but we feel obligated to do something to inform people about the ongoing tragedy inside North Korea.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Hyeon-seo" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korean-defectors-who-speak-out-against-the-regime-always-feel/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_difficult_north-korean-defectors-who-speak-out-aga_1434052.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_difficult_north-korean-defectors-who-speak-out-aga_1434052.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_difficult_north-korean-defectors-who-speak-out-aga_1434052.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“North Korean defectors who speak out against the regime always feel nervous. We never know what the North…” — Lee Hyeon-seo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am one of the lucky North Koreans who made it out of China. North Korean defectors in the country are terrified of trying to leave because they are often caught at the borders as they attempt to cross into Mongolia or Laos.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Hyeon-seo" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/i-am-one-of-the-lucky-north-koreans-who-made-it-out-of-china-north/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_borders_i-am-one-of-the-lucky-north-koreans-who_1898552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_borders_i-am-one-of-the-lucky-north-koreans-who_1898552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_borders_i-am-one-of-the-lucky-north-koreans-who_1898552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am one of the lucky North Koreans who made it out of China. North Korean defectors in the country are…” — Lee Hyeon-seo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "North Korean defectors can usually tell when other defectors are lying about their past.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Hyeon-seo" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korean-defectors-can-usually-tell-when-other-defectors-are/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_korean_north-korean-defectors-can-usually-tell_2042738.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_korean_north-korean-defectors-can-usually-tell_2042738.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_korean_north-korean-defectors-can-usually-tell_2042738.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“North Korean defectors can usually tell when other defectors are lying about their past.” — Lee Hyeon-seo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Here in South Korea, I'm continuing to learn English in order to boost my prospects. When North Korean defectors try to get a job to stabilize their lives, their lack of English is a handicap. It was the same story while I was living in China. It took an enormous amount of time and enthusiasm to learn Chinese.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Hyeon-seo" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/here-in-south-korea-i-m-continuing-to-learn-english-in-order-to-boost/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_korean_here-in-south-korea-i-m-continuing-to-le_2514955.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_korean_here-in-south-korea-i-m-continuing-to-le_2514955.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_korean_here-in-south-korea-i-m-continuing-to-le_2514955.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here in South Korea, I'm continuing to learn English in order to boost my prospects. When North Korean…” — Lee Hyeon-seo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I hate the Chinese government. If you do not want to embrace North Korean defectors in your country, I understand. But we have a country where we can seek asylum. So please, let us freely pass through. Why are you doing your best to try and catch defectors?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Hyeon-seo" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/i-hate-the-chinese-government-if-you-do-not-want-to-embrace-north/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_best_i-hate-the-chinese-government-if-you-do_3139101.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_best_i-hate-the-chinese-government-if-you-do_3139101.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_best_i-hate-the-chinese-government-if-you-do_3139101.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I hate the Chinese government. If you do not want to embrace North Korean defectors in your country, I…” — Lee Hyeon-seo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-defectors/lee-hyeon-seo/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-defectors/lee-hyeon-seo/", "name": "Korean Defectors Quotes by Lee Hyeon-seo", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-defectors/lee-hyeon-seo/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/lee-hyeon-seo-7936_government_living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bri_1355382.jpg" }, "description": "6 Korean Defectors quotes by Lee Hyeon-seo. Plus more from Lee Hyeon-seo and more Korean Defectors sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-defectors/lee-hyeon-seo/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-defectors/lee-hyeon-seo/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Korean Defectors", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-defectors/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Lee Hyeon-seo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-defectors/lee-hyeon-seo/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```