I never asked to be a spokesperson or public figure. It just happened. — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
I never heard my father telling my mother that he loved her. And my mother never told me she loved me, either. — Park Yeon-mi Father Copy Share Image
In North Korea, when there is an alarm, it means that there is a war drill. It means that you need to… — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
Nothing is forever, and I believe that North Korea will change in my lifetime. — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
Everything in North Korea was about the leader, all the books, music and TV. — Park Yeon-mi Books Copy Share Image
I was determined that I was going to have a successful and normal life. — Park Yeon-mi Determined Copy Share Image
Freedom meant for me to wear earrings, not freedom of speech. — Park Yeon-mi Communication Copy Share Image
I don't think anyone should have power over me, or have the right to tell me what to say or how to… — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
I can't say if I enjoy the attention or not. It's really exhausting. But every speech and every interview is extremely important… — Park Yeon-mi Attention Copy Share Image
Most North Korean people have never seen a map of the world. They don't even know that the Internet exists. They don't… — Park Yeon-mi Electricity Copy Share Image
I heard about desert, but I never seen them with my eyes. I just couldn't believe there was nothing, except sand and… — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
In North Korea I literally believed that my Dear Leader was starving. He's the fattest guy - how can anyone believe that? — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
Reading 'Animal Farm' set me free from the dictatorship in my head. I could see all the tactics used by the regime… — Park Yeon-mi Animal Copy Share Image
North Korea is a religion. We are told that Kim is a god and that he knows what you are thinking and… — Park Yeon-mi Country Copy Share Image
I was living in the border area with China, in Hyesan City. But after my father was imprisoned for informal trading, I… — Park Yeon-mi Border Copy Share Image
North Korea spends billions of dollars to make this nuke test system. If they would spend just 20 percent of what they… — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
There were stereotypes: you are from the communist country so you are not a hard worker. You talk awkwardly and speak with… — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
What you need to know about North Korea is that it's not like other countries like Iran or Cuba. In those countries,… — Park Yeon-mi Iran Copy Share Image
I didn't know it was even possible to sell humans. I thought people can only sell animals, chickens. But I didn't even… — Park Yeon-mi Animals Copy Share Image
I have a dream to have a normal life, someday have a child, get older. But it is hard, it's a big… — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
In North Korea I thought a frozen potato was the fanciest food in the world. — Park Yeon-mi Food Copy Share Image
We can agree that Kim Yo Jong is not taking over North Korea and I don't think that is in her interest. — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
My concern is: How on earth is anything more urgent than the lives of people in North Korean concentration camps? — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
My favorite movies were 'Titanic,' 'James Bond' and 'Pretty Woman' - people smuggled in pirate copies from China. — Park Yeon-mi Bond Copy Share Image
I was a slave. I was sold in China in 2007 as a child at 13 years old. — Park Yeon-mi Child Copy Share Image
In North Korea, it was actually an oppressive regime and that's why I escaped with my life. — Park Yeon-mi Korea Copy Share Image
I didn't know who Bob Geldof or Richard Branson were and I thought Dublin was part of England. — Park Yeon-mi Dublin Copy Share Image
There's nothing I did wrong. I was just born in North Korea, and that was my crime. — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
I know the truth of North Korea. The oppression and their tragedy. It cannot be silenced. — Park Yeon-mi Copy Share Image
Kim Jong-un and the regime don't just oppress - they play with human lives. — Park Yeon-mi Human Copy Share Image
I thought North Koreans were the only people who hated Americans, but turns out there are a lot of people hating this… — Park Yeon-mi Country Copy Share Image
I couldn't imagine that I'd ever see men as normal people and I could never trust them. I couldn't bear any human… — Park Yeon-mi Connection Copy Share Image
North Korea was pretty insane. Like the first thing my mom taught me was don't even whisper, the birds and mice could… — Park Yeon-mi Body Copy Share Image
There is a holocaust going on in my country, the world needs to acknowledge that and do something to help the people… — Park Yeon-mi Country Copy Share Image
Family are everything; everyone understands the strength of family. For me, they were the reason that I managed to get by while… — Park Yeon-mi Family Copy Share Image
I literally crossed through the middle of the Gobi Desert to be free. But what I did was nothing, so many people… — Park Yeon-mi Desert Copy Share Image
When I was in South Korea, the books that I read about Americans were actually Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. If this… — Park Yeon-mi Billionaires Copy Share Image
I think my father would have become a millionaire if he had grown up in South Korea or the United States... Almost… — Park Yeon-mi Business Copy Share Image
If there is no word that means you don't have the concept. In North Korea they eliminate the words: depression, stress, dictatorship,… — Park Yeon-mi Brainwashing Copy Share Image
