--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm extremely grateful I was born in…" description: "\"I'm extremely grateful I was born in North Korea. If that didn't happen, there's no way I could understand other people's pain.\" — Park Yeon-mi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/park-yeon-mi-5169_born_i-m-extremely-grateful-i-was-born-in-nor_1908129.jpg" --- # I'm extremely grateful I was born in North Korea. If that… ![“I'm extremely grateful I was born in North Korea. If that didn't happen, there's no way I could understand other people's pain.” quote by Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/park-yeon-mi-5169_born_i-m-extremely-grateful-i-was-born-in-nor_1908129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/park-yeon-mi-5169_born_i-m-extremely-grateful-i-was-born-in-nor_1908129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/park-yeon-mi-5169_born_i-m-extremely-grateful-i-was-born-in-nor_1908129.jpg) > “I'm extremely grateful I was born in North Korea. If that didn't happen, there's no way I could understand other people's pain.” [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experiencing hardship can deepen empathy for others' suffering. **In simple terms:** Hardship builds empathy. Key Takeaway Use your perspective to help others. Themes empathy gratitude human rights Mood thoughtful compassionate Type activist reflective When to use this quote - humanitarian work - education - advocacy - counseling Key Concepts personal narrative social awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn gratitude into action? - What injustices can you address? A Different Perspective Privilege can blind one to systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korea/) [North korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-korea/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [My family lived under communism their entire lives. When they arrived in South Korea, they didn't even know how to use the bank system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/my-family-lived-under-communism-their-entire-lives-when-they-arrived/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [If there is no word that means you don't have the concept. In North Korea they eliminate the words: depression, stress, dictatorship, human rights.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/if-there-is-no-word-that-means-you-don-t-have-the-concept-in-north/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I know the truth of North Korea. The oppression and their tragedy. It cannot be silenced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-know-the-truth-of-north-korea-the-oppression-and-their-tragedy-it/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [North Korea spends billions of dollars to make this nuke test system. If they would spend just 20 percent of what they spent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-spends-billions-of-dollars-to-make-this-nuke-test-system/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [North Korea publicly denounced me as an enemy of my people and punished all my relatives. They have this guilty by association policy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-publicly-denounced-me-as-an-enemy-of-my-people-and/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [We can agree that Kim Yo Jong is not taking over North Korea and I don't think that is in her interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/we-can-agree-that-kim-yo-jong-is-not-taking-over-north-korea-and-i/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I have visited slums in Mumbai, I have visited slums in other countries, but nothing is like North Korea because North Korean starvation, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-have-visited-slums-in-mumbai-i-have-visited-slums-in-other/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [In North Korea, it was actually an oppressive regime and that's why I escaped with my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/in-north-korea-it-was-actually-an-oppressive-regime-and-that-s-why-i/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [In North Korea, people who are actually oppressed don't even know they're oppressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/in-north-korea-people-who-are-actually-oppressed-don-t-even-know-they/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Everything in North Korea was about the leader, all the books, music and TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/everything-in-north-korea-was-about-the-leader-all-the-books-music/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [North Korea is a very Confucius country. We respect the elders, the hierarchy. It's not like America where anyone can step up and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-is-a-very-confucius-country-we-respect-the-elders-the/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [North Korea is a religion. We are told that Kim is a god and that he knows what you are thinking and how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-is-a-religion-we-are-told-that-kim-is-a-god-and-that-he/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I work every day. I work all day. I've never had a holiday. It's all I really want to do. It's what I'm here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-dine/i-work-every-day-i-work-all-day-i-ve-never-had-a-holiday-it-s-all-i/) [Jim Dine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-dine/) > [“Sometimes I wish I had been born with cat fur, whiskers, and a tail, though I guess I am grateful that at least I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/sometimes-i-wish-i-had-been-born-with-cat-fur-whiskers-and-a-tail/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I'm so grateful to be born in the times I live in and to be provided the opportunities I've been given. I'd be wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-m-so-grateful-to-be-born-in-the-times-i-live-in-and-to-be-provided/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) ## More by Park Yeon-mi > [Risking your life is not an easy thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/risking-your-life-is-not-an-easy-thing-to-do/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Going to Columbia, the first thing I learned was 'safe space.' Every problem, they explained us, is because of white men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/going-to-columbia-the-first-thing-i-learned-was-safe-space-every/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I was a slave. I was sold in China in 2007 as a child at 13 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-was-a-slave-i-was-sold-in-china-in-2007-as-a-child-at-13-years-old/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [My mum was sold for $65 and I was sold for $260 - at the age of 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/my-mum-was-sold-for-65-and-i-was-sold-for-260-at-the-age-of-13/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [If there is no word that means you don't have the concept. In North Korea they eliminate the words: depression, stress, dictatorship, human rights.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/if-there-is-no-word-that-means-you-don-t-have-the-concept-in-north/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [My favorite movies were 'Titanic,' 'James Bond' and 'Pretty Woman' - people smuggled in pirate copies from China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/my-favorite-movies-were-titanic-james-bond-and-pretty-woman-people/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Kim Jong-un and the regime don't just oppress - they play with human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/kim-jong-un-and-the-regime-don-t-just-oppress-they-play-with-human/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [My father died without knowing even this kind of democracy exists in the world. He didn't even know this much food was available in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/my-father-died-without-knowing-even-this-kind-of-democracy-exists-in/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [That is what is happening in America. People see things, but still they've just completely lost the ability to think critically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/that-is-what-is-happening-in-america-people-see-things-but-still-they/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [North Korea is a religion. We are told that Kim is a god and that he knows what you are thinking and how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-is-a-religion-we-are-told-that-kim-is-a-god-and-that-he/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I had to be very unrealistic about my situation. If I was so realistic I would never have made it this far. So, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-had-to-be-very-unrealistic-about-my-situation-if-i-was-so-realistic/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I thought North Koreans were the only people who hated Americans, but turns out there are a lot of people hating this country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-thought-north-koreans-were-the-only-people-who-hated-americans-but/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Back in 2014, at the One Young World Summit in Dublin, I shared my story of my escape from North Korea to China in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/back-in-2014-at-the-one-young-world-summit-in-dublin-i-shared-my/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [North Korea is a very Confucius country. We respect the elders, the hierarchy. It's not like America where anyone can step up and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-is-a-very-confucius-country-we-respect-the-elders-the/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Everything in North Korea was about the leader, all the books, music and TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/everything-in-north-korea-was-about-the-leader-all-the-books-music/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) [Explore all 103 Park Yeon-mi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) ## More Born quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. 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