North Korean defectors talk about escape, new life in South in English

Pak Yu-sung, center, grand prize winner of the 13th English speech contest organized by Freedom Speakers International (FSI), poses with judges and dignitaries including co-founders of the organization Lee Eun-koo, left, and Casey Lartigue Jr, third from right, during the contest at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of FSI

Lee Hyo-jin

North Korean defectors resettled in the South shared various experiences about their escapes and adaptation to life outside of North Korea at the 13th English speaking contest organized by Freedom Speakers International (FSI), Saturday.

FSI is a Seoul-based non-governmental organization that provides free English lessons for North Korean refugees. Formerly known as Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center (TNKR), the organization changed its name recently to reflect its new focus on public speaking over tutoring.

Co-founded in 2013 by Casey Lartigue Jr. and Lee Eun-koo, it has supported over 460 North Koreans in English and public speaking education as well as career development, with the help of over 1,050 volunteers and coaches.

The latest event was held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, sponsored by Shin and Kim Law Office, The Korea Times, the Next Future Foundation and the Atlas Network in Washington, D.C.

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Under the theme "I am from North Korea," six contestants were each given 10 minutes to talk about their experiences in North Korea, their escapes from the country and adjusting to life in the South. The speakers told their stories in English with emotion, determination and even humor.

Pak Yu-sung, grand prize winner of the 13th English speech contest organized by the Freedom Speakers International (FSI), speaks during the contest at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of FSI

Grand Prize winner Pak Yu-sung, who escaped from North Korea in 2008, talked about his travel from the North through Thailand where he was told that he could be eaten by crocodiles in the Mekong River. But he later found out that the frightening tales were just rumors spread by local brokers who wanted to boost their fees and ensure their obedience.

"I believed the threat of crocodiles, I had even come to believe that I had seen them. I had been delivering these fabricated memories to many people," Pak said, concluding the speech by challenging audience members to think about myths that they might believe are true.

The first prize winner, who identified herself as Gloria, was repatriated back to North Korea twice before she settled in South Korea in 2007. She gave an inspiring speech on how she overcame hardships as a disabled woman who defected from North Korea.

Prior to the contest, the refugees were invited to apply through a meeting with FSI co-founders Lartigue and Lee, and then they submitted a draft of their speeches in either Korean or English.

After having their speeches translated and edited, the six participants had a combined 39 mentoring sessions with coaches and volunteers to prepare for the contest.

On April 3 and 4, FSI will hold an International Freedom Forum with North Korean refugees who now live in the U.S. One of the speakers will be Park Yeon-mi, author of the book "In Order to Live" as well as FSI's first "Refugee Ambassador" while she was a student in South Korea.

Those who wish to join the upcoming free event can search for "Freedom Speakers International" on Eventbrite for registration information.

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