North Korean refugees who participated in FSI's 21st English speech contest pose during lunch after the contest. Courtesy of FSI By Casey Lartigue Jr. After 14 years of working directly with North Korean refugees, I’ve seen myths about them spread faster than smuggled South Korean dramas into Pyongyang.
Even well-intentioned experts often oversimplify North Korea, missing the nuances that make it such a complex place. And when it comes to North Korean refugees, people assume they all had the same escape story, the same motivations, or the same experiences after resettlement. But the reality is far messier.
I’ll break down seven common myths and misunderstandings I’ve heard over the years — some of which contain a grain of truth, while others are completely off the mark. Let’s separate fact from fiction. 1.
'North Korean refugees escape for freedom.' “When I heard my father eating watermelon over the phone, I knew I had to escape.” A single moment, a simple sound — sometimes, that’s all it takes to push someone to risk everything for a new life.
While many assume North Koreans escape for political freedom, their reasons are often far more personal, unexpected, and deeply human. It is true that many North Korean refugees escape for freedom, but that’s not the whole story. Freedom Speakers International (FSI) has organized 21 “I am from North Korea” English Speech Contests, featuring about 150 speeches by North Korean refugees.
Few talked about freedom be.
