Freedom is a common word that is often used in our daily lives, but it is not easy to define. Freedom for me means being able to express myself and be outspoken. It means thinking for myself and being free to be curious. Finally it means preserving important economic, social, and cultural rights.
I am a North Korean refugee who escaped in 2012 for this freedom. I was born in 1991 on the east coast of North Korea.
At the age of five my parents divorced and I went to live with my grandparents. The divorce deeply affected my mother and she became very ill. She passed away ten years later. My dad went on to start a new life with a new family.
The fact that my parents divorced seems to surprise many people and I often get asked, is divorce possible in North Korea? I answer that while uncommon, it is possible. Even if it is an isolated country that may seem like another planet to some, people living there are just like everyone else.
It is often small questions like this that make it clear just how little knowledge people have of life inside North Korea. This encourages me to speak out.
I tell my family story because I want to provide comfort to others who are hurting, and let them know they can overcome this pain to be happy again. This life can be hard at times. But I don't let my past obstacles define me, and I always strive to achieve happiness and encourage others as well.
When I was in North Korea, I would get in trouble for doing something as simple as wearing earrings or clothes that stand out. As a punishment, I was forced to stand in the police station for six or seven hours with no food or water.
"Every time I walked out of the house, I was afraid to get caught by the police because of the clothes I wore. I am still afraid when I see people who wear similar clothes as the North Korean police."
I witnessed girls get their hair chopped off with scissors on the street by police officers and be assaulted when they tried to escape the situation. I've also been hit and kicked by the police for trying to escape.
This is a lack of freedom.
To wear earrings and jeans in North Korea is completely off limits and there are numerous other