Hyeonseo Lee
Hyeonseo Lee: A Defector's Journey to Freedom and Advocacy
Full Name and Common Aliases
Hyeonseo Lee is a North Korean defector, author, and human rights activist who has gained international recognition for her courage in speaking out against the oppressive regime of North Korea.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on November 9, 1982, Hyeonseo Lee's exact date of death is not publicly known. As a living person, she continues to be an active advocate for human rights and freedom.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Hyeonseo Lee holds North Korean nationality but has lived in exile since her defection in 2007. Her profession as a defector, author, and activist has allowed her to share her experiences and raise awareness about the human rights situation in North Korea.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Chongjin, North Korea's third-largest city, Hyeonseo Lee was raised in a family of modest means. Despite the economic hardships faced by many North Koreans during this time, she showed exceptional academic talent and was eventually accepted into Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST). However, her plans for a bright future were shattered when she fled to China with her mother in 1997.
Major Accomplishments
Hyeonseo Lee's bravery and determination have led her to achieve numerous milestones:
She defected from North Korea at the age of 17, embarking on an arduous journey that would take her through China and eventually to South Korea.
In 2010, she was granted asylum in South Korea and began sharing her story with the world.
Her memoir, "The Girl with Seven Names," has become a bestseller, offering readers a gripping account of life under North Korea's totalitarian regime.Notable Works or Actions
Hyeonseo Lee's work extends beyond her writing. She has:
Collaborated with human rights organizations to raise awareness about the plight of North Korean defectors.
Advocated for policy changes that would help protect and support those fleeing from North Korea.
Shared her story through public speaking engagements, interviews, and media appearances.
Impact and Legacy
Hyeonseo Lee's impact is multifaceted:
Her memoir has humanized the experiences of North Korean defectors, sparking empathy and compassion among readers worldwide.
As an advocate, she has helped to inform policy decisions that prioritize the well-being and safety of those fleeing from North Korea.
By sharing her story, Hyeonseo Lee continues to inspire others who have faced similar challenges.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Hyeonseo Lee is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
Courage: Her willingness to speak out against the North Korean regime has made her a symbol of hope and resilience.
Authenticity: Her experiences provide a unique insight into life under totalitarian rule, making her a trusted voice on human rights issues.
Passion: Hyeonseo Lee's commitment to raising awareness about North Korea's human rights situation has inspired countless individuals to take action.
Hyeonseo Lee's remarkable journey serves as a testament to the power of courage and determination in the face of overwhelming adversity. Her work continues to inspire change and raise awareness about one of the world's most pressing human rights issues.
Quotes by Hyeonseo Lee
Not only did I believe that humans were selfish and base, I also knew that plenty of them were actually bad – content to destroy lives for their own gain. I’d seen Korean-Chinese expose North Korean escapees to the police in return for money. I’d known people who’d been trafficked by other humans as if they were livestock. That world was familiar to me. All my life, random acts of kindness had been so rare that they’d stick in my memory, and I’d think: how strange.
Kindness toward strangers is rare in North Korea. There is risk in helping others. The irony was that by forcing us to be good citizens, the state made accusers and informers of us all.
The school year started in September, with a long vacation in the winter, not the summer, due to the difficulty of keeping the schools warm in North Korea’s harsh winters. My kindergarten had a large wood-burning stove in the middle of the classroom and walls painted with colourful scenes of children performing gymnastics, children in uniform, and of a North Korean soldier simultaneously impaling a Yankee, a Japanese and a South Korean soldier with his rifle bayonet.
I had to learn Mandarin. And I had the best teacher – necessity. You can study a language for years at school, but nothing helps you succeed like need, and mine was clear, and urgent.
It was an aspiring neighbourhood that retained a faint edge of slum, typical of Shanghai. Pensioners in Mao-era padded jackets would sit on doorsteps playing mah-jong, oblivious to the Prada-clad girls sweeping past on their way to work.
This is the first time I will tell my story in English, a language still new to me. The journey to this moment has been a long one.
In North Korea the only laws that truly matter, and for which extreme penalties are imposed if they are broken, touch on loyalty to the Kim dynasty.
As many discover, freedom – real freedom, in which your life is what you make of it and the choices are your own – can be terrifying.
It was at school in Hamhung that I received my initiation into ‘life purification time’, or self-criticism sessions. These have been a basic feature of life in North Korea since they were introduced by Kim Jong-il in 1974, and are the occasions almost everyone.
Behind the bluster, I sensed fear. Dictatorships may seem strong and unified, but they are always weaker than they appear. They are governed by the whim of one man, who can’t draw upon a wealth of discussion and debate, as democracies can, because he rules through terror and the only truth permitted is his own.