In Order to Live

1. Escaping North Korea: A Perilous Journey to Freedom

"I wasn't dreaming of freedom when I escaped from North Korea. I didn't even know what it meant to be free. All I knew was that if my family stayed behind, we would probably die—from starvation, from disease, from the inhuman conditions of a prison labor camp."

Desperate circumstances. Yeonmi Park's harrowing escape from North Korea was driven by sheer survival instinct. The Park family, once relatively privileged, fell into poverty and hunger after her father's imprisonment for illegal metal trading.

Treacherous path to China. In 2007, 13-year-old Yeonmi and her mother crossed the frozen Yalu River into China, guided by human traffickers. They left behind Yeonmi's father and older sister Eunmi, who had disappeared days earlier attempting the same journey.

Risks faced:

• Execution if caught by North Korean border guards
• Repatriation if discovered by Chinese authorities
• Exploitation by human traffickers in China

2. The Brutal Reality of Life Under the Kim Regime

"There is no World Wide Web and no Wikipedia. The only books are filled with propaganda telling us that we live in the greatest country in the world, even though at least half of North Koreans live in extreme poverty and many are chronically malnourished."

Totalitarian control. The North Korean regime, led by the Kim dynasty, maintains absolute power through propaganda, surveillance, and brutality. Citizens are indoctrinated from birth to worship the Kims as godlike figures and to distrust the outside world.

Widespread suffering. Despite claims of being a socialist paradise, North Korea experiences chronic food shortages and economic hardship. The famine of the 1990s, known as the "Arduous March," claimed up to a million lives.

Key aspects of life in North Korea:

• Public executions and harsh punishments for minor infractions
• Strict social hierarchy (songbun) determining opportunities and privileges
• Limited access to electricity, healthcare, and education
• Ban on foreign media and information

3. Survival in China: Human Trafficking and Exploitation

"I will never forget the burning humiliation of listening to these negotiations, of being turned into a piece of merchandise in the space of a few hours."

Sexual slavery. Yeonmi and her mother fell victim to human traffickers in China. Yeonmi, at just 13, was repeatedly raped and exploited by a Chinese broker named Hongwei, who kept her as his "little wife."

Cruel choices. To survive and protect her family, Yeonmi made unimaginable sacrifices. She helped Hongwei in his trafficking business, translating for and selling other North Korean women.

Challenges faced by North Korean refugees in China:

• Constant fear of discovery and deportation
• Lack of legal status or protection
• Exploitation in low-wage jobs or forced marriages
• Separation from family members

4. Crossing the Gobi Desert: A Desperate Bid for Liberation

"It was the longest night of my life. Every time we heard a noise or saw a headlight in the distance, we panicked."

Perilous journey. In 2009, Yeonmi and her mother embarked on a treacherous escape route through Mongolia, guided by Christian missionaries. They crossed the Gobi Desert on foot in freezing temperatures, risking death or capture.

Emotional turmoil. The journey forced Yeonmi to confront her indoctrination, questioning the regime she once revered. She experienced a mix of fear, hope, and guilt for those left behind.

Challenges of the Mongolian escape route:

• Extreme cold and harsh terrain
• Risk of capture by border patrols
• Physical exhaustion and dehydration
• Uncertainty about their final destination

5. Adapting to South Korea: Challenges of Integration

"I realized I had no hope in this place. I felt dirty and lost, just like I had when the pastor was lecturing me about sin. If this was the way people were going to treat me when they found out who I was, then I would have to become somebody else."

Culture shock. Arriving in South Korea, Yeonmi faced overwhelming challenges adapting to a modern, capitalist society. Simple tasks like using a computer or understanding social norms were daunting.

Identity crisis. Yeonmi struggled to reconcile her North Korean past with her desire to fit into South Korean society. She initially hid her background, fearing discrimination and judgment.

Obstacles for North Korean defectors in South Korea:

• Language differences (new vocabulary, English loanwords)
• Educational gaps and difficulties in school
• Mental health issues (PTSD, depression)
• Social stigma and prejudice
• Financial hardships

6. Education as Empowerment: Overcoming the Past

"I read to fill my mind and to block out the bad memories. But I found that as I read more, my thoughts were getting deeper, my vision wider, and my emotions less shallow."

Insatiable curiosity. Determined to catch up on years of lost education, Yeonmi became a voracious reader and self-taught student. She earned her high school equivalency in just two years and gained admission to Dongguk University.

Expanding worldview. Through reading and formal education, Yeonmi developed critical thinking skills and a broader understanding of history and politics. This knowledge helped her process her own experiences and understand the true nature of the North Korean regime.

Key steps in Yeonmi's educational journey:

• Teaching herself to read and write in Korean
• Earning middle and high school equivalency degrees
• Gaining admission to Dongguk University
• Studying criminal justice and international relations
• Learning English and other foreign languages

7. Finding Purpose: Advocating for North Korean Human Rights

"I had used my first two years of freedom to work on myself, awakening my mind and opening it to the possibilities of the world. I was safe now, but I couldn't stop thinking about my family and friends and all the others who were still suffering, and my sister, who was still missing."

Media platform. Yeonmi's appearances on South Korean television shows about North Korean defectors gave her a voice to share her story and search for her missing sister. This exposure led to broader opportunities as a human rights activist.

Global advocate. Recognizing the power of her story, Yeonmi has become an international spokesperson for North Korean human rights. She uses her platform to raise awareness about the regime's atrocities and advocate for change.

Yeonmi's advocacy work:

• Speaking at international conferences and forums
• Writing her memoir, "In Order to Live"
• Giving interviews to global media outlets
• Addressing the United Nations and other organizations
• Using social media to reach a younger audience

Last updated: January 22, 2025