HRF hosts inaugural NK Insider Forum in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, Korea (Dec. 23, 2024) — On Dec. 19, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) hosted the inaugural NK Insider Forum, a unique conference addressing critical issues related to North Korean human rights. The theme of this year’s forum, “Cracks in the Regime: The Exodus of North Korea’s Elite and Global Responses,” highlighted the defection of North Korea’s elite and the international community’s role in responding to the ongoing crisis.

The event featured three defectors from prominent North Korean backgrounds who shared their firsthand experience of life under the oppressive regime of Kim Jong-un. Their unique perspectives shed light on the suffering, fears, and challenges endured by those even within the regime’s privileged classes. 

The NK Insider Forum also served as a platform for the international community to discuss how to support North Korean defectors and activists while gaining insight into the inner workings of the Kim regime. At the forum, HRF reaffirmed its  commitment to North Korean human rights, especially amid uncertainty about South Korea’s policy direction under potential leadership changes. 

The half-day event included three keynote talks, a panel discussion, and congratulatory remarks by European Union Ambassador to Korea, Maria Castillo-Fernandez, and Secretary General of the National Unification Advisory Council, Thae Yong-ho. Virtual remarks by US Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues Julie Turner and HRF CEO Thor Halvorssen emphasized the international community’s commitment to advancing human rights in North Korea. 

“As we gather for the NK Insider Forum, I urge us to center North Koreans and their fundamental rights in all discussions and efforts. It is our responsibility to ensure that the North Korean people are not forgotten amidst the ever-shifting geopolitical landscape,” HRF CEO Thor Halvorssen said. “The road ahead is undoubtedly long, but with your leadership and collaboration, we can move closer to a future where human rights are no longer a distant dream for the North Korean people.”

Jang Hyeok, a former researcher and data scientist, described the relentless surveillance and sporadic violence experienced by North Korea’s academic elite, even among top-performing students. He highlighted how North Korea relies on American software while simultaneously punishing programmers for using the English language, branding them “pro-American.”

Oh Hye-sun, an author and member of a prominent North Korean family, spoke of the constant fear of making a mistake that could lead to her family’s expulsion from Pyongyang. She recounted her struggles as the wife of a high-ranking diplomat, particularly when seeking medical care for her gravely ill son while stationed abroad.

Lee Il-kyu, a former political counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba and the highest-ranking diplomat to defect since 2016, detailed the rigid hierarchies within the foreign ministry, the arbitrary executions of colleagues at the whim of Kim Jong-un, and the shame he felt being referred to as the diplomat from the “bad Korea” by his Cuban counterparts.

The program also featured a musical performance by  Remember, a band composed of musicians from North and South Korea. Their modern renditions of folk songs celebrated the shared cultural heritage across the peninsula. 

The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring all three speakers and was moderated by renowned MC Kim Jin. The conversation explored the realities of life after defection, the challenges and opportunities of living in South Korea, and the struggles of leaving family behind to pursue freedom.