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When I saw the picture of Yeonmi, her mother, and her sister reunited in Seoul in 2015, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. I truly believed they might never find Eunmi, the missing sister, ever again—it seemed like a miracle.
This moment marked the beginning of my deep admiration for Yeonmi. At just 15 years old, Yeonmi fled North Korea with her mother, enduring unimaginable hardships. They were kidnapped, Yeonmi was raped, and her mother was sold three times. Yet, despite all this, Yeonmi found the strength to pull her fractured family back together. She bought her mother back from a farm—twice. She smuggled her dying father out of North Korea so he wouldn’t die alone. And, after seven years of relentless searching, she finally reunited with her sister in Seoul.

From Stability to Starvation

Yeonmi Park’s family was once relatively well-off in North Korea. Her father was a trader who smuggled metals, such as gold and silver, across the border to China. Thanks to this income, they could afford luxuries by North Korean standards, such as eating full bowls of rice, a symbol of relative prosperity in a country where even basic food is scarce. They occasionally enjoyed rare foods like eggs or meat—luxuries unheard of for many North Koreans.
However, their comfortable life was shattered when Yeonmi’s father was arrested for smuggling. The government confiscated their assets, stripped them of their status, and sent her father to a forced labor camp. With their primary breadwinner gone and their Songbun classification downgraded, the family plunged into poverty. Yeonmi, her mother, and her sister struggled to find even the most basic food.
Songbun is a caste-like structure categorizes citizens into three main classes—"loyal," "wavering," and "hostile"—and further divides them into 51 sub-classes.

The Reality of Starvation

The family soon faced starvation, like many North Koreans during that time. Yeonmi describes surviving on corn husks, grass, and insects. They ate anything remotely edible, even tree bark, to stave off hunger. Food rations from the government were almost nonexistent, and the local markets were scarce or unaffordable. Yeonmi’s sister, Eunmi, became so desperate that she decided to escape to China first, leaving the family behind.
Yeonmi’s father was eventually released from the labor camp but returned home gravely ill. The family had little hope for a better future. Her father’s smuggling connections had once been their lifeline, but now the authorities were closely watching them, and they were essentially blacklisted.

The Decision to Escape

The final decision to escape came out of sheer desperation. With her father’s health deteriorating and the family unable to find food or safety, Yeonmi and her mother decided they had no choice but to flee. They hoped to reunite with Eunmi in China, believing that survival, even as refugees, was better than starving in North Korea.
However, the journey to China was fraught with danger. They crossed the frozen Yalu River in the dead of night, risking their lives to evade guards and border patrols. Upon arrival in China, they faced new horrors, including kidnapping, trafficking, and exploitation. Yet, despite these unimaginable challenges, Yeonmi’s resilience carried her through, and she eventually managed to rebuild her life in South Korea.

Help from Christians During Their Journey

After escaping to China, Yeonmi and her mother faced exploitation, starvation, and constant fear of being caught and deported back to North Korea. In this desperate situation, they encountered underground Christian networks that played a critical role in helping them survive and eventually find freedom.
These Christians, despite living under China's strict surveillance, risked their own safety to assist North Korean defectors. They provided Yeonmi and her mother with shelter, food, and guidance. Through these networks, Yeonmi learned about a secret escape route known as the “modern-day Underground Railroad,” which led defectors through China and Southeast Asia to freedom in South Korea.
One of the most pivotal moments was when Christians helped her cross multiple borders into Mongolia, enduring a dangerous trek through the Gobi Desert. Their faith and compassion became a beacon of hope for Yeonmi and others like her, showing her a world beyond the harshness of North Korea and the cruelty of human traffickers.

Mongolia’s Compassion vs. China’s Harshness Toward North Korean Defectors

When defectors like Yeonmi manage to cross into Mongolia, the government often helps them seek asylum and provides safe passage to South Korea. Despite its limited resources, Mongolia sees defectors as individuals in need of protection, showing humanity and understanding toward their plight.
In stark contrast, China takes a harsh stance on North Korean defectors. The Chinese government does not recognize them as refugees but rather labels them as illegal economic migrants. This classification allows China to justify forcibly deporting defectors back to North Korea, where they face imprisonment, torture, or even execution. Chinese authorities actively hunt down defectors, offering no refuge or support.

Yeonmi’s Experience in South Korea

When Yeonmi Park finally reached South Korea after her arduous journey, she was given refuge and support by the South Korean government. She underwent re-education at Hanawon, where she learned about South Korean culture, technology, and modern living standards—things she had never encountered before.
However, Yeonmi also describes feeling isolated and overwhelmed by the stark contrast between her life in North Korea and the fast-paced, competitive environment of South Korea. She struggled to adapt initially but eventually found her footing, thanks to both government support and her own determination.
 
This always leads me to this question: What if the PLA didn’t participate in the Korean War?
Page Boy: Elliot PageTali Girls, A novel of Afghanistan: by Siamak Herawi