Why I escaped from my brainwashed country | Hyeonseo Lee | TEDxKyoto
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- Опубликовано: 20 дек 2015
- North Korean defector, Hyeonseo Lee opens her own life and losses to the world in order to illuminate a human rights tragedy that has for too long rested in the shadows.
Great or small, our losses stay with us, unshakeable even as we grow beyond them. Hyeonseo Lee knows about loss. A North Korean defector, Hyeonseo once thought her country the best on earth. In 1995 her beliefs and life were shattered as the truths of famine, death and brutality crashed upon her. Her survival depended on her ability to escape North Korea to restart her life, but at a high price̶the loss of her family, home and country. Since escaping North Korea, Hyeonseo has risen to be a powerful voice for human rights, speaking in front of the UN Security Council and sharing her story and the plight of North Korean refugees across the world through speaking engagements and written articles featured in major newspapers, magazines and journals. By opening her own life and losses to the world, Hyeonseo Lee has helped illuminate a human rights tragedy that has for too long rested in the shadows, and along the way, has transformed loss into the promise of hope.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
"we found safety in our ignorance"
Cloelia Lim that is the power statement that is oftentimes true.
Sad line
Be warned. Satanists have used the Mandella Effect to move our solar system hundreds of light years from Sagittarius to Orion's Arm. They have also changed Kit-Kat to Kit Kat. What horrors come next, only God knows.
Feminism in a nutshell.
Jeremy Corbyn mandela effect is for the weak minded
I just hope the friendly border guards are not in trouble now. I worry about them seriously.
They have most likely been executed.
Jane Lee nah don't worry if he don't knows the names he can't know who and Kim can't execute and or in prison his whole military
Jane Lee Thats all he had hope.
Just bribe all witnesses. They are poor anyways
Hmm
"The birds hear you by day, and the mice hear you at night."
That's both beautiful and terrifying.
Same thing Yeonmi Park's mom told her.
this kind of paranoia is found in all dictatorships. in iran we were told "walls have mice in them, and mice have ears".
I don't get it lol
I was reading her book "The girl with seven names" in school, when my English teacher came over, picked it up, read the blurb and put it down again. The next day, in front of the whole school, she displayed her photo along with Malala's and said "These are two, extremely inspirational women."
D Spencer: Sounds as if you were blessed with a good teacher.
Nice
She inspired me to leave my home town two hours from Pyongyang. And to crawl through mud over heavily guarded borders, while my companions were cut down and murdered where they stood. Now I might be a white fella from upstate New York, but does that really matter, really? It’s about inspiration, isn’t it?
I'm South Korean and I hope that one day the Korea's will unite and everything will just be Korea
When that happens South Korea will stop being a rich nation. These people are not ready for living side by side with you in South Korea due to many factors but specially because South Korea has a very materialistic and competitive society.
+Happy Hamster Korea has only been split for about 70 years. It seems unlikely that North Koreans won't be "up to speed" in a few generations.
And even if the GDP per capita goes down a bit, so what? Surely humans are more important than money. It is unlikely that Korea will become so poor people will be starving.
+eizhowa are you Korean?. Yes,Korea has been split only for seventy years,but for sure I can tell you North Koreans would die trying to integrate to a society as complex as South Korean... I spent five years of my life in Seoul... :)
+Happy hamster No, I am not korean. I was speaking based on my experience with foreigners trying to integrate into my society (Norway). My experience is that the original immigrants often struggle to adapt to our society, but their children grow up understanding the society/culture they live in because they have been to norwegian schools, learnt the norwegian curriculum, had norwegian friends as well as being exposed to the society all their lives.
The example wouldn't be as effective if all koreans from the south stayed in the south and all the koreans from the north stayed in the north, but if the entire country had the same laws and same curriculum at school, they will soon start to see the world in a more similar way. New businesses opening in the North would also aid the integration. I can imagine that businesses would love to expand into the north, because I think they would see North-Korea as an untapped market where they could make big gains.
+eizhowa I wonder if your neighbors from Sweden think the same way you do,after all these muslims moving to their lands...Integrating to another culture is very difficult... Specially when you were raised under certain ideologies... These poor North Koreans wouldn't be able to survive in South Korea... At least not all of them.
she may look like a normal pretty lady just like others but her eyes are so calm, so cold. I can't imagine how she could face with all those tragedies and stand up right there to tell the world the truth. What a beautiful, brave, strong woman.
Van O she's wearing makeup, I can't believe this. while they're North Koreans suffering
She can not help the North Koreans on her own. If governments can't do anything, how is she going to be able to stop it?
How would you live there if you lived her life, not to show emotion always watching to see if someone is spying on you, no way to live, you say she's cold look at people in countries that can't express freely, you see them tense up all the time, just bc she's free will take her years to adjust to normality.
car ger oh boo boo people might look at you funny if you say you hate Canada, will three generations of your family be interned into a concentration camp? No? Then quit acting like you have no freedom of speech when you clearly live in one of the most free nations on earth.
@@thinhphan3816, are you doing anything? Why should it be her job to help every suffering North Korean, it should be anyone but her, she's experienced enough tragedies.
This made me realize how lucky I am, I may not live in a great place but at least I live free.
Americans are free...free to be homeless, free to be murdered by the police...
Or, rather, you're just delusioned with "freedom"
Tony Midyett I never said it was perfect
Nikita Khliestov I still have s lot more opportunities here than many other places though.
@@LilBitWasHere could you please name some of those opportunities?
Suddenly, my life doesn't look so bad...What a brave lady.
Nah - it's still bad.
it is okay to feel bad about yourself sometimes. There are certainly people worse off but it shouldn't neglect your suffering too.
@@durururururururu yeah but i can bicker about how the existence of modi and calculus is a beacon for human suffering
aand this is what's toxic with our society. Just because someone has it harder than you (and there's always that someone), doesn't mean your own struggles are not worth talking about. Rememeber, as hard as she has it, there are people who have it even harder than her. Of course if your problem is 'oh, I lost my phone I'm so depressed I wanna die' that would be a case to tell you, you're ricridlous. But a lot of people in 'safe' coutnriesn also face real struggles, which society often acts like can't be. What, a country that is devleoped, has a democracy, how on earth can one complain? Yes, it can happen. I'm from Germany and while it look like an awsome place, a lot of people too struggle and live in poverty.
@@sandiego2380 I think this is more about seeing someone who had it objectively worse than you and yet managed to endure and survive, it gives you hope that you too can endure and survive your own difficulties in life. It's a reminder of not giving up hope no matter how difficult things get.
Her English is practically flawless considering that she started from zero so to speak.
YESSSS
@@DanePsiq As is my wife's and all her family who never spoke a word of English before arriving in Canada... So what is your point?
Moss Limbayter that although she was not raised in a english speaking country, she speaks it well... That was her point.
@@mosslimbayter277 just that it's impressive she can give a damn ted talk in ner non-native language
@@mosslimbayter277 well your wife and her family are amazing too!
one year ago i read her book, and its so strange to hear her voice, to see her speak and realize everything she wrote is real, not just a story in a book, i obviously knew i was reading facts, but its so unbelievable to me that in 2016 this is still a reality
I know. I've grown up in a house that has the news on 24/7, and I have heard whispers on North Korea being horrible before, but I literally had no idea that this was going on until a few days. I grew up learning about the horrors of Hitler and the Holocaust, I didn't know that a different form of those same horrors where occurring to this day.
Rafy yes
Let's not forget that, China is the one who is keeping them alive for their own interest even with knowing what people of North Korean people going through.
Really?
Please read more useful books then
???
"Even if you want to wake up from your Orwellian nightmare, you intentionally put yourself back to sleep."
If you read 1984, you'll see that this is exactly what the Orwellian nightmare is about. You intentionally put yourself back to sleep while forgetting that it was your own intention - doublethink is amazing
"The deadly mix of ignorance and fear" .What an eloquent and brave young woman!
This woman's pain is so deep. It's hard to attempt to quantify that pain. Americans can listen to her, but cannot really imagine what dictatorship means.
It isn't just Americans bud.
She made this speech in Japan not America
Not just Americans
@@alex-fs9yt Well, one can hardly justify his faults because they are common!
There isn't much we can do either. We're not politicians, even if we were we still can't do anything,it would only make it worse. Plus there are horrible things like what's happening at the border and other things.
"The planet is fine,
the people are fucked."
- George Carlin
global warming
Hyeonseo Lee is a remarkable person. she seems relaxed, despite the horror that she had to experience. I was deeply touched by her speech
I read her book, the hardships that she had to go through, the bravery she showed, the strength she has is amazing and inspiring.
A truly wonderful woman, you have to read her book: "girl with seven names"
What an unbelievably gorgeous woman...God bless that soldier who helped her escape. Pity for those millions stuck inside the pathetic country. Hope someday the crazy fog lifts and freedom spreads in their country. I pray for them.
Narayanan Jayachandran You were brainwashed to believe you are free
LOL...Thats a good one. And if i guess it right, so are you.
Fradián Guerrero Then you could say the same about how you were brainwashes into thinking that you're special/unique 'cause you arent. You have 0 personality. You're nothing.
Yui Sorry. That comment was a while ago. I have changed now. I now believe that capitalism is the best thing has happend to our world because it gives me the opportunity to chat with dead people from arround the world.
@yui why would you say such a thing to anyone???? horrible
I'm not Korean. I'm not a Korea fanatic. But something in my soul burns for North Korea and it's sufferers. Something puts them very close to my heart and it breaks for them. Forgive us North Koreans for not being able to stop your nightmare.
@@brownasiankid1782 whoa that was weird
@@brownasiankid1782 your dating prowess has nothing to do with her tragedies.
So... you planning a full scale invasion of North Korea?
@@brownasiankid1782 LMFAO.
Shubham Yoga*Anime no one cares that u like white coochie thank u next
I pray every day that one day I will go to love and serve these precious people in N Korea. I am a Romanian 🇷🇴 married to a South Korean and leaving in India 🇮🇳. From the first day of marriage we shared the same dream for N Korea.
Wow you stay in india . Where ? i am from india as well
So is when young ! 🔔 I thought self-determination is all that's matter and good tradition will not die with me; with all personal, family successes, with all the blessings, 'uprooted' has its cost still - in old land or in the new land, life/success is struggle ! Starting new, moving around, empowers the 'masters' to shuffling us like cards, leaves, EVERYWHERE - trist, the truth is staring at us ! 🙏Your kids will grow up to feel nothing to not much for any of these places - ROOTS, language, family continuity, healthy tradition BUILD A NATION - but broken -roots, -family, -tradition, -many languages, destroys old-land's networkings, keep us divided and struggling - ARE WE OUR OWN ENEMY !?!
🔔 N. Coreans' PAIN is prolonged when helping one at the time, more so when buying 'made in China' everything ! 🔔 STOP BUYING 'made in China' - boycot all products 'made in China' even when marked (!) 'made in Germany' or elsewhere if you know it's fresh shipment from 🇨🇳! DEMAND "NOT-made-in-China, PLEASE!" and PROMOTE any small or big 'made at home' (where you live) product ! 🔔 🙏❤👍
I follwed TATA MOTOR - expected, hoped a Tata car to brake the western (price fixing) market - there is no afordable car for the common western person - not even the Chinese managed to brake through - 🤣🤣🤣 GOOD NEWS - Electric DACIA 🇷🇴🇫🇷 €9000 (300Km) is advertised in Germany ! 🔔 Now, I hope, no parts are 'made in China'... I would be 😡 ...
After this video, I realized that I'm actually blessed in the country I live in.
The most incredible thing is that this one girl is capable of taking down the sick regime of North Korea:
She wrote a book and published it: The Girl with Seven Names (3,062 Amazon customer reviews)
She did a live Tedx Talk
And had millions watch her story on RUclips
One girl can free her whole country... if we all stand beside her!
Maybe not one, but many sure will do.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-Thomas Jefferson
This video needs more views
FoodforThought You need to stop mindlessly hating on positivity
What happened to your liberal country that must have made you so lost in your arrogance...
Did this touch a sensitive spot?
David Johnston yeah, that views can be fudged.
agreed!
North Korea sounds like a real life version of 1984
She did call it an orwellian nightmare
Insufferable Know-It-All what’s that
Orwell is the author of the novel 1984 so she said "orwellian" alluding to 1984
Viviana Cavazos its like a dystopia ;;
Orwell was very smart, and as a result, somewhat prophetic.
Young lady, as an American, I'm so fascinated and very glad to hear your story. Congratulations on, and thank you for... telling your story!
I spent two years on/near the Korean DMZ back in the 1980's. To say this woman is very brave for what she did is a great understatement.
She went through China, Vietnam and Laos to be safe in Thailand. Watch the documentary Beyond Utopia. It's a insane journey where you've to cross 4 borders illegally.
she is a brave woman. to make this speech. love strong women
:P
RoyaltyFreeAbuser she is brave for doing both things. Not many can get up on a stage in front of hundreds and talk about things that have caused her emotional pain.
We shouldnt have to say "strong woman" it should be "strong person" that is true equality.
+Minerguy Until we actually have true equality, we're going to lift up the women and say "strong woman."
Hannie Griebling We have a similar version of reality? We're only human...including the reptilian pretenders...??? ...the NSA, hears you by day, and the FBI/CIA surveil you by night..."What difference does it make?" Is the United States emulating North Korea? Who or what is driving this change?
I wish the top comments were about this brave women and the North Korean situation and not American Politics. Please comment in those topics so they move up to the top. She deserves that much.
Their condition is political that's just the reality.
The fact is that this world is ruled by people with authority so a discuss of Politics is unavoidable.
Kaze Arqaz m
sarty to fix the korean situation we first america to take political and even physical action to help them
Guess what.YOU’RE it!
the embodiment of courage and honesty, prayers to those suffering
She is so, incredibly brave for sharing her story... more people need to watch this.
I can't believe there are people who actually gave this video a negative rating. Do they doubt her sincerity? The truth of her story? Her commitment to finding freedom? It makes no sense to me at all. Perhaps they are children who are being left unsupervised with their mom's computer. To me their behavior makes no sense at all, and it is very unfortunate. I feel sorry for them, actually.
Don't take downvotes so seriously.
They probably work for the North Korean government.
they are the communists who are trying to sell this dystopian religion in the West .
There are numerous trolls who just roam RUclips disliking everything they can find. Don't worry about it.
it seems like every video on RUclips have dislikes.. im pretty sure some are bots
What a brave young lady. South Korea needs to find means to make it easier for North Korean defectors to enter the country to freedom. There's absolutely no need for them to have to go through Thailand or Laos, that's ridiculous. These people suffered enough under N. Korea! May God bless her, and may He set the other captives free.
It's true that more countries should come to the aid of North Korean people (not to enact Godwin's law, but it's pretty obvious that Kim Jon Un is only a few concentration camps away from being Hitler). However, I don't think it's that simple. They have an army, and they aren't going to be shy about using them. North Korea already has enough beef with South Korea without them taking in refugees.
They need to protect their own people, or both Korea's will be fucked, either in all out war that tears apart both countries, or from Kim Jong Un taking over South Korea in said war and turning the entire area into one big North Korea. Now take that into consideration and add that to the fact that if South Korea opened it's boarders, nearly everyone would want to leave. Add in also the fact that North Korea guards it's boarder of the South more powerfully than we guard the White House, with guards ordered to shoot on sight. It's not that easy. The South Korean government is walking on very fragile egg shells here, and nothing is so simple when tip toeing around powerful people.
Until there's an all out war to take him down, no amount of refugee harboring will help enough. Kim Jong Un and his loyal army will tear down the door of anyone he needs to in order to keep the fear of him alive in both his people and his neighboring countries. He needs to be taken out of power (or out of this mortal coil. Whichever works) if these people are ever going to be free of him.
I think a more effective solution would be for the UN to gather together in secret and formulate a plan to take Kim Jong Un out of power. That way, it will be safer for other countries to offer asylum without the threat of an all out war hovering over them.
It sucks that we can't just take them away to some blissful Neverland of freedom and democracy. It's not fair, it's not right, and it's infuriating. But unless there's either an organized, planned agreement to take Kim Jong Un down, or some North Korean, rebellious, gun-wielding Moses come to crash take down the Korean Pharo and set his people free, there is really nothing that can be done without a ridiculous amount of effort and risk on the part of the refugees. Sad, but sadly true.
they cant cross the NK-SK border, its illegal for them- their whole family will die (they have soldiers at the border). if they go through the turman river there is a better chance to escape.
The bigger problem is not in freeing them, but in what happens afterwards. because every citizen is mind washed and completely believes in the lies which are taught there from birth. there is no internet, no one even knows there is something like the internet in this world there, television only has 3 channels which all only show kim jong, no form of communication, their kindergarten poems are all based on his greatness.
and the cost of stabilizing the country afterward is too much for any country to bear.
but i agree something needs to be done!! but i dont know what. :)
There's no way that can be done practically, unless China's government made the rather radical decision to send Koreans to the South. That could cause numerous complications!
For what it's worth, defectors also have gone through Mongolia, Vietnam (I think), and Russia. Plus, there have been maritime defections to Japan or straight to the ROK, plus a few soldiers have gotten through the DMZ.
All in all, the best thing would be for the US government to heed John Feffer's expert advice and get off the peninsula. The US presence in the ROK (and nearby in Japan) is a massive factor preventing the Koreans from solving their own problems. The ROK is a prosperous country that can protect itself (they have an already strong military, twice the population of the DPRK, and dozens of times the economic power). The same is true for Japan, by the way.
it's a hard problem bc if south Korea was even able to take every northerner it would collapse their economy. it's sad, but kim Jong un dig a deep have for his people.
I am in awe of this lady's courage, commitment and warm heart. It's important to see living examples of real human will. Thank you for your inspiration..
It always amazes me how people actually escape this place. Amazing.
North Korea sounds like a big hostage situation.
A big hostage that has been taken forever and still on hold.
Doesn't every leftist dream turn into that? The left will then say, ahhh but they are not doing it right.
It is definitely
@@mikebrandenburg9922 No leftists re not trying to hold anyone hostage. That's the other side.
@@mikebrandenburg9922 No i don't think that any political parties dreams are to hold people hostage
From the perspective of an outsider and someone who lives in Europe, this sounds so incredibly unbelievable. And _uncomfortable_ .
I just can't get my mind around the fact that such an attempted utopian society _actually exists_ somewhere on our planet and it exists now, in the 21st century. I feel so sad about all those people and about the fact that I can do nothing to make it better, that *_we_* are not doing anything for this poor bunch of unaware people who are born into a society which straight lies to them and that they know nothing about the outside world.
I feel so powerless.
The legacy of a stupid Slav who thought everyone was equal.
Happy Hamster savage! but true.
Since when was marx a slav?
+jacmar44 Marx was a Jew from Germany,Lenin who was a Slav wasn't able to understand his ideas. Lenin was an asshole.
don't believe everything you see in the internet. most of these are just black propaganda. lots of so-called defectors came out to speak against NK and the 1st thing you will wonder about is that - they are very good in English. there was a number one speaker who have attended lots of public shows regarding this issue. she escaped 3 to 5 years ago but her English is really good. there is a Korean woman who was working in an English speaking country for a long time and married an american and lived in the US for more than 27 years already, and her English pronunciation is not as good as this lady in the vid or the girl that escaped 5 years ago from NK. my point is that - there are groups who hire koreans to *speak against NK* to strengthen the hate that the world have for Kim Jong Un. i don't agree on his style, but what is the difference of those people who creates *lies* about NK too?
an amazingly brave girl, my heart goes out to you and all like you that were/are in such a bad situation
This had me tearing up the entire time 😢
this poor woman, i so desperately wish i could just sit on the floor with her and hug her whole family. I hate what they went through, I sincerely hope that the rest of their lives is lived in peace and happiness and feelings of security and safety
Why on the floor??
Frau Schultz, give hugs ? white women heal the world with hugs . was denkst Du ! we could do with a message of hope , but you just made this about you.
Candice Schultz Yooo the rest of her family is in a concentration camp in NK. That’s what happens when one of your family members escapes: everyone suffers.
@@adad-ec6ht Hardly a relevant comparison to make..
@@celestialvenus6711of course it is relevant. You internet warriors leave no space to bash the religion and brag how wonderful atheism is , how scientific atheism is, but when it comes to atheist countries like Korea and Cuba, you all show your double standards.
Turns sand into Rice ? I knew the propaganda exist in DPRK but my God I never knew it was that extreme
thats just a mural on a wall, its no more extreme than any religious propoganda...
Its the violence and repression that is mainly so dangerous
And Jesus turns Water to wine, Rock to bread.
Think about the propaganda in the Bible now lol😂n people actually believe that
@@masterroshi2514 Jesus is mythology character, Kim is actual people in modern time.
Asian jesus. Turns water to wine, turns sand to rice
im having a goosebump just by seeing this lady talks about her life in such a calm demeanor
She lived such a hard life..she deserves to live better ‼️
Jesus
Why don't more people know about this? Why isn't this video talked about?
Fuma Fu Not enough dead bodies in forests, making fun of other countries' culture and throwing toys at cars and random people.
The whole world knows about this.
What are you talking about.? Everyone knows the situation in north Korea .
It is, just not openly. Otherwise nations would take action, and China might decide to start WW3 over said actions. China has it's own problems. The one child policy (now two child policy) is still violently enforced in some areas. What I mean is, I spoke with a man whose friend lost teeth. Beating women as a method of forcing them to miscarry happens sometimes. I know another man who spoke out about this and was imprisoned for slightly over seven years for obstruction of traffic. This was the obstruction of traffic which he was supposedly responsible for when the police were placing him under arrest (since the police cars blocked the road). The best people don't want to take action primarily because they are afraid of war.
Parbruek uuuuumm it is known very openly.
If you haven't read her book you have to download it now! I could not put it down! It's only two dollars and the most amazing thing I have ever read. If they make a movie based on her book every action hero will be out of a job!!!
Dave Foster what's the name of her book?
Libra Woman 'The Girl With Seven Names'
PLAYLISTTTTSTSTSTTS Thank you! I feel stupid right now because I realized it's actually there in the video.
Dave Foster. You know it's 2016/2017 when you say go download a book
You can even download memories or RAMs now.
Applause Applause... We heard you loud and clear...a brilliant speech...
I'm about halfway through Miss Lee's book,and I'm really shocked at how some of her own countrymen behave. I'm pleased she made it though.
What an incredibly brave human
This girl. She is my role model. I’m actually obsessed with her. She is so brave, powerful, emotional, gorgeous. She is incredible and empowering so many people everywhere and everyday. She’s such an incredible girl.
Love prayers peace. Thank you for sharing!
This is a soul-crushing story 😭 My heart feels deeply for North Koreans 💔
I just finished reading 1984 a week ago, and boy oh boy George Orwell was creepily spot on
@@mestrue 1) learn how to type.
2) Use facts and articles to back up your points
@@triscuithebiscuit you are commenting on a youtube video, why even bother
@@onattt_ the same could be said of yourself. Besides, the OP deleted their comment, and this thread is already 6 months old.
@@triscuithebiscuit aight
Because he was a British officer in the colonies of India and Bhirma. He knew how a political system of lies works.
Wow, she has way better public speaking skills than me and I was born and raised in the USA.
Same 😅
Amazing talk, each step hard and full of danger. The kind of resilience and never give up spirit to persevere is so uplifting. The horrors and trials her family went through in order to simply achieve something approaching a normal life outside their prison country.... terrible to listen to.
Well done for being so strong and courageous 👏
She tries to escape North Korea, but she is in constant threat of being deported and harassed by North Korea sympathizing China. Even South Korea officials tried to deport her. Now I see why some North Korean defectors actually want to come back to their old homes. Jeez
Well, in South Korea's defense, she did so well at hiding in China and pretending to be a citizen that they thought she was a citizen. She was a victim of her own success. You really can't blame the South Koreans for that one.
you can't blame China or South Korea on this issue. international relation is not that simple.
@@user-bv5nj4kz1n I d-o blame China. There's policy that a country has to "say" they enforce to get along with another country, and then there's the enforcement (or could be lack of enforcement if they wanted). They KNOW these North Koreans will be shot in a public execution in North Korea if sent back...but they send them back anyway??? There's policy you have to have, and then there's enforcement, that doesn't have to be. I'm guessing that the North Koreans featured as "coming back" didn't do so willingly but were sent back against their will and in an effort not to be killed, had to lie and say what they were conned into leaving and it was terrible outside the NK in order to survive. It's unconscionable what the Chinese are doing, period.
Betty Smith because china is as sick as north korea regime. Just look at how they tackle Uyghur & previously Falun Gong believers. Sick. Just sick
Zana AbRahim America is just as sick in its own ways too
i dont understand the need of other parts of the world to be so harsh to the north koreans..........theyve already faced enough harshness,its not their fault they were born in that country.......them escaping from north korea and coming to ur country is a symbol of admiration....... u should keep them under government protection. what if u were a north korean and trying to escape from there but other countries sent u back? i really want both north korea and south korea to be unified........arent the north koreans humans? theyre just like u and me. everyone in the world are equal. i wish for a world with no borders.........i want the whole earth to be only one country. we are born in one planet-earth,the earth is for everyone,borders are for no one.........i close my eyes and i pray for a better day
no
Swaggy Wassy 360 but south korean doesn't care. They accept them
XuDoX Official are people harsh to North Koreans?
I don't think people are typically harsh to north koreans. I think they just know their leadership is run by psychos
The problem is the cultish brainwashing. Think Jonestown, only the entire country is run by an all-powerful delusional madman.
I hate that people probably haven't watched or dismiss this video because her English isn't perfect. She's amazing and I'm so intrigued in everything she's got to say. I hope she's happy and has a lovely life. And I hope her words get out to everyone.
This is one of those speeches I come back to, again and again. It has something very special - Complete honesty. She is a strong, brave woman. Wonderful.
I don't know what is worse; to wake up one day and realize your whole life has been a lie or live in blissful ignorance for all of one's life.
Jungkook of BTS has answered this question accurately. It's better to know the truth that ends up shattering all your illusions, no matter how soul-crushing it would be. Because knowledge is power and it helps you grow as a person too.
Recently i actually went to this observatory close to the sk-nk border and actually got to see north korean officers through a telescope. It still seems unreal, that a dictatorship still exists within a few thousand kilometres of where my whole family lives. I hope we get to find a solution to north korea soon 🙏
I pray that you and your family will be safe and be safe from the harm
I am so proud of your courage to speak the truth & enlighten us. words can't express the admiration I have for you.. brave heart
What a powerful speech. I admire this woman immensely 🙏
I tried reading the caption sub titles but it is inaccurate. I love her and her courage.
I stopped watching it because of that, as I felt laughing at "Dick taylor kinney song" wasn't the right reaction for that kind of video.
You get some other great lines. Like “They thought I was Chinese citizen trying to get sore skin citizenship.”
and the "North game"
It even has Sasuke's name on it.
Cathy Isadoll Captions already butcher the words of people without accent, let alone with
no need to watch sci-fi movies about a futuristic dystopia we are already there ..
its unbelievable how some of us humans can be so cruel and stupid its sad and depressing
I admire Hyeonseo Lee so very much for what she is doing, she should be Very proud of the job she is doing, for herself and for all people. God bless and protect her and keep her strong!
Thank you for sharing your story with us
Such a fascinating story! The psychological effects of living in that regime must be devastating. These defectors are truly courageous
As a Chinese myself I do know some stories of people escaping from NK to China by crossing through the northern boarder, and those are the most courageous stories I have ever heard. No regime in the world can lock their people from the truth forever.
Your country sends them back to North Korea.
I just finished your book! It was amazing! You are a beautiful, strong ,brave and courageous young woman! Thank you for speaking out on this.... the abuse of the people of North Korea!
I'm so happy that it got better for you and hopefully it gets better for the rest of the people
omg she is so brave... She ran to a foreign country on her own, seperated from her family for a long time, gets hunted all the time, flew back to the hell hole, brought her family with her, almost got everyone arrested and then here she is now, making this speech... I feel like we take sooo many things for granted and forget to appreciate what we have, while there are people out there dreaming for a life like ours... Thank you so much for this speech Hyeonseo, it was really an eye opening speech and i hope you live a good life with ur family
People like her are truly brave. I hope one day all this would be nothing but history and the North Korea people will find their fair share of happy and healthy life that all beings deserve.
Wow! I paused about 3/4 of the way through and downloaded her book. I can't wait to read it. What an amazing story.
god bless every people in this world to be safe and protected🙏😭
Why doesn't this video have over 10 million views?
Are those people on the same planet with us?! i live in a country which has an awful dictatorial regime, but this! This exceeds anything i've ever seen or heard in my entire life!
Mohamed Shehata The most popular yt video only has 3billion views
Mo, which country is it.
You are from which country?
This is an amazing talk. It's crazy to think about how different other parts of the world can be.
Also, as a side note, her English is amazing, considering she grew up in near isolation from the rest of the world.
That poor woman! My heart goes out to her for speaking out! She's very brave!
Wow. What a story, what a life, what a struggle you have been through, it is just amazing to hear that after so long, you and your family are reunited again, and are living safely on the other side :)
Worst thing about this is that there's people that will watch this and still say that all the North Korea talk is fake and exagerated.
then lucky me, cuz I have neve met anyone who thought Noth Korea is exagerated.
North Koreans need help.
for real
Sumerian’s American should open the door and issuing unlimited green cards to real North Korean for entry into the good soils of USA.
I wish the president didn't give the famine
Elexctricity Gaming The world has to stop the embargo and the isolation of NK. This only helps the dictatorship.
@jimmy choo, ture, GLOBAL POLICENEN save them.
This lady is such an inspiration for me. I ve just finished reading her book, wich gave me insight into my own life. About fighting for what you want and what your souls needs and wants. Against all odds, she won. Hope North and South will unite one day.
Just finished reading your book and I admire you so much. Big hugs
"We believed that in America, people died outside hospitals because they couldn't pay." Well, that isn't far from the truth.
Not in the way that she meant.
You're CLEARLY a LEFTIST. I suggest you leave the US ASAP and head to the "Worker's Paradise" of North Korea. Or better yet, get a job and you'll have health insurance.
Shut up colo
@@scootertooter6874 idk man free healthcare is human right.
@@dainty3614 Super. What is your evidence for that comment, other than you want free healthcare and aren't willing to do what the rest of the country does to get it (that would be w-o-r-k...a foreign concept to you, I am certain)?
seriously, these comments on her appearance _alone_ that don't mention anything else regarding the video are *_really_* annoying.
for real, you just came to a video on a girl who escaped North Korea, and basically suffered the whole time, and the only thing you care to comment on is her looks?
eh, I shouldn't really care, I guess.
yeah you should care!!! someone needs to speak up for respect and intelligence!
It's called brainwashing and this girl thinks she's entered the free world,probably a plant anyhow.
jupiterloverful wow...just wow...
Zachary Kilbourn when someone says “she’s beautiful” it’s not just looks.
It’s about her strength and intelligence. The English word for beauty or beautiful has layers and multiple meanings.
@@ashyclaret you should take a step outside from your device. Away from any ideas from others for a few minutes or even days, learn gratitude and to not get brainwashed on the internet...
"we found safety in our ignorance" oh God the pain, fear and terror
behind this phrase is unfathomable
Thank you for sharing your story
I’ve read your book I’m only 14 but it made me open my eyes more than a lot of adults I know !
I hope our brothers and sisters in North Korea see liberty and freedom come to them one day soon. Bless you.
The way she talks is amazing I feel so bad for her and her family
Wow. What an incredible story!
wow... i have never really gave much thought of north korea until i watched this video. my heart aches for north korean citizens who are suffering. this woman is so brave and so wonderful for sharing her story that could’ve gotten her in big trouble. i might consider reading her book, her story is too interesting and too important to be forgotten.
Hyeonseo, I guess that you should contact more publishing agencies but on the worldwide scale. I've ran into this vid while randomly checking info and links on NK. Nothing heard about in Ukraine as I am here for now yet measures should be taken globally. Best wishes.
incredible bravery!! What an amazing woman.
Brave woman! Glad she got out and is living a fulfilling life. God bless.
"We thought that so many people died outsides of hospitals in the US because they couldn't pay..." Well, they told the truth!
No. They were told- and showed photos of- rows and rows of people suffering and dying on the sidewalk outside a hospital, and told that's the common condition here. Hell yes we have a grossly immoral number of people who die from lack of healthcare here in the richest country on Earth, but we do NOT have rows of people dead and dying on hospital sidewalks. Yet, anyway. Give Trump a little more time.
Why would they come stand in a row if they know they can't get in? You're not the richest country, norway is.
lmao ungrateful american
What? No-one is turned away in this country from any hospital because they cannot pay!! Try it find out for yourself.
People don't die outside hospitals. Unless they are in an ambulance and die in it...
Healthcare is a service, not a right. You are not entitled to other people's work. You are expected to pay for services, so of course if you can't afford it, you'd have debt, obviously.
She speaks remarkably well English - grammatically near perfect, with pronunciation about average among South Koreans, who study English since young age. This lady probably had some special education before going abroad. Or she had extremely good teachers after she got out.
I think it said it was translated for us..
But, yes, they are really hard working people.
@@yosefnegussie8790 Well, she is speaking. There is no translator. And knowing how difficult is English for South Koreans, I can be sure this lady had special education.
@@zzip0 yes, I see her.. what did it mean at the start 0:00 "Translator: Taylor.." ?
@@yosefnegussie8790 Maybe translator was on standby, or maybe there is somebody translating to japanese, since the event is in Kyoto apparently(?), but she definitely speaks English all the time.
I really admire her bravery and her honesty. Sad situation.
Thank you Hyeonseo for sharing your history,I, wish you happiness to you and your family.
"So even if you want to wake up from your Orwellian nightmare, you intentionally put yourself back to sleep." Damn, that girl can work a speech.
most amazing human person EVER!! So inspiring🙏
Thank you for your story shared.
Hyeonseo Lee should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, or at least nominated for her braveness to reveal the truth of the North Korea!