Interview: How a North Korean defector’s daring escape led him to ROK politics



Interviews Interview: How a North Korean defector’s daring escape led him to ROK politics Park Choong-kwon went from studying missiles in DPRK to working at Hyundai Steel and advising the South’s ruling party Joon Ha Park January 12, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Park Choong-kwon at a welcoming ceremony for new recruits of the People Power Party at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. \| Image: People Power Party (Jan. 8, 2024) When Park Choong-kwon made the decision to flee North Korea, he had no idea where his risky attempt to escape would lead, only that he could not stay in the country he had always called home. Fifteen years later, he has a Ph.D. in materials engineering from South Korea’s top university and a job as a senior researcher at Hyundai Steel, specializing in automotive components. When Park Choong-kwon made the decision to flee North Korea, he had no idea where his risky attempt to escape would lead, only that he could not stay in the country he had always called home. Fifteen years later, he has a Ph.D. in materials engineering from South Korea’s top university and a job as a senior researcher at Hyundai Steel, specializing in automotive components. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

Interviews

Interview: How a North Korean defector’s daring escape led him to ROK politics

Park Choong-kwon went from studying missiles in DPRK to working at Hyundai Steel and advising the South’s ruling party

Joon Ha Park January 12, 2024

Interview: How a North Korean defector’s daring escape led him to ROK politics

Park Choong-kwon at a welcoming ceremony for new recruits of the People Power Party at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. | Image: People Power Party (Jan. 8, 2024)

When Park Choong-kwon made the decision to flee North Korea, he had no idea where his risky attempt to escape would lead, only that he could not stay in the country he had always called home.

Fifteen years later, he has a Ph.D. in materials engineering from South Korea’s top university and a job as a senior researcher at Hyundai Steel, specializing in automotive components.

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Interview: How a North Korean defector’s daring escape led him to ROK politics

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