Content Author | NK PRO
November 27, 2024

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David

David is from Hamhung in North Korea. When he was younger, he was a footballer and later joined the North Korean army. In the army, David was deployed to the front lines and crossed the DMZ to South Korea in 2012. He graduated from university in South Korea and currently works as PR manager for North Korean human rights organization NAUH.

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Ask a North Korean: What is English-language education like in the DPRK?

An escapee writes about the materials he used to learn and how his English skills were put to the test in South Korea

DavidSeptember 24, 2024
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Ask a North Korean: What is forced labor like in North Korea?

A defector writes about being forced to work even as an elementary school student and the trauma it left him with

DavidMay 21, 2024
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Ask a North Korean: What was it like playing soccer professionally in the DPRK?

A defector writes about his training schedule and the hurdles he faced trying to represent his country

DavidFebruary 13, 2024
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Ask a North Korean: Can children in the DPRK express their creativity?

David, who defected in 2012, writes about discovering the joys of self-expression through his work as a YouTuber

DavidDecember 25, 2023
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Settling in Seoul: What do you think about critics of North Korean defectors?

A DPRK escapee talks about encountering people who question his testimony and how he learned to embrace his past

DavidNovember 21, 2023
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Ask a North Korean: What do socialism and capitalism mean to you?

A defector shares what DPRK taught him about equality and how living in South Korea has shaped his views on capitalism

DavidSeptember 15, 2023
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Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans think about war?

The DPRK extols its ‘victory’ in Korean War, but ordinary soldiers must confront harsh reality of potential conflict

DavidJuly 27, 2023
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Settling in Seoul: How have you changed 10 years after escaping North Korea?

Without friends or family, one defector reached a breaking point before resolving to build a life he could be proud of

DavidJune 28, 2023
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Ask a North Korean: How one soldier escaped across the heavily armed DMZ

New columnist David writes about the challenges of army life and how a South Korean leaflet convinced him to defect

DavidApril 28, 2023