Staying in China provided me with the opportunity to adjust to life outside of North Korea and to gain a sense of perspective, most importantly, by learning that so much of what I had been taught about my country was a lie. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
I lived near the border with China, and one night, I simply left home and walked across the iced-over river that separated the two countries. I was fortunate that my family had close relationships with some of the border guards, so I was able to cross without incident. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
The border crossing is the most dangerous moment for anyone attempting to escape. But my brother and mother had been waved off by every armed border guard along that stretch of the river. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
I’m not sure if my story will become a movie. Some of my western friends sent my story to people they know in the movie industry. But one consistent response was there aren’t any main western characters in my story, so it’s unlikely to be made into a movie in English. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
Like every country, North Korea has some very smart people. They could be contributing a lot more to science and other areas, but North Koreans are forced to spend so much time memorising the fake history of our dictators and other propaganda, so are at a huge disadvantage. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
It was very shocking for me to read newspapers that openly criticised the government in South Korea. That is impossible in North Korea and almost impossible in China. I was really impressed, and I became addicted to reading the news and watching the media so I could learn about the world. North Koreans would be stunned if they experienced this. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
Inside North Korea, we have many informants and spies watching everyone; they’re paid by the government. Even a husband and wife can’t trust each other. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
Even after arriving in South Korea, it’s dangerous. As a North Korean defector, I need to be careful from the spies to protect my relatives inside North Korea. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
We were taught North Korea is a heaven. They told us how people in western countries die in hospital or have no money to study in school. Lee Hyeon-seo Read Quote
