Hae Mi had to learn how to take care of herself very early on. She spent many of her teenage years as a salesgirl on North Korean trains
Brian lived a charmed life in North Korea- loving family, university education, and a full stomach, but life became increasingly hard for his family.
Hae Jung has lost many beloved ones. In hopes of finding food and a better life, she escaped to neighboring China.
As a teenager growing up in North Korea, Ella was solely responsible for her family.
The day that Suji became an orphan she was standing with her older sister at the river that separated North Korea from China.
Kyung lost both of her parents and was raised by her loving grandparents as their sole grandchild.
Throughout her childhood, Cate always struggled to find food – she remembers being constantly hungry.
Min-Ji is around ten years old. She was left on the streets in North Korea at a very young age. She has no idea what her real name is.
Kim-Ian ate one meal a day and lacked adequate clothing despite her parents constantly working to support their three children.
Moon-Su spent many months at this orphanage but eventually, with the help of a friend, built up enough courage to escape
My father went out with a lunch box to pick mushrooms. All of a sudden he said his head hurt,
Eun Hae escaped to China at the age of 19 with the hopes of sending money and food back home to her family in North Korea.
Jung Hee resorted to picking plants in the mountains in North Korea after the police shut her down for selling goods.
Michael and Donna recently escaped North Korea with their young daughter (Isabel).
Heather escaped to China for the second time and was sold again to a different man who she lived with in fear and isolation, enduring more abuse.
Min Sung told us that the hardest part about escaping from North Korea was to leave his family.
Instead of attending school as a child, Yoon-Hui worked in the fields to help her ailing mother and father survive.
Yae Jin was able to find true love in China. She was sold to her husband’s family, but unlike the other husbands, he was kind and affectionate to her.
Myung Soo spent the first 19 years of his life in North Korea. His sister had heart disease and was unable to be treated in North Korea.
Mi-Sun was rescued in 2010 and is safely resettled in the United States
Ki-Won was rescued in 2010 and is safely resettled in South Korea
