blog

New Beginnings: A Conversation with Hae Jung & Sue

December 4, 2014
HJS Workout

Hae Jung is very familiar with loss and grief: Her mother passed away when she was a teenager, after she grew up and got married, her husband died, and three years after that, her father starved to death. Life became unbearably difficult for Hae Jung after the death of her father. With no family left and no resources to survive on, she escaped to China in search of a better life.

Hae Jung was arrested twice during her 14 years in China, but was able to evade repatriation on both occasions. Still, she lived with constant anxiety that she would be caught and sent back, and her Chinese-born daughter, Sue, grew up fearing for her mother’s life.

Seeing the devastating effects that living in hiding had on her daughter, she escaped with Sue to South Korea. Together, they made it safely through LiNK’s networks, a journey which was funded by UT Austin's Rescue Team, just before Sue’s 8th birthday.

Now safely resettled in South Korea, Sue is attending school and Hae Jung is working as a salesperson at a mobile phone company. Hae Jung also volunteers at a local welfare center to aid people with disabilities by cooking for them and cleaning their houses and helps out at her daughter’s school as a crossing guard with other parents.

Our resettlement coordinators, Jihyun and Anna, recently met up with Hae Jung and Sue to see how they’ve been doing.

HJS_Fruit

While cutting up some fruit to serve, Hae Jung began to talk about what it's been like to live in freedom...

Hae Jung: Even nowadays, more than two years after I resettled in South Korea, I still pinch myself to see if this is real—that I’m free, that I live in South Korea. Although there are difficulties here, too, especially for people like me who still don’t know a lot about this society, I always try to think that I can overcome those difficulties. If I already think it is impossible to overcome, I can never overcome anything.

Hae_Jung_Table

Jihyun: What advice would you give to a friend who just arrived in ROK?

Hae Jung: Try to learn as much technology as possible to facilitate your adjustment to this society (especially knowing how to use computers and the Internet is so necessary). You have to experience new things on your own instead of only listening to other people’s experiences. And, go to college if you are young enough.

No matter where you go, you will always face difficulties, conflicts with other people due to different cultures and customs. Some people will look down on you and you will make mistakes because you are not used to this society. Although South Koreans don’t have to adjust to this society the way resettled North Koreans do, they also deal with similar things in life. We are not that different. Try to find people you can open your heart to, share your struggles with, and laugh about the struggles with them.

Don’t be afraid of difficult things or interpersonal conflicts. Try to remember what you went through in North Korea, where you were not treated as human beings, then it will give you different perspectives on how to approach difficulties you may have.

Sue_Pen
Jihyun gave Sue a wooden pen, which she was very excited to receive, with the UT Austin crest carved into it. The pen is a gift from Julian, a former member of the UT Austin Rescue Team who now interns at LiNK HQ. Hae Jung and Sue have met Julian twice in South Korea.

HJS_Julian

Jihyun showed Hae Jung and Sue a video of Julian saying hi and telling them about what he’s doing at LiNK HQ as an intern. Hae Jung was so happy to see Julian that she actually waved and said "Hi!” twice while watching it.

HaeJung_Sue

Jihyun to Sue: How do you like school these days?

Sue: It’s alway fun!

Jihyun: What is your favorite subject?

Sue: “Math”

Sue_Shoes

Jihyun to Sue: What are you thankful for this year?

Sue: What do you mean?

Jihyun: Well, for example, you could be thankful because you had a summer break this year, haha. You also saw Julian from the UT Austin Rescue Team again and you got to study with your tutor through our ETCE Program earlier this year. And...ah, your fractured wrist healed well and fast, too! So is there anything you are particularly thankful for, which happened this year?

Sue: “Aren’t we thankful for just the fact that we have life?”

Hae_Jung_Coat

Jihyun to Hae Jung: How do you and Sue spend time together?

Hae Jung: I try to spend as much time as possible with my daughter. We often go to the park in our apartment complex to have mom and daughter time by walking and exercising together. Sometimes we do karaoke, too. When I went to karaoke with my daughter for the first time, I was surprised to see her sing and dance to a lot of South Korean pop songs. I was like, ‘when did you learn all that?’. I realized that kids adjust faster than adults. You know, she already has a South Korean accent.

HJS_2

Jihyun: What kind of difficulties did you face in North Korea?

Hae Jung: Things were so difficult during the famine in the 90s, especially after the public distribution system collapsed in 1994. One time, after starving for so many days, my father and I started moving around to different towns with salt and matches to find tree roots and bark. Whenever we found tree roots and bark, we cooked them with salt and ate them. We had to do that to survive until wild, edible greens started growing in June, so we could eat the greens instead of tree roots and bark. In July and August, I got to save some greens so I could sell them at the illegal marketplaces. However, sometimes my greens even got taken away by the police whenever they cracked down on the illegal marketplaces.

Very sadly, during the famine, I lost many of my family members. I still remember the very moment when I saw my father dying of starvation while crying for corn soup and tofu that he really wanted to eat. I was also very close to starving to death. I weighed as little as 55 pounds, which was not even a half of my normal weight of 119 pounds. If my friend hadn’t brought me some kernels, I would’ve died of starvation like my father.

In order to survive during the terrible famine, the people, including myself, started eating mice, but they were so hard to catch. You might think it sounds so gross, but when you are starving for so long, your mind gets so focused on finding anything edible—and how you can skin and cook them. Whenever I caught a mouse and cooked it, it smelled strong so people living on the same block noticed the smell and could tell someone near them was cooking mouse meat. Starving kids near my house were crying because they smelled it. I tried to share the meat with those kids as much as possible, but sometimes I couldn’t because I was starving, too, and didn’t have enough to share.

Jihyun: What are some difficulties you’ve faced since resettling?

Hae Jung: When I first came to South Korea, I had a hard time understanding expressions and words that South Koreans use. Because of that, I had difficulty communicating with people at work when I was working as a caretaker and waitress.

Hae_Jung_Sue_Shop

Jihyun: What is it like living in freedom in South Korea?

Hae Jung: It is very convenient thanks to more technology. Before I left North Korea in the late 90s, in my town there was only one TV in every five households and the TV had only one channel. Now in South Korea, however, every house has at least one TV and it has so many different channels. Also, almost every household has a computer and uses the Internet.

I think the Internet makes my life so much easier. If I want to listen to my favorite songs or look up information, I just have to move my fingers.

I feel so much freedom in many parts of my life. I love that people don’t bother you as long as you don’t bother them or break the law. I also think that the freedom makes people not only more equal to one another but also more friendly to each other.

I love being able to learn new things here.

When I got my ID, after coming to South Korea, I was happy. I felt like I had become a human being again (because I lived illegally in China for so long, always hiding and being afraid of getting caught). When I was in North Korea and China, I felt like I was an animal like a dog or a pig. Since I live as a human being here with freedom, I am proud of myself and even compliment myself for living like a human, which I longed for in North Korea and China.

Freedom also enables me to be healthy since I don’t have to do a lot of physically hard labor that a lot of people still do in North Korea these days due to lack of technology and infrastructure.

Sue_soccer

Jihyun: What hopes do you have for Sue?

Hae Jung: Of course, like any other mom in the world, I want her to be successful in life. I hope she will go to a good university, study overseas, get a good job, and prosper in many ways. I know that is just my wish. It is out of my control and it depends on how much she tries/her effort.

The most important thing for me is that Sue will grow well—healthy and happy. I want to be there for my daughter whenever she needs me. I want to be positive to her all the time so I can be a good role model and influence her to also take on a positive outlook on life.

Also I want to continue telling her to appreciate what she has and to care for others who are underprivileged and have disabilities. I want her to know that we have to give back to the society because we’ve received so much from people like LiNK’s staff and supporters.

You can help more North Korean refugees escape China and resettle in a safe country here.

39 North Koreans Now Free | Liberty In North Korea’s 2024 Annual Report

June 4, 2025

We’re excited to share LiNK’s 2024 Annual Report — a celebration of the work we accomplished together in 2024, and as a movement over the past two decades.

Read the full 2024 Annual Report here

2024 Impact Highlights

39 North Korean refugees rescued
35 resettled
140 supported in resettlement
208 empowered through LiNK programs
$4,895,367 raised
11,586,504 people reached ONLINE
2,923 people reached IN-PERSON
3 information access projects

Our Work Towards Liberty in North Korea

  • Refugee Rescues & Resettlement Support: Helping North Korean refugees reach safety and freedom, and gain stability and independence during the first years of their new lives.
  • Empowering Resettled North Koreans: Working with resettled North Korean refugees to support their success and develop their capacity as agents of change. 
  • Increasing Information Access for North Koreans: Researching, innovating, and developing initiatives to empower North Korean people inside the country with greater access to information and technology.
  • Changing the Narrative on North Korea: Focusing on the stories of the North Korean people and mobilizing a global movement of support for this issue.

Note from our CEO


It’s hard to believe it’s already been 20 years since the beginning of Liberty in North Korea and the pursuit of this ambitious vision — the day when every North Korean man, woman and child is free.

I am perpetually in awe of the strength, resilience, and determination of North Korean people. Their willingness to endure unimaginable risks and hardships transcends mere survival — it reflects a profound human yearning for freedom, and the pursuit of dignity and choice.

To date, we have rescued almost 1,400 North Korean refugees and their children from some of the most difficult circumstances in the most dangerous countries around the world; we have helped women escape forced marriages and trafficking; we have reunited families and been privileged to witness new marriages, new babies, and new dreams big and small being achieved.

We have worked with our North Korean friends to identify the tools they need to unlock their unlimited potential: from 1:1 English tutoring and educational scholarships to leadership, storytelling and advocacy training, career mentorship and grants to incubate transformative ideas.

We have invested in one of the most critical and direct areas of impact inside the country — increasing North Korean people’s access to outside information and technology.

Our work with the international media and also on a grassroots level through our chapters and advocacy fellows has changed the narrative on North Korea. We’ve redefined North Korea by its people, rather than its politics, and have created new language to talk about the issue.

As we celebrated 20 years of impact, we also reaffirmed our conviction and our commitment to seeing this vision fulfilled; to doing everything we can to support the North Korean people until we have exhausted every possible solution. And we haven’t, yet. Our work today is more urgent than ever, and I ask you to continue standing with us until this vision is fulfilled. Until the North Korean people win their freedom.

Because I know it will be in our lifetime.

With unwavering hope,
Hannah Song

North Korean Refugee Rescues & Resettlement Support

LiNK is one of the few groups that still operates in the underground railroad, forever changed by the effects of the pandemic. Our field team continues to navigate a more difficult operating environment, amidst increased restrictions and surveillance in China.

In 2024, we’re grateful to have welcomed 39 North Korean refugees and their children to freedom. As we regain momentum with rescues, our team is committed to finding ways to make rescue missions safer, reduce costs, and diversify our routes to build up the resilience of our networks.

Once North Korean refugees begin their new lives, LiNK journeys alongside them through this crucial period of transition. Whether this looks like financial assistance, home visits, or connecting people to resources and services, we help ensure a smoother, more successful resettlement experience.

  • 39 rescued
  • 35 newly resettled
  • 140 supported

Empowering Resettled North Koreans

When North Korea is finally free, North Korean people themselves will be the ones to determine the future of their country. 

As we work towards that day, LiNK invests in building the capacity of North Koreans to succeed in resettlement, reach their goals, and lead change. We identify current challenges in the defector community and develop programs to address gaps in career, education, and skill-building opportunities.

As North Koreans become leaders on campus, in their workplaces, and in their communities, it also develops their potential as agents of change on this issue. We’re already seeing the next generation of North Koreans spearheading progress with their unique talents — writers sharing their stories with global audiences, tech-savvy engineers developing information access strategies, entrepreneurs creating more opportunities for North Koreans in business, and activists speaking about North Korean human rights at the highest forums of international policy and diplomacy.

  • 208 empowered through our programs

Increasing Information Access for North Koreans

North Korea is one of the most physically and digitally isolated countries in the world. By controlling what North Koreans see and hear through propaganda, the regime disempowers them from making informed choices or scrutinizing the government. Increasing the people’s access to outside information and technology is therefore one of the most effective ways to accelerate forces of change and opening.

LiNK’s Information Access Programs (formerly known as Labs) explores this opportunity with three key areas of impact — creating and curating content tailored to the interests of North Koreans, developing technologies with built-in security to protect users, and devising strategies to increase the flow of information into North Korea. 

In 2024, we grew our small Information Access Programs (IAP) team and laid the foundation for ambitious expansion in 2025.

  • 2 technology projects
  • 1 digital security research project
  • 52 North Korean defector collaborators
  • 4 media features broadcast into North Korea (via Radio Free Asia and Voice of America)

As always, we are limited in what we can share publicly to protect end users, partners, and the projects themselves.

Changing the Narrative on North Korea

For decades, North Korea has been defined by dictators, politics, and security threats. Media outlets often perpetuate the narrative of a distant and hopeless country, playing right into what the regime wants — to stymie change and distract from the real story, the North Korean people. 

LiNK empowers North Koreans to redefine and humanize this issue through their stories. We partner with them to create original media, as well as work with international media outlets to foster a people-centered approach to reporting.

Today, we see a broader narrative on North Korea that highlights forces of change and invites international audiences to join us in taking action. North Koreans themselves are now leading the charge, creating their own documentaries, books, digital media, and art to rewrite the future of North Korea — one where every man, woman, and child is free.

  • 11,586,504 reached online
  •  2,923 reached in-person

20 Years of Impact on the North Korea Issue

  • 1,382 North Korean refugees rescued
  • 1,245 resettled in South Korea
  • 37 resettled in the U.S.
  • 1,101 empowered through our programs
  • 46.6 million people reached online
  • 350,000+ people reached in-person
  • 1,273 total media mentions
  • 1000+ LiNK Teams worldwide

"I am sending my congratulations to LiNK on its 20th anniversary. Few groups have done as much for North Koreans… Its long history is remarkable: many people have been discouraged by the lack of spectacular success, while LiNK has continued its operations, doing what was possible, often on a small scale. Such persistence is rare and commendable.
 
Most likely, North Korea will remain a challenge for a long time, and its people will need all kinds of support, including the assistance LiNK is providing. I wish LiNK continued success in its important work.”

– Andrei Lankov, historian, professor of Korean Studies at Kookmin University, author of The Real North Korea

Read the full 2024 Annual Report here

Your generous donation will rescue and support North Korean refugees
Donate Now
Learn more about the North Korean people
Awesome! You're subscribed!
Oh no! Looks like something went wrong.
Check these out!
Stand with the north korean people

Join Liberty and give monthly in support of the North Korean people

The logo for Refinery29A logo for CNNThe logo for Fox NewsThe logo for Time MagazineThe Logo for the Washington PostThe logo for National Public Radio