London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

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Selected publications

The life of North Koreans in New Malden

As part of the 7th New Malden Arts Festival (19th July ~ 2 August 2014), Theatre4All are presenting an evening focusing on the lives of North Koreans in New Malden. Life of North Koreans in New Malden Malden Centre | Blagdon Road | New Malden | KT3 4TA Saturday 26 July 2014 7:30pm ~ 9:00pm … [Read More]

Escape from North Korea – Panel discussion at LSE

Another North Korea refugee related event this Wednesday at the LSE. This is a public event, but please signify your attendance on the event’s Facebook page or by emailing R.Faruq at lse.ac.uk so that they can register your name for security purposes. At time of writing there are 120+ attendees, so I hope they’ve got … [Read More]

The Defector: Escape from North Korea — a new documentary to screen at IDFA Amsterdam

Last year the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam featured the moving South Korean documentary Planet of Snail. This year the interest is north of the border, with a new documentary on North Korean defectors by award-winning film-maker Ann Shin. The Defector: Escape from North Korea Ann Shin, Canada, 2012, color, HDcam, 71′ THE DEFECTOR: … [Read More]

Oh Kil-nam, double defector, on the BBC

Interesting interview with Oh Kil-nam on the BBC website. Oh defected from the South to the North with his family (partly at the persuasion of composer Yun Isang), realised his mistake and defected back – on his own. His wife and daughters (now known as the Daughters of Tongyeong) got sent to Yodok. You can … [Read More]

Exposing Crimes against Humanity in North Korea

This Wednesday there’s an opportunity to hear about human rights abuses first-hand from North Korean escapees, in the Houses of Parliament. The World’s Most Closed Nation: Exposing Crimes against Humanity in North Korea Kim Joo-il Former Soldier in the North Korean Army Shin Dong-hyuk North Korean prison camp escapee Yun Tae-yang Parliamentary Candidate in South … [Read More]

North Korean refugee gives testimony

Radio interview with Kim Hye Sook, an escapee from one of North Korea's prison camps, on the BBC website: http://bbc.in/lFPRlO # The testimony of concentration camp escapees before the All Party Parliamentary Group now seems to be an annual event. This year courtesy of Christian Solidarity Worldwide Michael Rank reports from the hearing in the … [Read More]

It’s not all grim up North

Darren Southcott discovers that North Korean refugees in the UK find life tough, particularly with looming spending cuts Food shortages and societal collapse have brought record numbers of refugees fleeing the grip of the North Korean regime, yet for many the short crossing of the Tumen River into China brings more the life of the … [Read More]

Paradise does not exist: the tough experience of north Koreans in the South – By Mihyun Jang

Thousands of North Korean refugees fleeing face a cold reality in South Korean society. Many are seeking refuge in 3rd countries, although strict asylum rules mean many eventually are forced to settle in the South without benefits or resettlement payments. By Mihyun Jang North Korean refugees in China According to the Unification Ministry of South … [Read More]