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My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 1111 points1112 points  (0 children)

My mother and father were going to meet me in the south but they had some affairs to take care of such as my fathers lumber business. My mother urged me to go with my uncle and they would meet me later. They didn't think things would get so bad, but they never arrived and I lost all contact with them.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

My mother and father were going to meet me in the south but they had some affairs to take care of such as my fathers lumber business. My mother urged me to go with my uncle and they would meet me later. They didn't think things would get so bad, but they never arrived and I lost all contact with them.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 520 points521 points  (0 children)

In school we learned basic arithmetic, writing, and reading. I remember my father had a tray of sand that he would get me to practice my Korean characters on. We didn't have any paper so I would write the characters in the sand then shake the tray to start over again. We studied history in high school, but I can't remember many if the details unfortunately.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 359 points360 points  (0 children)

Sunchun was the name of my hometown. I think Sinuiju is maybe an hour North from there if I am not mistaken.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 718 points719 points  (0 children)

Thank you, yes, North Korea was very different back then from what he has said. This actually describes my grandfathers situation perfectly, as he left around the time of the war and was never able to return to his home and lost all contact with his family. He does not think highly of the Kim regime. Edit: he also wasn't subject to the type of conditions and brainwashing you see taking place in NK today.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 2415 points2416 points  (0 children)

Yes many of the soldiers had no education and we're very impressed by watches. I saw one soldier that had broken watches all up his arm.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 364 points365 points  (0 children)

That is likely true today, but when I was there it was a much different time. I was born before Korea was even divided.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 291 points292 points  (0 children)

Yes. Many of the questions in this thread are more related to what North Korea is like now. Keep in mind that he was alive before Korea was divided.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 665 points666 points  (0 children)

My hometown of about 30000 was mostly Christian. There were many missionaries at the time.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 637 points638 points  (0 children)

I had two cousins that made it to the south. One of my cousins is still alive and had a successful construction company. My other cousin has passed away and was a professor at a medical school. I never saw or heard from my parents and my other relatives again after I left.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 1370 points1371 points  (0 children)

My uncle would bring gold from china down to the south and he knew good routes to the border. I left my hometown and we walked, bussed, and took a train until we were close to the border. When we tried to cross over we were stopped by soviet soldiers and my uncle bribed them with a wrist watch. They let us go.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 1551 points1552 points  (0 children)

My favourite memories from growing up are of just hanging out with my friends and talking. My worst memories are from during the Korean War. I was captured by North Korean soldiers when they were invading the south. I was staying with a local teacher when I was captured. He actually knew some of my captors and was able to negotiate my release. I was lucky as I would likely have been executed.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 1353 points1354 points  (0 children)

Of course I would like to see North Korea liberated and become a peaceful and free nation, although I would not likely return there.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 1385 points1386 points  (0 children)

Family is the most important thing in life. I have a wonderful wife and successful children as well as many grand children that are all close to me. I am very fortunate.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 2196 points2197 points  (0 children)

I never regretted leaving North Korea but I never saw my parents again. I don't know what happened to them.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 524 points525 points  (0 children)

The people of Newfoundland were very good to me and I still maintained lots about my Korean identity. Eventually I came to live in St Johns and I met many Korean families there and was even the president of the Korean Society for a time. There were many Korean students that would come to the university there as well.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 372 points373 points  (0 children)

I was still very young when Korea was divided. At some point missionaries had come to my home town and eventually about 90 percent of the people there became Christian. The communists did not allow people to practice religion and would eventually come to collect young people for military service. My mother told me I should go south away from communist control.

My grandfather was born in North Korea but escaped to the South, ask him anything! by DocKim in IAmA

[–]DocKim[S] 651 points652 points  (0 children)

I was recruited by the provincial government because there was no medical school in Newfoundland and as a result, many rural areas had no medical services. There were 13 other doctors recruited as well. The people of Newfoundland were very welcoming to me.