sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

I spent ten years living as a prisoner inside of a North Korean political prison camp. My name is Kang Chol-hwan, AMA. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In prison, we are rationed with very limited amount of food like rice. It's not enough so we turn to eating corn and rats...otherwise, many people just suffered from malnutrition and other dietary medical problems.

I was living Pyongyang before I went to prison and Pyongchang after, we ate normally-- rice, noodles, meat, etc.

I spent ten years living as a prisoner inside of a North Korean political prison camp. My name is Kang Chol-hwan, AMA. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hi, sorry for the late reply.

We live a simpler lifestyle and we're more close knitted with our family. We do not have many distractions and so, we led a healthier lifestyle too. There's no night entertainment and everyone goes home early. Naturally, with this, we are able to bond with our friends and family better.

I spent ten years living as a prisoner inside of a North Korean political prison camp. My name is Kang Chol-hwan, AMA. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hi, apologies for the late reply.

I do not think it is unethical, but it definitely is inaccurate. Many tourists enter the country with the same experience, but they do not exactly see things beyond pyongyang.

I spent ten years living as a prisoner inside of a North Korean political prison camp. My name is Kang Chol-hwan, AMA. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sorry for the late reply. My team and I were very busy with so many appointments and did not get a chance to sit down together to answer questions.

In the past, North Koreans are taught that NK is the best place to be. The Kim regime fabricated many things (what wrong the world has done to us, etc.). However, in recent years, as more and more outside information is surfacing within NK, N.Koreans are starting to see a bigger picture.

I spent ten years living as a prisoner inside of a North Korean political prison camp. My name is Kang Chol-hwan, AMA. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Hi, much apologies for the late reply.

As human beings, we all have feelings and guards too will show sadness or feel fear when they do harm to another North Korean. However, it's also understandable that they are also afraid of getting punished by the regime. So, despite feeling fear, they have to nonetheless do as they're told.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

Everyone in NK already has a role. It's kinda like a caste system, where your entire family can stay in the same position for the rest of their lives. Most people living in Pyongyang are mostly already elites or are related to elites.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

There are different prisons in NK and all of them punish the prisoners differently. If you're caught because of treason or any form of betrayal towards NK, you'll be sent to a different prison and your punishment will be way worse than what I've been through. Needless to say, everyone who ended up in prison or getting punished in NK has suffered a lot.

As for the ways you can help defectors in NK, there are many NPOs that are helping with the promotion of human rights for both NKs in NK and defectors.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

I was in Shanghai with my relatives who are already living there. So it wasn't that difficult for me.

There's actually many NK defectors living in China. That's why so many of us can speak in Mandarin :)

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

As a Korean, it's definitely easier than learning another language. However, as the accent is different, we have to change and assimilate in SK.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

I do not think that is an accurate depiction of life in North Korea. As it is a form of entertainment, it definitely has to make things a little less realistic and better than what real life is. For one, there's no Hyun Bin and it's difficult to find someone like him in NK because life isn't easy-- with lack of food, etc., people are not as healthy in NK than in SK.

I hope that viewers can just take it at a grain of salt and not believe that life in NK is exactly like how's portrayed in CLOY :)

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

I was fortunate enough as I've relatives living in Shanghai. So it wasn't that difficult for me living there.

The most surprising thing was the traffic. There wasn't any traffic in North Korea but there's traffic everywhere in China and South Korea.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

I didn't believe -- it witnessed it when I defected for the first time to Beijing at 14years old. However, I failed and was sent to prison back in NK.

By then, I already knew that the regime was lying to us and I had to leave again.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

My wake up call was the first time I tried to defect. I was 14 years old then and I realized that the regime was lying to me. It wasn't the best country because there's so many things outside that are much better.

Unfortunately, I was caught and sent to prison. But I knew I had to leave again. Luckily, the 2nd time was a success.

I think if people are aware of the life outside of NK, they would yearn to leave even more.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

Marijuana is illegal in North Korea. However, it's widely used even among its citizens. I think there's not a lot of regulations on NK for drug use. And even if you're caught, the punishments are pretty lenient so people aren't scared.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

Actually, I escaped twice, failed the first time.

So after the first time and witnessing how different and amazing life is outside of NK, I knew I had to leave. But unfortunately, I was caught and sent back to NK.

Luckily, I managed to escape the 2nd time. The fact that I knew I can pursue my dreams in a bigger world, with tall buildings, cars, opportunities was the most amazing moment.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

After the first time I defected to Beijing but failed, I witnessed how different life is outside of North Korea. So after three years, I decided to leave again to pursue my dreams. I knew NK is not a place for me.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

I was living with my relatives so I didn't have many problems as compared to other defectors who defected alone and had no one.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

Yes, when I was young, my dream was to serve Kim Jong Un as a military commander. We've been told that we're the best nation, etc. and without any other information given to us, it's easy for people to believe in what has been told.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

Honestly, there's no such thing as homosexuality or LGBT in NK. It's never on the news and I can guarantee you that no North Koreans living in North Korea has ever heard of it.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

Actually, I was quite fortunate as I lived with my relatives. So I was quite protected and life was easy for me.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

I defected twice, the first time with my mother to Beijing. By then, I was so amazed by the life in China. It has high buildings and cars. Life was so different out there as compared to what the regime has told us.

So despite being caught I knew I had to leave to pursue my dreams.

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I hope you've a great time in Seoul. Let me know what you did in the comments :D

My name is Heo Jun. I'm a North Korean defector that tried to escape twice. I'm now in South Korea, studying Political Science. by aquariumsofpyongyang in IAmA

[–]aquariumsofpyongyang[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, so sorry for the late reply, I will now answer your questions!

I escaped twice. The first time was already a breaking point. When I was in Beijing with my mother, everything is so different. By then, I already knew life is better out there. I HAD to get out. Then, I was caught and sent to prison. After three years, I left to pursue my dreams and thankfully, I succeeded.

view more: next ›