North Koreans in America Collaboration

#Repost @emili.kim (@get_repost) The documentary that @instagraham_vt and @olivia.pearcee and I have been working on is finally complete and boy oh boy has this experience changed my life! North Korea is more than the nuclear weapons seen in headlines- the people’s stories must be heard. Link in bio.

If old systems doesn't work, it's time for a change.

Sharing my insights After my field work in China, I don’t think all North Korean & Chinese marriages should be considered trafficking unless there was definite illegal act such as force or coercion in the matchmaking process. Matchmaking or arranged marriage in Chinese, or even Korean, culture is not uncommon. We want to be careful because it can create false negative light on Chinese people. I don’t mean to condemn any particular individuals, groups, or people by raising ...this issue. Choi in this article seems to have engaged in inappropriate affair and when the rumor spread in the community, no one showed up to her funeral- which indicates moral disapproval of her community for these type of affairs. However, it not not rare or uncommon to see North Korean women refugees having relationship with married men or prostitution. It is deemed ill mannered no matter what the intent is- to talk about other people’s inappropriate affairs and prostitution in Korean culture.What good does it do for us to remain silent? Is that how we protect other people’s dignity and shame? What if they don’t know how to live otherwise? https://sarahyycho.wordpress.com//what-i-learned-about-no/

I met a Chinese man named Zhang Li during this trip. Zhang Li is local Tonghua resident who grew up in the village. I had a short conversation with him. I asked "Are there a lot of North Koreans in Tonghua?" He said yes. Then I asked, "How and why do they come to China?" He answered, "Living condition in North Korea is not good. So North Koreans escape and come to China." I asked again, "How do they live here?" He answered, "North Koreans cannot live in China on their own. Chinese people help them to find jobs and a place to stay. They come to China for better opportunity. If they didn't come to China, they won't have opportunity to go to USA or South Korea."

May's Project completed! It took one year and nine months to see May and her daughter reunite with each other. It's wonderful to see the new start of their relationship. Special thanks to the Chinese family and the village people who welcomed us. #northkoreans #nkiacollaboration #womensrights #people #china defectors #refugeeresettlement @ Tonghua

I am traveling in China with May. The village people are warm and kind. I am enjoying the experience of village life here. It's different than what I thought it would be. It's beautiful to see how people connect with each other despite the language and cultural differences. @ Tonghua

still applicable today...

1. Volunteer sign up, interview, and recruiting ends on July 25, 2018. So hurry! 2. NKia was featured in Citizine online magazine. Check it out www.citizine.tv/article/nkia 3. May's Project Reporting session on 8/11/2018! @ North Koreans in America Collaboration

Please email inquiries to [email protected]. #volunteering #refugeeresettlement #teaching #northkoreansinamerica

Thank you @telix5000 for volunteering your time tutoring my North Korean friends. Welcome Hanna and Heesook! #northkoreansinla #northkoreans #defectors #refugeeresettlement #losangeles #womensrights