Han, the price of freedom
With dictator Kim Jong-Il being in control, the political situation in North Korea has forced a large segment of the population to literally run for their lives. Thousands of North Koreans try to get into South Korea through China with the danger of severe repercussions. Away from the horrible situation in North Korea, a life in South Korea isnt always as positive as the refugees had hoped it would be. This moving and thrilling film shows unique dialogues with North Korean refugees, smugglers and genuine people trying to help.
Social Interest
The flow of North Korean refugees to China is estimated to be 30.000 a year. There is great danger of being arrested and deported back to North Korea. Only after they are able to reach another country like Mongolia or Thailand, the North Koreans can apply for a refugee status in South Korea. Even though the state of South Korea tries to accommodate the refugees, a lot of North Koreans feel lost, lonely and depressed.
Human Rights Interest
A large segment of the North Korean population with a low income is very troublesome. The famine during the 90s has been disastrous for the poor population, and even to this day there is still a food shortage for many. North Korean people who try to flee the country are often deported back to North Korea. There, they are sent to prison and are either executed or deported to a concentration camp like Yodok. Accordingly, North Korea is being accused of having very bad human rights records.
Scenes
North Korean woman abused by border security 1
A North Korean woman attempting to flee her country gets abused by the border security after getting caught. part 1
Human trafficker at the border of China and North Korea
Mr Park is a North Korean refugee living in South Korea. He tries to help other North Korean refugees to flee their country through his escape network. In this clip, he is showing the location to cross the North Korean border over the Tuman river.
North Korean woman abused by border security 2
A North Korean woman attempting to flee her country gets abused by the border security after getting caught. part 2
The story of mr Park, a North Korean refugee
mr Park, a North Korean refugee tells about his difficult life in North Korea and his attempts to flee the country. He was arrested and suffered for 5 years in the infamous Yodok camp. Finally, he manages to escape and reach South Korea.
The dangers for North Korean refugees in China
In the Chinese area near the North Korean border, there are a lot of illegal North Korean refugees, for example in the city Yanji. North Korean refugees are always in danger of being arrested and sent back to North Korea. Chinese citizens are not allowed to help them or to talk to the foreign press about the refugees.ees and human trafficking in China
The North Korean citizens fleeing their country and human trafficking are closely linked together in China. The human trafficking is especially a danger to female refugees. According to a human trafficker, the border security is being bribed in order to smuggle people over the boarder.
Difficulty of reaching Seoul for North Korean refugees
The goal for most North Korean refugees is to reach South Koreas capital Seoul. Of the 300,000 illegal refugees in China only 15,000 manage to reach South Korea. The North Koreans living in Seoul form a community within the city.
Pastor Chun Ki Won saving North Korean refugees
Pastor Chun Ki Won his main goal is to help bring North Korean refugees to safety by traficking them from China to South Korea. Refugees are able to contact him by visiting the website of his organisation. Chun Ki Won already managed to get over 600 refugees to South Korea.
The journey from North Korea to South Korea by refugee miss Nam
Mr Park, a human trafficker is trying to help his fellow North Korean refugees to reach South Korea. Here, he is helping miss Nam, an illegal refugee living in China, to travel from China to Thailand in order to reach the South Korean capital Seoul.
North Korean refugees waiting to be allowed to enter South Korea, in Bangkok
In Thailands capital Bangkok over 1,000 North Korean refugees are being held captive by the immigration services untill they are allowed to enter South Korea as refugees. The process of getting a refugee to get to South Korea is known to take up several months.
North Korean refugee starting a new life in South Korea
Miss Nam, a North Korean refugee, finally arrived in Seoul, South Korea, after a long and dangerous journey. She is trying to get used to the different way of life, although she is still suffering from her trauma.