March 29, 2024

About the author

David

David is from Hamhung in North Korea. When he was younger, he was a footballer and later joined the North Korean army. In the army, David was deployed to the front lines and crossed the DMZ to South Korea in 2012. He graduated from university in South Korea and currently works as PR manager for North Korean human rights organization NAUH.

More articles by 'David'

Ask a North Korean: What was it like playing soccer professionally in the DPRK?

Ask a North Korean: What was it like playing soccer professionally in the DPRK?

A defector writes about his training schedule and the hurdles he faced trying to represent his country

Ask a North Korean: What was it like playing soccer professionally in the DPRK?
David February 13, 2024
Ask a North Korean: Can children in the DPRK express their creativity?

Ask a North Korean: Can children in the DPRK express their creativity?

David, who defected in 2012, writes about discovering the joys of self-expression through his work as a YouTuber

Ask a North Korean: Can children in the DPRK express their creativity?
David December 25, 2023
Settling in Seoul: What do you think about critics of North Korean defectors?

Settling in Seoul: What do you think about critics of North Korean defectors?

A DPRK escapee talks about encountering people who question his testimony and how he learned to embrace his past

Settling in Seoul: What do you think about critics of North Korean defectors?
David November 21, 2023
Ask a North Korean: What do socialism and capitalism mean to you?

Ask a North Korean: What do socialism and capitalism mean to you?

A defector shares what DPRK taught him about equality and how living in South Korea has shaped his views on capitalism

Ask a North Korean: What do socialism and capitalism mean to you?
David September 15, 2023
Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans think about war?

Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans think about war?

The DPRK extols its ‘victory’ in Korean War, but ordinary soldiers must confront harsh reality of potential conflict

Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans think about war?
David July 27, 2023
Settling in Seoul: How have you changed 10 years after escaping North Korea?

Settling in Seoul: How have you changed 10 years after escaping North Korea?

Without friends or family, one defector reached a breaking point before resolving to build a life he could be proud of

Settling in Seoul: How have you changed 10 years after escaping North Korea?
David June 28, 2023
Ask a North Korean: How one soldier escaped across the heavily armed DMZ

Ask a North Korean: How one soldier escaped across the heavily armed DMZ

New columnist David writes about the challenges of army life and how a South Korean leaflet convinced him to defect

Ask a North Korean: How one soldier escaped across the heavily armed DMZ
David April 28, 2023