Hyun-Seung Lee is a former DPRK businessman. He served as a Special Forces sergeant in the army and led the Kim Il-sung Socialist Youth League branch in Dalian, China, before defecting with his family in 2014, following Kim Jong Un's sweeping political purges.  From South Korea to the United States, Lee remains involved in North Korean affairs — founding the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly and as lead strategist at the Global Peace Foundation. He co-hosts the Pyonghattan YouTube channel with his sister, bringing firsthand insight on the regime. He received a master's degree in public administration from Columbia University.