Key point 4: The experiences of being a new citizen in South Korea, including both the joys and challenges.
Yeonmi and her mother escaped North Korea with the help of a Christian missionary team based in Qingdao, China. The group of North Korean defectors made it to Mongolia, and after a few more weeks, they were finally flown to Seoul by the South Korean embassy. Yeonmi was elated to experience true freedom.
However, the group had to spend a couple of weeks in the National Intelligence Center, a secured facility where the government holds refugees to verify if they are defectors or potential spies. After being cleared, they were transferred to the Hanawon Resettlement Center to learn how to adjust to life in South Korea. It was a challenging experience for Yeonmi and her mother, as they were introduced to bank accounts, the English language, and lessons on the North Korean regime. Yeonmi absorbed all the information to prepare herself for her new life.
After graduation, Yeonmi and her mother were granted citizenship and a small government stipend. They relocated to Asan, but faced discrimination everywhere they went. Despite the difficulties, Yeonmi’s mother worked various jobs, and Yeonmi pursued her education. She passed her high school GED exam and later got accepted into Dongguk University. Yeonmi poured herself into her studies, ranking 14th in her class.
Despite her academic success, Yeonmi felt a strong desire to repay the kindness of the Qingdao Christian missionaries who had helped her escape China. She decided to take a break from her studies and join a Christian youth group from Texas, USA. Her plan was to spend five months volunteering and exploring the US, but she hoped to extend her stay to see more of the world.
However, Yeonmi’s plans changed when she received news that her long-lost sister Eunmi had arrived in South Korea. Eunmi had also escaped North Korea and made her way to China before eventually reaching Southeast Asia. Yeonmi was overjoyed to be reunited with her sister, and her focus shifted once again to building a better life for both of them.
