by Hyeonseo Lee
chases dragonflies with the children 25
relationship with Park Min-young 47, 53
becomes a businessman 53
saves portraits in house fire xiii–xiv, 53
brings back gifts from China 59–60
arrest, interrogation and death 64, 65–70, 107
Gangnam, South Korea 215
Geumcheon district (Seoul) 212
Geun-soo 116, 117–21, 131, 132, 139, 142, 224
grandfather (maternal) 6–7
grandmother (maternal)
family background 6
as ardent communist 7
arranges her daughter’s marriage to an official 7–8
hides Workers’ Party Card in the chimney 7, 293
takes opium 24
tells her granddaughter her true paternal parentage 44–6
grandparents (paternal)
reaction to marriage of their son 29–30
coolness towards Park Min-young 30, 46
warmth towards Min-ho 30
reaction to death of their son 69
Great Fatherland Liberation War 50
Guangxi Province 244
Guilin 244
Gyeong-hwoi-ru (restaurant in Koreatown, Xita) 128–31
Gyeonggi Province 208
Hamhung 14, 169, 226
relocated to 29, 31
life in 31–2
elementary education in 32–4
black markets 84–5
Han River 215
Hanawon (House of Unity) 208–11, 214, 218
Haojue (Chinese model) 222
Harbin 158–9, 191
Henan Province 241
Ho Chi Minh City 225
H.O.T. (pop stars) 90
Hyeonseo see Park Min-young
Hyesan
family homes in 3, 4–5, 7, 39
Americans in 7
as thriving hub of trade 11–12, 39–41, 90, 222
opium in 24–5
family gatherings 29–30
hospital in 67
famine and destitution in 81–3, 90, 217
Min-young warned not to return to 110, 111–15
crackdown on traders in 147, 181–2
Min-young sends goods to her family in 177–81
Min-young’s mother’s love for 181–2, 218, 220–1, 232–5
Hyun Chul (South Korean singer) 54
Hyundai 214
Incheon International Airport (Seoul) 187, 197–200
Jang, Mrs 117–21, 131–2, 142, 224
Jang Soon-hyang see Park Min-young
Japan, Japanese 7, 41, 107
Ji-woo 133–5, 142
John Hancock Center (Chicago) 293
Ju Hyun-mi (South Korean singer) 54
Kang, Mrs (teacher) 61–2
Kim
character and description 183–4, 185
dates Min-young 184–5
learns of Min-young’s true nationality 189–90
helps Min-young to go to Seoul 192
receives phone call from Min-young in Seoul 208–9
meets up with Min-young in Seoul 213
family and social background 215–16
learns of escape of Min-young’s family 248
deeply impressed by Dick Stolp’s kindness 272
sends money to enable Min-young to leave Laos 272
breaks up with Min-young 278
Kim family 6, 150
Kim Il-sung (Great Leader)
and songbun system 6
portraits and statues of 8, 16, 17, 18–19, 31, 72, 86–7
praise and veneration for 19, 21–4, 35–6, 49, 210
and ‘life purification time’ 33–4
birthday celebrations 36
as guerrilla fighter 63
death of 71–3
criticisms of 107–9, 173
centenary celebrations 220
Kim Ji-hae see Park Min-young
Kim Jong-il (Dear Leader) 17, 18
and ‘life purification time’ 33–4
birthday celebrations 35–6
and fortune-tellers 41–2
praise and veneration for 49, 210
reaction to famine and destitution 83
unwilling to give up nuclear weapons programme 108
orders crackdown on Hyesan traders 147
encourages directness of speech 213
congratulated by Laos on his birthday 251
death of 289
Kim Jong-suk (mother of Kim Jong-il) 17, 21, 49
Kim Jong-un (son of Kim Jong-il) 289
Kim, Reverend 222–3, 244, 262
Kim Weon-joong (South Korean singer) 54–5
Korea Central Television 58
Korean People’s Army 50
Korean State Railway 3–4, 37–8, 41, 83–4, 85
Korean War 6, 7, 16, 107–8, 161, 173
Koreatown see Longbai; Xita (West Pagoda)
Kunming 223, 244, 256, 263
Laos 246–7, 250–1, 252–3
LG 214
Li River 244
Liaoning Province 106
Longbai (Koreatown, Shanghai) 156–8, 184
Luang Namtha (Laos) 250, 252–3, 258
Luang Namtha Prison (Laos) 256–8, 261–2, 265
Lujiazui 157
Min-ho 9, 18
birth and registration 29
meets his paternal grandparents 29–30
train journey to Hyesan 37–8
taken out for the day by his mother 44
as half-brother to Min-young 45
character and description 46, 63–4, 222
given a Game Boy video game by his father 60
reaction to death of his father 68
finds a thief in the house 86
illegally crosses the river into China 89–90
unhappy at Min-young crossing the river 95
meets Min-young at Mr Ahn’s house 147–9
takes cash from Min-young’s bag 151
speaks to Min-young by cellphone 166–7, 193
placed under surveillance 169
imprisoned and released for receiving items from Min-young 179–81
leaves Hyesan to live with Aunt Pretty 181
meets and falls in love with Yoon-ji 209, 221–2
as successful smuggler and businessman 221–2
agrees to help mother escape from Hyesan 222
eventful but safe escape to Changbai 228–31
lives with Yoon-ji’s parents before their wedding 231
makes agonizing decision not to return to Hyesan 232–5
realizes he will not see Yoon-ji again 232–3, 234–5, 285
acquires Chinese ID 237–8
eventful road journey to Kunming 241–4
taken to Laos by broker 244–8
captured and imprisoned in Laos 248, 250, 252–3, 255–8, 263–5, 272–6
arrival in South Korea 276
taken to Hanawon 277–8
first experience of freedom in Seoul 279
struggles to adjust to new life 281, 283, 284–5
wants to bring Yoon-ji to South Korea 284
dislikes Brian 288
attends university and speaks English 293
makes friends with Brian 293
Min-young see Park Min-young
Ministry of State Security (North Korea) see Bowibu
Miss Ma 124–7
Morangak restaurant (Shanghai) 161
mother
visits her brother in Pyongyang 3–4
description and character 4, 14, 19, 20
love and courtship 4–5, 7
family background 6–7
birth and childhood 8–9
birth of Min-young (Kim Ji-hae) 8
marriage and divorce to an official 8–9, 45
marriage to her first love 9–10, 13–14, 45
superstitious nature of 12, 58
importance of family to 13
siblings 13–14
regrets leaving Hyesan 16
cl
eaning of portraits 17–18
accused of wearing trousers in public 19
good at bribery 19, 169, 181–2, 217
avoids being sociable 20
loyalty of 23–4
picnic amongst pine trees 25
haunted by hanging of woman 28–9
pregnant with Min-ho 28
redecorates family houses 31–2, 39, 57, 58
memorable train journey to Hyesan 37–8
as entrepreneur 41
takes Min-Young to a fortune-teller 41–3
visits fortune-tellers 41–3, 168
called ugly by schoolboys 48–9
worries about her husband 62, 64
reaction to husband’s arrest, release and subsequent death 65–70
witnesses famine and destitution 79–80, 84–5
tries to prevent Min-young crossing to China 91
warns Min-young not to return from Shenyang 110, 111–12
reports Min-young missing 111–12, 169–70
placed under surveillance 169, 217
enquires about selling crystal methamphetamine 170–1
imprisoned and released for receiving items from Min-young 180–1
escape and return to Hyesan 181–2, 217
unhappy that Min-young wants to go to South Korea 185–6, 191
in hospital having scalded herself 193
learns of safe arrival in Seoul of Min-young 209
refuses to leave Hyesan 218
decides to leave Hyesan 220–1
eventful but safe escape to Changbai 228–31
eventful road journey to Kunming 241–4
taken to Laos by broker 244–8
captured and imprisoned in Laos 248, 250, 252–3, 255–8, 263–5, 272–6
arrival in South Korea 276
taken to Hanawon 277–8
first impressions of freedom in Seoul 279–80
struggles to adjust to new life 281–4
dislikes Brian 288
travels to America and orders coffee in English 293
unhappy at leaving her family in North Korea 293
Mount Paektu 11, 21, 63, 108
Mount Tonghung 31
National Intelligence Service (Seoul) 199, 201, 276
National Police Agency (Seoul) 212
North Korea
best years of 5
caste system see songbun
colonial period 11
intrusion of the State into the home 17–19
bribery in 19–20, 24, 40
informers and vigilantes 19, 23, 34, 38, 55, 59, 72–3, 181, 182
education 21–4, 32–4, 36, 49–53
ideological indoctrination 21–4, 32–3, 51–2, 62–3, 220
trials and executions 27–9, 73–4, 147, 220
pollution 31, 37
communist central planning system 32
‘life purification time’ (self-criticism) 33–4, 73
communist youth movement 34–6
poverty 36
quotas for donations 36–7
officials 37–8
kindness to strangers in 38
markets 40–1
fortune-tellers and spiritual beliefs 41–2
selling rice in 41
accordion playing in 43
importance of family 47
propaganda 50, 77, 82–3
mass games 51–2
effect of outside world on 55–6
property ownership 57
as closed country 58–9
prison camps 66–7
mobilization of 77–8
famine in 79–87, 217–18, 220, 289
travel and travel permits 83–5, 86–7
career prospects 88–9
tyranny in 150, 181–2
defections from 171–2, 173–4, 288–9
official name for 198
directness of speech in 213
importance of loyalty and social status 213–14
lack of awareness of human rights in 288–9
reunification with South Korea 290–1
Now on My Way to Meet You (TV programme) 288, 292
Ok-hee
admits to having false ID 165
becomes great friend of Min-young 165
considers moving to South Korea 174–5, 181
given an apartment in Seoul 209
meets up with Min-young in Seoul 212–13
experiences a job interview 213
discusses use of brokers 223
introduces Min-young to PSCORE organization 286
Ok-liu-gwon (noodle restaurant) 87
Park Min-young
love for her country ix–xi
birth of 8
discovers her true parentage 10
name changed from Kim Ji-hae 10
nearly killed by a train 12
interested in fashion 14, 48, 49, 76–7, 90, 161
strict upbringing 14, 17
childhood in Anju 18–19, 20, 25–6
pet dog 20, 26
education 21–6, 32–4, 48–53, 71, 75, 88–9
ideological indoctrination of 21–4, 48, 49–52
meets her paternal grandparents 29–30
self-criticism sessions 33–4, 73
enters the Young Pioneer Corps 34–6
and the red shoes 35–6
memorable train journey to Hyesan 37–8
visits fortune-tellers 41–3, 154
told her true paternal parentage 44–7
relationship with Min-ho 46, 69–70
relationship with her step-father 47, 53
suffers from nightmares 50, 114, 130, 207, 209
enjoys reading 52
loses everything in house fire xiii–xiv, 53
listens to pop music 54–5, 77, 90, 109–10
watches television illegally 58–9, 90
given a doll by her step-father 60
disaffection and non-conformity 61–4
joins the Socialist Youth League 62–3, 77–8
hears distressing family story 65–6
reaction to her father’s release and subsequent death 67–70, 107
sexual ignorance 75–6
witnesses famine and destitution 79–86
visits relations in Pyongyang 86–7
tastes Western food for the first time 87
crosses the river to Changbai 89–92, 96–7
wishes to be an accordion player 89
friendship with young river guard 93–7
visits Mr Ahn 101–3
visits paternal relations in Shenyang 105–10
refuses to believe criticisms of her country and the Great Leader 107–9
adopts the name Chae Mi-ran 109
enjoys life in Shenyang 109–10
warned not to return to Hyesan 110, 111–15
learns Mandarin 112–13, 163
caught up in wedding plans 116, 117–21
adopts the name Jang Soon-hyang 120, 128–31
escapes from unwanted wedding 121–2
taken to a dubious salon 123–6
escapes from salon 126–7
works in restaurants 128–31, 143, 156–9
apologizes to her aunt for running away 131
apologizes to Mrs Jang for abandoning the wedding 131–2
turns down possibility of moving to South Korea 133–4
makes friends with fugitive North Korean girl 135–6
arrest and interrogation 136, 137–41
survives an attack 141, 142–3
makes plans to contact her family 143–5
meets her brother at Mr Ahn’s house 147–9
held captive by gang demanding money 149, 150–3
catches a train to Shanghai 154, 155–6
health of 154, 175–6
acquires an ID in China 157–8
adopts the name Chae In-hee 157, 160
adopts the name Park Sun-ja 159, 160
works as interpreter and secretary 160–3, 183
recognized as So
on-hyang from Shenyang 163–5
re-connects with her family by cell-phone 166–71
sense of identity 168, 217
asks help from South Korean Embassy in Vientiane 169–72
considers going to South Korea 174–5, 185–8
suffers from loneliness and depression 175–6, 217–18
tries to send items to her family in Hyesan 177–81
falls in love with Kim 183–5, 187–8
tells Kim her true story 189–90
video chats with Shin-suh 191–2
flies to Seoul 192–3
hears that her mother is in hospital 193
arrival and investigation in South Korea 197–201, 204–7
held in detention with several North Korean women 202–4
attends lectures on life in South Korea 210–11
given an apartment in Seoul 211, 212–13
encounters social and educational difficulties 215–16
enrols in tax accountancy course 215
decides to study for University entrance 218, 219
adopts the name Hyeonseo ix, 219
borrows aunt’s ID card for her mother 224–5
waits unsuccessfully for her mother in Changbai 225–7
decides to help her mother to escape 232–3
distracts guard by taking photos 238–40
eventful road journey to Kunming 241–4
negotiates with Mr Fang the broker 244–7, 250
travels to Laos to rescue her family 250–3
makes friends with Laos immigration officials 254–5
family released with help from tall Australian 255, 258, 259–60
keeps in touch with Kim 255
reunites with her mother in Laos prison 256–7, 258
accused of being a broker 265–6, 267–8
breaks up with Kim 278
makes friends with Brian 286–7, 288
speaks out on behalf of defectors 288–9
invited to speak at international events 290
supports reunification of North and South Korea 290–1
agrees to marry Brian 291
has bouts of self-loathing 292–3
meets Dick Stolp in Australia 292
takes her mother to America 293
Park, Mr (policeman) 210, 212, 218, 225, 267, 293
Park Sun-ja see Park Min-young
the Party
membership 7
social provisions 32
on television 59
and pornography 76
People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE) 286
People’s Armed Police (China) 236, 238–9
Phonthong Prison, Laos 273, 274–5
Pochonbo 63
PSCORE see People for Successful Corean Reunification
Public Distribution System 32, 40–1, 55–6, 58
Pyongyang 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14, 41, 66, 87, 169, 251
Pyongyang Okruyugwan restaurant (Jianguao Hotel, Shanghai) 161–3
Red Cross 212
Ri Chang-ho 93–7
Ri Chun-hui 71
Rodong Sinmun (newspaper) 18
Ryanggang Province 11–12, 291