Report from the LiNK Meeting in Seoul

Some newer readers may not be familiar with LiNK, a global organization dedicated to assisting North Koreans both inside and outside their own country, primarily by creating political pressure for North Korea to stop repressing its people. You can read about some of LiNK’s activities here, here, and here. Its founder, Adrian Hong, has a modest, easygoing way that defies his deep convictions; in fact, his mannerisms might remind you of Harold from “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.”

One of the places where LiNK faces one of its greatest challenges is in Seoul, where it recently opened a new chapter–challenging because most South Koreans continue to believe that trade, money, and ignoring unpleasant truths will gradually transform North Korea into the Netherlands. The invaluable Brendan Brown wrote in to report on the meeting (links mine):

At the LiNK meeting with about 20 in attendence we were honoured with the presence of the Reverend Douglas Shin and NK refugee Park Il Hwan who has started a student group. Rev. Shin is a wonderful orator and his first hand experience of the news conference fiasco in China was insightful and amusing. According to Rev. Shin the goons from the Chinese Intelligence quickly removed the TV cameramen and photographers. However when they tried to remove the four assemblymen they were up against a former subway union boss and also a former student leader of an outlawed Marxist/Leninist group well experienced in avoiding being removed so easily. He added (and I think in seriousness but I’m not 100% certain) that Japanese housewives are now crooning over one on the assemblymen who put up strong resistance named Moon with “Moonyama” now competing with “Yonnama” in Japan. Abraham Lee was there also and told us the next worldwide protest outside Chinese embassies and consulates against the forced repatriation on NK refugees will take place on Saturday June 25. There were a few other newcomers with an interest in NK those who had been to NK on their observations and time flew by. Unfortunately time beat me before I could propose my thoughts on a continuous demonstration outside the Unification Ministry reminding them of South Korea’s legal obligation in accepting NK refugees.