When I was little, I thought my country was the best on the planet. And I grew up singing a song called "Nothing To Envy." And I was very proud. In school, we spent a lot of time studying the history of Kim Il-Sung, but we never learned much about the outside world, except that America, South Korea, Japan are the enemies. Although I often wondered about the outside world, I thought I would spend my entire life in North Korea, until everything suddenly changed.
Ako malá som si myslela, že moja krajina je najlepšia na svete a vyrástla som s pesničkou zvanou „Niet čo závidieť". Bola som veľmi hrdá. V škole sme študovali históriu nášho komunistického vodca Kima II-Sunga, ale nikdy nás neučili nič o svete, okrem toho, že Amerika, Južná Kórea a Japonsko sú naši nepriatelia. Aj keď ma svet vonku zaujímal, vždy som si myslela, že svoj celý život prežijem v Severnej Kórei, až pokým sa všetko nezmenilo.
When I was seven years old, I saw my first public execution. But I thought my life in North Korea was normal. My family was not poor, and myself, I had never experienced hunger.
Keď som mala sedem rokov, po prvýkrát som uvidela verejnú popravu, ale myslela som si, že môj život v Severnej Kórei je normálny. Moja rodina nebola chudobná a nikdy som nepoznala, čo je to hlad.
But one day, in 1995, my mom brought home a letter from a coworker's sister. It read, "When you read this, our five family members will not exist in this world, because we haven't eaten for the past three weeks. We are lying on the floor together, and our bodies are so weak, we are waiting to die."
Až raz, v roku 1995, mama doniesla domov list od kolegovej sestry. Stálo v ňom: „Keď budete čítať tento list, nikto z 5 členov našej rodiny už nebude nažive, pretože už dva týždne hladujeme. Ležíme spolu na zemi a sme takí slabí, že sme pripravení na to najhoršie."
I was so shocked. This was the first time I heard that people in my country were suffering. Soon after, when I was walking past a train station, I saw something terrible that to this day I can't erase from my memory. A lifeless woman was lying on the ground, while an emaciated child in her arms just stared helplessly at his mother's face. But nobody helped them, because they were so focused on taking care of themselves and their families.
Šokovalo ma to. Po prvýkrát v živote som počula, že ľudia v mojej krajine trpia. Krátko na to som prechádzala okolo vlakovej stanice a uvidela som niečo také strašné, že na to nikdy nezabudnem. Na zemi ležala mŕtva žena, zatiaľ čo sa jej vyziabnuté dieťa bezmocne dívalo na matkinu tvár. Nikto im však nepomohol, pretože všetci sa sústredili len na seba a svoje rodiny.
A huge famine hit North Korea in the mid-1990s. Ultimately, more than a million North Koreans died during the famine, and many only survived by eating grass, bugs and tree bark. Power outages also became more and more frequent, so everything around me was completely dark at night, except for the sea of lights in China, just across the river from my home. I always wondered why they had lights, but we didn't. This is a satellite picture showing North Korea at night, compared to neighbors.
Severnú Kóreu v polovici 90. rokoch 20. storočia zasiahol obrovský hlad. Dokopy zomrelo od hladu v Severnej Kórey viac ako milión ľudí a mnoho prežilo len vďaka tomu, že sa živili trávou, chrobákmi a kôrou stromov. Výpadky elektriny boli takisto bežné, takže všetko naokolo bolo v noci úplne tmavé, okrem svetiel v Číne, ktoré bolo vidieť z môjho rodného mesta cez rieku. Vždy som sa čudovala, prečo tam elektrinu majú a my nie. Toto je satelitná snímka Severnej Kórey v noci v porovnaní so susednými krajinami.
This is the Amnok River, which serves as a part of the border between North Korea and China. As you can see, the river can be very narrow at certain points, allowing North Koreans to secretly cross. But many die. Sometimes, I saw dead bodies floating down the river. I can't reveal many details about how I left North Korea, but I only can say that during the ugly years of the famine, I was sent to China to live with distant relatives. But I only thought that I would be separated from my family for a short time. I could have never imagined that it would take 14 years to live together.
Toto je rieka Amrok, ktorá je súčasťou hranice medzi Severnou Kóreou a Čínou. Ako vidíte, na niektorých miestach je táto rieka veľmi úzka, takže ľudia zo Severnej Kórey ju mohli potajme prekročiť. Mnoho z nich však zomrelo. Občas som videla na hladine rieky mŕtve telá. Mnoho detailov o tom, ako som opustila Severnú Kóreu nemôžem prezradiť, ale môžem povedať, že v období hrozného hladu ma poslali žiť k vzdialeným príbuzným do Číny. Myslela som si, že to bude len na krátku dobu. Nikdy by som si nepomyslela, že bude trvať 14 rokov, kým znova uvidím svoju rodinu.
In China, it was hard living as a young girl without my family. I had no idea what life was going to be like as a North Korean refugee. But I soon learned it's not only extremely difficult, it's also very dangerous, since North Korean refugees are considered in China as illegal migrants. So I was living in constant fear that my identity could be revealed, and I would be repatriated to a horrible fate, back in North Korea.
Pre mladé dievča bez rodiny bolo nesmierne ťažké žiť v Číne. Netušila som, aký život ma čaká ako utečenkyňu zo Severnej Kórey, ale rýchlo som prišla na to, že to nebude len veľmi ťažké, ale aj veľmi nebezpečné, keďže utečencov zo Severnej Kórey považovali v Číne za nelegálnych prisťahovalcov. Žila som v neustálom strachu, že odhalia moju identitu a že ma pošlú naspäť do Severnej Kórey, do toho hrozného hladu.
One day, my worst nightmare came true, when I was caught by the Chinese police, and brought to the police station for interrogation. Someone had accused me of being North Korean, so they tested my Chinese language abilities, and asked me tons of questions. I was so scared. I thought my heart was going to explode. If anything seemed unnatural, I could be imprisoned and repatriated. I thought my life was over. But I managed to control all the emotions inside me, and answer the questions. After they finished questioning me, one official said to another, "This was a false report. She's not North Korean." And they let me go. It was a miracle.
Jedného dňa sa naplnila moja najhoršia nočná mora, keď ma chytili čínski policajti a vypočúvali ma na policajnej stanici. Niekto ma obvinil, že som Severokórejčanka, takže si overovali moju čínštinu a dávali mi nespočetne veľa otázok. Bola som taká vystrašená, že som mala pocit, že mi srdce vyskočí z hrude. Ak by sa im čo i len jediná vec nepozdávala, mohli ma uväzniť a poslať naspäť. Myslela som si, že sa môj život skončil, ale podarilo sa mi ovládnuť emócie a zodpovedať všetky otázky. Keď sa vypočúvanie skončilo, jeden z policajtov povedal tomu druhému, „Bol to falošný poplach. Nie je to Severokórejčanka." A pustili ma. Bol to zázrak.
Some North Koreans in China seek asylum in foreign embassies. But many can be caught by the Chinese police, and repatriated. These girls were so lucky. Even though they were caught, they were eventually released, after heavy international pressure. These North Koreans were not so lucky. Every year, countless North Koreans are caught in China and repatriated to North Korea, where they can be tortured, imprisoned, or publicly executed.
Niektorí Severokórejčania v Číne hľadajú útočisko na zahraničných veľvyslanectvách, ale môže ich chytiť čínska polícia a vyhostiť. Tieto dievčatá mali šťastie. Aj keď ich chytili, napokon ich na medzinárodný nátlak pustili. Títo Severokórejčania však toľko šťastia nemali. Každý rok chytia v Číne mnoho Severokórejčanov a pošlú ich naspäť do Kórey, kde ich mučia, uväznia
Even though I was really fortunate to get out, many other North Koreans have not been so lucky. It's tragic that North Koreans have to hide their identities and struggle so hard just to survive. Even after learning a new language and getting a job, their whole world can be turned upside down in an instant. That's why, after 10 years of hiding my identity, I decided to risk going to South Korea. And I started a new life yet again.
alebo verejne popravia. Aj keď sa mi podarilo ujsť, mnoho Severokórejčanov nemalo to šťastie. Je tragédiou, že Severokórejčania musia skrývať svoju identitu a bojovať, aby vôbec prežili. Aj keď sa naučia jazyk a získajú prácu, ich celý svet sa môže v sekunde zrútiť. Práve preto, po 10 rokoch skrývania svojej identity, som sa rozhodla riskovať, ísť do Južnej Kórey a začať svoj život odznova.
Settling down in South Korea was a lot more challenging than I had expected. English was so important in South Korea, so I had to start learning my third language. Also, I realized there was a wide gap between North and South. We are all Korean, but inside, we have become very different, due to 67 years of division. I even went through an identity crisis. Am I South Korean or North Korean? Where am I from? Who am I? Suddenly, there was no country I could proudly call my own.
Usadiť sa v Južnej Kórei bolo omnoho náročnejšie ako som čakala. V Južnej Kórei musíte vedieť po anglicky, takže som sa začala učiť tretí jazyk. Takisto som si uvedomila aké rozdiely existujú medzi Severom a Juhom. Všetci sme Kórejčania, ale vo vnútri, sme veľmi rozdielni pre 67 rokov, ktoré sme už rozdelení. Dokonca som zažila krízu identity. Som Juhokórejčanka alebo Severokórejčanka? Odkiaľ som? Kto som? Zrazu som nevedela, ktorú krajinu môžem hrdo nazvať svojou domovinou.
Even though adjusting to life in South Korea was not easy, I made a plan -- I started studying for the university entrance exam.
Aj keď bolo prispôsobenie sa životu v Južnej Kórei ťažké, mala som plán. Začala som sa učiť na prijímačky na vysokú školu.
Just as I was starting to get used to my new life, I received a shocking phone call. The North Korean authorities intercepted some money that I sent to my family, and, as a punishment, my family was going to be forcibly removed to a desolate location in the countryside. They had to get out quickly. So I started planning how to help them escape.
Práve keď som si už začala zvykať na svoj nový život, dostala som šokujúci telefonát. Severokórejske úrady zablokovali peniaze, ktoré som poslala rodine, a za trest mali moju rodinu vysťahovať na zbedačený vidiek. Museli sa odtiaľ okamžite dostať, takže som začala plánovať ich útek.
North Koreans have to travel incredible distances on the path to freedom. It's almost impossible to cross the border between North Korea and South Korea. So, ironically, I took a flight back to China and headed toward the North Korean border. Since my family couldn't speak Chinese, I had to guide them somehow through more than 2,000 miles in China, and then into Southeast Asia. The journey by bus took one week, and we were almost caught several times. One time, our bus was stopped and boarded by a Chinese police officer. He took everyone's I.D. cards, and he started asking them questions. Since my family couldn't understand Chinese, I thought my family was going to be arrested. As the Chinese officer approached my family, I impulsively stood up, and I told him that these are deaf and dumb people that I was chaperoning. He looked at me suspiciously, but luckily, he believed me.
Severokórejčania museli na ceste za slobodou prejsť neskutočné vzdialenosti. Je takmer nemožné prekročiť hranicu medzi Severnou a Južnou Kóreou, takže paradoxne, som odletela naspäť do Číny a vydala sa k severokórejskej hranici. Keďže nik z mojej rodiny nehovoril po čínsky, musela som ich nejako previesť, viac ako 3000 kilometrov cez Čínu a potom do juhovýchodnej Ázie. Cesta autobusom trvala týždeň a niekoľkokrát nás takmer chytili. Raz náš autobus zastavili a nastúpili doň čínsky policajt. Pozbieral všetky občianske preukazy a začal sa vypytovať. Keďže moja rodina mu nerozumela, myslela som si, že ich zatkne. Keď prišiel čínsky policajt k mojej rodine, z ničoho nič som sa pred neho postavila a povedala mu, že sú to hluchonemí ľudia, ktorých sprevádzam. Podozrievavo sa na mňa pozrel, ale našťastie mi uveril.
We made it all the way to the border of Laos. But I had to spend almost all my money to bribe the border guards in Laos. But even after we got past the border, my family was arrested and jailed for illegal border crossing. After I paid the fine and bribe, my family was released in one month. But soon after, my family was arrested and jailed again, in the capital of Laos.
Podarilo sa nám dostať až k hranici s Laosom, no minula som takmer všetky svoje peniaze ako úplatok pre hraničných policajtov v Laose. Potom čo sme prekročili hranicu, moju rodinu chytili a uväznili za nepovolený vstup do krajiny. Keď som zaplatila pokutu a úplatok, moju rodinu po mesiaci pustili, ale čoskoro ich opäť uväznili v hlavnom meste Laosu.
This was one of the lowest points in my life. I did everything to get my family to freedom, and we came so close, but my family was thrown in jail, just a short distance from the South Korean embassy. I went back and forth between the immigration office and the police station, desperately trying to get my family out. but I didn't have enough money to pay a bribe or fine anymore. I lost all hope.
Bol to jeden z najhorších momentov môjho života, urobila som úplne všetko, aby som dostala rodinu na slobodu, boli sme tak blízko, ale opäť ich uväznili, blízko veľvyslanectva Južnej Kórey. Chodila som hore-dole z emigračného úradu na policajnú stanicu, zúfalo sa snažiac dostať moju rodinu z väzenia, ale nemala som dosť peňazí na úplatky alebo pokutu. Stratila som všetku nádej.
At that moment, I heard one man's voice ask me, "What's wrong?" I was so surprised that a total stranger cared enough to ask. In my broken English, and with a dictionary, I explained the situation, and without hesitating, the man went to the ATM, and he paid the rest of the money for my family, and two other North Koreans to get out of jail.
A v tom momente sa mi prihovoril akýsi muž. „Čo sa deje?" Prekvapilo ma, že sa ku mne prihovoril cudzinec. Lámanou angličtinou a s pomocou slovníka, som mu vysvetlila situáciu a bez váhania šiel k bankomatu, zaplatil zvyšok peňazí a dostal moju rodinu a ďalších dvoch Severokórejčanov z väzenia.
I thanked him with all my heart, and I asked him, "Why are you helping me?"
Z celého srdca som mu poďakovala a opýtala sa ho, „Prečo mi pomáhate?"
"I'm not helping you," he said. "I'm helping the North Korean people."
„Nepomáham Vám," odpovedal. „Pomáham ľuďom zo Severnej Kórey."
I realized that this was a symbolic moment in my life. The kind stranger symbolized new hope for me and the North Korean people, when we needed it most. And he showed me that the kindness of strangers and the support of the international community are truly the rays of hope we North Korean people need.
Pochopila som, že toto je symbolická chvíľa v mojom živote. Tento milý cudzinec dal novú nádej mne a ľuďom zo Severnej Kórey, keď sme to najviac potrebovali, ukázal mi, že milosť a podpora medzinárodného spoločenstva sú pravou nádejou, ktorú potrebuje Severná Kórea.
Eventually, after our long journey, my family and I were reunited in South Korea. But getting to freedom is only half the battle. Many North Koreans are separated from their families, and when they arrive in a new country, they start with little or no money. So we can benefit from the international community for education, English language training, job training, and more. We can also act as a bridge between the people inside North Korea and the outside world. Because many of us stay in contact with family members still inside, and we send information and money that is helping to change North Korea from inside.
Napokon, po našej dlhej ceste, sme sa konečne ja a moja rodina stretli v Južnej Kórei, ale dostať sa na slobodu je len polovica úspechu. Mnoho Severokórejčanov je oddelených od svojich rodín, a keď sa dostanú do novej krajiny, začínajú s málo alebo žiadnymi peniazmi. Takže môžeme získať podporu od medzinárodného spločenstva na vzdelanie, výučbu angličtiny, pracovné kurzy a mnoho ďalších vecí. Takisto môžeme slúžiť ako most medzi Severokórejčanmi a vonkajším svetom, pretože mnoho z nás je stále v kontakte s rodinou v Kórei a zásobujeme ich informáciami a peniazmi, ktoré pomáhajú meniť Severnú Kóreu zvnútra.
I've been so lucky, received so much help and inspiration in my life, so I want to help give aspiring North Koreans a chance to prosper with international support. I'm confident that you will see more and more North Koreans succeeding all over the world, including the TED stage.
Mala som obrovské šťastie, dostalo sa mi veľkej pomoci a inšpirácie do života, takže chcem dať ctižiadostivým Severokórejčanom šancu na zlepšenie spolu s medzinárodnou podporou. Som presvedčená, že sa stále viac a viac Severokórejčanov stane úspešnými po celom svete, vrátane na javisku TED-u.
Thank you.
Ďakujem.
(Applause)
(Potlesk)