A North Korean Refugee Makes a New Life in America

Despite repeatedly making headlines, North Korea remains a mystery to most U.S. citizens. But there are a few who are all too familiar with the so-called “Hermit Kingdom,” including Grace Jo, a North Korean defector who became a U.S. citizen in 2013. Jo is vice president of the nonprofit organization NKinUSA, which helps North Korean refugees in the United States and China. According to the organization’s website, there are over 200 North Korean refugees currently living in the United States.

In an interview with The Diplomat, Jo discussed her escape from North Korea, her experiences in the United States, and her hopes for her home country.

When and how did you escape North Korea? 

Our first escape was July 15-19, 1998. My mom, older sister Jinhye, and I walked three days to get to the Tumen River. We had to hide among bushes and trees to get there safely. We swam across the river at about noon and entered China. We were caught in Beijing and sent back to North Korea on September 12. I remember singing "Happy Birthday" to Jinhye because it was her birthday.

Jinhye and my mom were put in prison until November. As a child of about 11 years old, I stayed in an orphanage and at my cousin's house.

My second escape was December 2001-January 2002, over the New Year. I went back to China with my mom on January 11 or 12, 2002. Jinhye did not go because it would have been very dangerous if all three of us left together; the guards might recognize us. The North Korean government watched people extremely carefully for six months after their release from prison. The guards did not recognize my mom and me so we escaped to China.

Jinhye was able to escape into China in early spring. She had saved money from selling things, so she bribed a soldier to escape to China. In January 2002, my mom and I were caught. My mom was sent back to North Korea, but I was able to escape and ran through a parking lot and took a taxi to where I was living in China.

In total, my mom was sent back to North Korea four times, Jinhye three times, and I was sent back two times. When we were in prison, I was beaten but not as much as the adults. Jinhye was about 16 but she was taller and bigger than other girls her age, so she was beaten and tortured for that. Her tormentors wanted her to say she was 18, which is adulthood in North Korea, even though she was truly 16. Jinhye suffered a lot at a young age. My mom was heavily beaten and tortured. One of her eardrums burst, her teeth were broken, and her right eye does not properly function after being hit during a beating.

In May 2005, we were caught and stayed in a Chinese prison for 15 months. During the summer of 2006, we were sent back to North Korea. On October 31, 2006, again we went to China. In December 2006, my mom, Jinhye, and I were put under UNHCR protection. Finally, on March 21, 2008, we came to the U.S.

What were the most surprising or shocking things that you discovered when you first arrived in the United States? 

Several things. First thing, we thought the U.S. would not have so many trees. While on our plane, we saw only trees and some small houses below us. We joked that the U.S. government was sending us to the mountains because we were North Koreans. When we landed in Seattle, everything was so big. Korean church members met us there, and when we traveled through Seattle, we saw it was very large and realized it was not the countryside.

My biggest shock and surprise was that I could enjoy freedom. Even if the police stop me on the street, I don't have to worry about torture.

Our Pastor Yoon took us to events every day for four months. They treated us by going to American restaurants, such as a New York steakhouse, but I couldn't eat any of it. And neither could my mom. We were not used to eating meat and American foods, like cheese.

What are some misconceptions about North Korea that Americans have? How much do Americans really know about North Korea in terms of what actually goes on within the country?

I don't think they know much. They know what is in the media. They think the North Korean government is crazy and talk about its military power and the nuclear problem. However, comparing 2017 to 2008, they know a lot more now.

Some Americans believe the Kim regime and communism are better than democracy. I think they should go to North Korea for two weeks and come back here and see if they can say that. Otto Warmbier did not know how severe the North Korean government is. He reacted like a young person. The government is scarier and crueler than he realized. North Koreans think the U.S. is its biggest enemy, so of course it will torture Americans more than others. But anyone can get into trouble because it is very easy to report harmful allegations to the government and cause trouble to individuals. If people notice that someone spent too much money and suddenly bought pork and meat, people can report him to the government. Anything can be a problem.

Are there things that you wished people better understood about North Korea?

Of course. North Korea is a country with lots of moms, dads, and babies living there. They are waiting for our care and love. They are waiting to see the message that they can have freedom and leave North Korea.

Under the current system of North Korea, there is nothing.The government takes everything. People in North Korea are still starving. Many people live in prison. I think that North Korea has more orphans than anywhere else, any other country.

There were a lot of escapees from 1996 up to 2000, but the number declined so that by 2010 not as many North Koreans were going to China seeking protection. I think from 2015 to 2017 it has become very hard to cross the North Korean border, so the numbers are further down.

What do North Koreans think about America? And South Korea?

North Koreans think, of course, that both are enemies. But the thoughts of North Koreans who came to America are completely different.

Do you think that we’ll see the Kim dynasty fall within our lifetime?

I hope so. I think it will. I don't know if this is accurate, but it is said that no one can pass a dynasty to the third generation. North Korean people know that the North Korean government is lying to them and don't trust it. People are making their own money. When a private person gets more and more money, they will be able to hire soldiers and other forces against the regime. Kim Jong-un is not doing a good job. They have military power right now but that will change. The Kim dynasty cannot last more than 100 years, according to my timeline.