The event will discuss the current status of information access and freedom in North Korea, first-hand accounts of effective models for information dissemination, and challenges faced by the sector. Speakers will also explore the current state of government and private citizen programs, potential for new programs and models, and recent U.S. and South Korean government funding cuts to similar initiatives.
Featured Speakers
Gyuri Kang, North Korean Escapee
In 2023, Gyuri escaped North Korea by boat with her mother and aunt – an extraordinary act of courage that made them one of the rare groups to successfully flee the country since the borders were sealed during the pandemic. Born in Pyongyang and a graduate of Pyongyang Sports University, Gyuri’s life changed forever when her family was banished to a remote coastal province after her grandmother’s religious beliefs were discovered.
Though incredibly rare in North Korea, Gyuri became a female shipowner and started a small fishing business to support her family. As she secretly accessed forbidden foreign media, she learned more about the outside world and began to question what it meant to live with dignity — and whether survival alone was enough. Since reaching freedom and resettling in South Korea, Gyuri has emerged as a powerful voice for North Korean human rights, sharing her story around the world and most recently at the United Nations General Assembly.
Hannah Oh, North Korean Escapee; Advocacy Fellow, Liberty in North Korea
Rohit Mahajan, Chief Communications Officer, Radio Free Asia
Martyn Williams, Senior Fellow, Korea Program and 38 North, Stimson Center
Jenny Town, Senior Fellow and Director, Korea Program and 38 North, Stimson Center (Moderator)
