LiNK: North Korean Refugees on Kim Jong-il's Death and Succession

The sudden death of Kim Jong-il has triggered a deluge of early commentary and analysis on what this may mean for North Korea and the region. The North Koreans themselves are of course the people who will be affected most by this development, but the voice of the North Korean people has been severely lacking.  While the regime has always been comprised of much more than one man, the death of the leader does usher in a new period of increased uncertainty for the North Korean people.
It is impossible to go inside North Korea to interview the people regarding their true feelings on the situation. However LiNK has spoken with refugees who have recently left the country. It should be noted that North Korean refugees cannot be considered to be necessarily representative of the general population, as the majority have come from border regions and therefore their views may be different from those living in Pyongyang or elsewhere. 
LiNK works on the ground helping North Korean refugees who have escaped into China, bringing them out through a 'modern-day underground railroad' to its shelter in Southeast Asia where refugees can then seek safe resettlement in third nations. Prior to Kim Jong-il's death, we had interviewed refugees who came through our shelter on their attitudes towards the succession. Some of the refugees had left North Korea as recently as November 2011. Over the past few hours we have contacted further refugees for their comments and thoughts upon hearing about Kim Jong-il's death. 


North Korean Refugees on the Succession:

"Some North Korean people believe that if Kim Jong-un takes over North Korean politics, he will be even worse than his father."

"Kim Jong-un has been presented to us by the state media as a military figure."

"Of course, people think badly of the succession. How could you think it is a good thing? The Government is not providing the people with any kind of standard of living."

"The North Korean people just hope to live in freedom and to live well." 


North Korean Refugees' Reaction to the Death of Kim Jong-il:

"The North Korean people will currently be putting on feigned shows of sadness. This is very different to the death of Kim Il-sung. Kim Il-sung founded the country and the people think that he did a lot for them. Times have been hard during Kim Jong-il's reign. People have woken up and are much more aware of the reality of the country and the leadership now. People will outwardly be showing sadness but inwardly they will feel very differently. The people fear that anything but the required show of sadness could get them killed... The most likely outcome of the succession is that Kim Jong-un will continue in the same mold as his father."
- Shin Jong-wook, M, 20.

"This is not a happy or a sad event for me. But it is a big moment. This will be a shocking moment for the North Korean people. But there will not be as much grief as when Kim Il-sung died. Of course, people will have to pretend to be sad, and people may get caught up in the atmosphere, but it is not true sadness."
- Kim Moon-soo, M, 21. 

"I worry about what this will mean for my relatives back inside and for the North Korean people. I fear that the relatives of defectors will be persecuted more. They are closing the markets and there are bound to be a lot of staged political events, so for the people that are already struggling things are going to get even harder."
- Park Yun-joo, F, 31.

"I didn't feel anything in particular when I heard the news. But I am worried that my family in North Korea will suffer because of the change in leadership."
 - Lee Sunghee, F, 39.

"It was a big surprise. I don't know what the next leadership will be like, so its a big worry. Some people will be sad because the leader of the country has died. That is normal. But some people will probably be glad that he has died."
 - Park Il-hyung, M, 37.

 "I don't care that Kim Jong-il is dead. In North Korea now, the norm dictates that everyone has to cry. But people don't have any positive feelings towards Kim Jong-il. The majority of people will be faking their tears."
 - Nam Gum-sook, F, 19.

 "If you don't cry in North Korea after the leader dies, then you could come under suspicion as being against the Government. Then you have to live with that label and suspicion for the rest of your life."
 - Kang Bohee, F, 21.


Notes for Editors:
LiNK (Liberty in North Korea) works to redefine the North Korea crisis, while providing emergency relief to North Korean refugees and pursuing an end to this crisis. LiNK is the only grassroots organization in North America dedicated full-time to the North Korea issue.
The names of refugees have been changed to protect their identities and ensure the security of relatives still inside North Korea. 
LiNK cannot provide contact details for North Korean refugees to outsid e agencies.
 For further information:

Sokeel Park

LiNK Research and Policy Analyst
Tel: +1-310-212-7190
Twitter: @linkglobal

All rights reserved to LiNK (Liberty in North Korea)
http://www.linkglobal.org/

+I did not write this. I simply copy and pasted the email I've received from LiNK.
More more information, please click on the link to LiNK website above.

Nella Fantasia [In my Imagination]: Sung Bong Choi

His name is Sung Bong Choi.
As you can tell from the subtitles in the video, he's had an "extraordinary" life.

English translation of Italian lyrics of Nella Fantasia:
In my imagination I see a fair world,
Everyone lives in peace and in honesty there.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like the clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.

In my imagination I see a bright world,
Even the night is less dark there.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like clouds that fly.

In my imagination there exists a warm wind,
That breathes on the cities, like a friend.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.

I listened to him again as I read the translations.
I don't know if he knew... I'm not an expert on vocal, so I don't know if his technique is good.
But regardless his knowledge or skill, I think there was a story when he sang.
Song that his heart sang, wished to be heard and wished to tell, not just to others, but to himself as well.
I admire his strength in singing a song, lyrics of hope and dreams, despite the struggles he's had since his childhood.

He really puts many of us in shame and shows how unappreciative we are.
As my parents always prays, we are so fortunate family to have each other to love and to be loved, and to have a home where we can go back to.
However, we shouldn't think about our situation in comparison to his as if we have it better than he is in every aspect.
It is true that I am more fortunate than he is by the standard of societal happiness,
but I want to say he is richer than I am, because he has a more determined spirit, stronger heart with resilience that only experience can build, and countless blessings God gave him through many struggles in his life.
I think we all share the same sentiment about him, so that is probably why he is an inspiration for many rather than a subject of pity and sympathy.

As Sung Bong explained in his video, he passed the test for elementary and middle school education, and got into an art high school. In the original film, he actually explained that even though he went to an art high school, he couldn't get a proper private lessons for many reasons. The edited video, which I've posted, has a part when he explains he would go to classes and just listen.
Apparently after this show was aired, some people questioned the sincerity and the truth about what Sung Bong's story and pointed him as a liar.
The producers of the show explained and announced the public that it was the editing that created this confusion and decided to air the original uncut audition for Sung Bon Choi.
They ended with an apology and concern for Sung Bong that hope he's not hurt by this controversy.
I believe this controversy is somewhat resolved after the public announcement and apology from the producing team of the show, but there are still people who are skeptical and see Sung Bong as a liar who partnered up with the producers and made up a story for the ratings of the show.
I personally think this was all the producers of the show and think they should take more cautions in editing the film.
I hope this controversy will resolve and that he will continue on a pursuit of his passion.
I admire his courage to share about his life and to give himself a chance.
In Korean cheer, Fighting! Sung Bong Choi! 화이팅! 최성봉!

*I didn't realize that street gum-selling things like that isn't as common in America as it is in Korea (Well, it's not so common in Korea either, but people know what it is. One of my friend who is not familiar with Korea asked me that question, so I thought I would clarify).
To give you a quick example of what it's like: he is like a modern living Oliver Twist or the Little Match Girl.
It's not so much different from being a beggar.
They would sell a pack of gum for 10 cents near the subway stations, asking people to buy one.
There is not much story about him that's been publicly released (and I really hope the media wouldn't use him for such purpose),
so I can't provide anymore information than this.