

#54 Yeonmi Park - Escaping the Horrors of North Korea & the Kim Dynasty
Apr 17, 2023
Yeonmi Park, an activist and author who escaped North Korea and survived sex trafficking, shares her gripping story of resilience. She details her traumatic childhood filled with starvation and oppression while painting a vivid picture of daily life under a totalitarian regime. Yeonmi bravely discusses her harrowing escape and the exploitation she faced in China. With a focus on educating others, she warns about the subtle signs of communism re-emerging, urging listeners to remain vigilant about freedom and individual rights.
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Wealthy in North Korea
- Yeonmi Park describes her "wealthy" upbringing in North Korea, where her family's status as party members meant they didn't starve in the 90s.
- Basic amenities like showers, indoor plumbing, and washing machines were nonexistent, highlighting the stark contrast with Western standards.
North Korea's Class System
- North Korea's 51 social classes are based on ancestors' loyalty to the party, determining status and opportunities.
- Yeonmi Park's family faced discrimination due to her maternal ancestors' land ownership, deemed "oppressor genes."
Three-Generation Punishment
- Three-generation punishment in North Korea means entire families are imprisoned for one member's dissent.
- Yeonmi Park shares a story of a man imprisoned because his grandfather expressed disagreement with the party while drunk.