[imText1]“I could not resist the sense pf moral obligation to write about life in North Korean when I was hiding in China.”
Choi Jin I, a North Korean defector who entered South Korea through China and Mongolia seeking a new life published an autobiographic book of her essays, “The Women Who Crossed the Border Three Times.”
Now well-known to the readers of The DailyNK through her columns in North Korea women, Choi Jin I was a poet who entertained much expectation in North Korea to be “a person who will turnover the North Korean literature.” We met a woman living a second life who chose life of a defector over that of “writer” that belongs to the elite group in North Korea.
North Korean Who “Criticize Society with Uncanny Expressions”
Choi Jin I was a poet belonged to the Korean Writer’s Union Central Committee, Department of Poetry. She says although in North Korea the destiny depends on “family” (or origin) but artists were specially treated above the origin or family background.
“For writers, family background was less of an obstacle. Not everybody could be creative. There are a lot of turnovers for writers, so there are rarely writers who have not been to “revolutionization area”(gulag). Some writers return and write more boldly but some writers become slaves to the government and do “flattery literature.”
Although South Koreans believe literature in North Korea must be about idolization of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il regime, Choi says if “flattery literature” consists of 85%, then 15% consists of personal and free creative work of “criticisms on society with uncanny expressions.”
“There have been a stream in the North Korean literature that have described conflicts in the society. It is only that we use uncanny expressions so that our dissatisfaction towards the regime is not revealed. However, they are all understood among the writers themselves. The writers in North Korea are the people who have “cautiousness in all they do.” If I had freedom of expression, I would have wrote about deceptions in North Korean society.”
“Socialist Society, I Am Sick of It”
For Choi, who longed for freedom of expression, her book of essays, “The Woman Who Crossed the Border Three Times, Choi Jin Ie,” has a special significance.
Choi crossed the Tumen River for the first time in July ,1998, but returned and crossed the river again for her son. We could see her tears as she describes her experience in China of which the memory that does not allow her to sleep in peace at night. She feels agony for the suffering of the North Korean women in China.
“Recently there have been a disastrous flood and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and many Chinese people died. However, the once who could not even sing the song of moaning were the North Koreans. Chinese people have no concept of human rights. How could they repatriate the North Koreans back who came to China seeking life? I am sick of socialist countries.”
Her columns to The DailyNK have been praised for its clear description and criticisms on the North Korean society and women.
“If you forcefully make yourself to understand North Korea, you only see the sides you want to see. I don’t believe it is a good idea to reveal negative sides of North Korea. You have to explain both sides and describe in full dimension to reduce the shock. I cannot show what I have been educated to be in North Korea from single perspective.”
“Even if I describe reality of North Korea only as it is, the problems are revealed. However, I believe it may be helpful to understand the North Korean society if you think of the people and the regime separately.”
The Problems Revealed even if Describe as It Is
Choi is studying women’s studies at Ewha University (Ph.D). About the phenomenon that South Korean women’s organizations not dealing with the issue of North Korean women, she says it is because “the problem requires prudence.”
“There is not need to rush. I think we have to let them know one by one. It is also important to know North Korean women’s position. Especially for the issue of trafficking of women, although what is needed is to embrace them, by trying to solve the problem, people can approach it with criticisms and women can end up being hurt many times over. Perhaps it is too early to mention about North Korean women’s rights. We will have to do one by one.”
She expressed her expectations by saying she believes she will have much to do as a defector and a woman.
“I want to correct wrong thoughts about North Korean women in South Korea and let North Korean women know how unequally they are treated.”
As though she erased all her sufferings in the past, she talked about hope and smiled talking about her new life.
