[imText1]”I am pleased to be able to do what I like to do in South Korea.”<\/p>\n
Moon Myung Il (28) entered South Korean in 2003. He is a unique North Korean defector. He became the king of inventors, and undertook an enterprise. He is one of the 100 inventors who have applied for patents most frequently last year. He has a rush of orders for his patent inventions both domestically and internationally. With the orders pouring in, he alternates between joy and embarrassment. <\/p>\n
One of Mr. Moon’s inventions, the Dancing Board, won the Silver Prize at the Korea Patent Technology Exhibition 2005, and made a sensation in the sports and leisure industry. The Dancing Board is different from the skateboard in that it runs if the rider rocks his body from side to side due to its cross-shaped wheels. Anyone can enjoy riding it easily. He worked hard to make the Dancing Board. Many nights were passed without sleep. Now, his Dancing Board enjoys tremendous popularity.<\/p>\n
The number of North Korean defectors in South Korea is more than seven thousand. These people experience difficulties adjusting themselves to the system of South Korean society. Mr. Moon’s case is rare. His case seems to indicate that any defector can prosper if he works eagerly and ardently in the South.<\/p>\n
When I met him and told him that he was successful, he bashfully responded by saying that it could not be called a success yet. His shy attitude made him look like a novice in the industry. However, I felt his strong will as an inventor when I heard him say that when he finds something he wants to do, he does it until he becomes satisfied. <\/p>\n
-When did you come to South Korea?<\/b><\/p>\n
I entered the South in 2003. In the North, I attended Kyungsong Military Aviation Academy, which is comparable to the Air Force Academy in the South. I have been interested in making inventions since childhood. I applied to Kyungsong Military Aviation Academy because I had wanted to be a pilot. I was really crazy about operating machines.<\/p>\n
My dream of being a pilot could not become a reality, and I had to flee the North. I am the CEO of Daraon, a leisure goods manufacturer, now. As an inventor, I make things to apply for patents, and turn the patents into commodities. <\/p>\n
-Why did you escape from North Korea.<\/b><\/p>\n
I had to flee the North because I had come to be involved with something in the army. I am sorry that I cannot tell you everything because it is so private.<\/p>\n
“My dream of being the king of inventors will come true in South Korea.”<\/p>\n
-You are the king of inventors in South Korea now. Did you make inventions in North Korea too?<\/b> <\/p>\n
Because I was in a military school, it was somewhat difficult to fully absorb myself in making inventions. However, I sometimes conceived ideas and made things. It was in the military school that I seriously considered invention as my career even though I had liked making inventions since childhood. <\/p>\n
I have been able to come up with new ideas more frequently in the South than in the North because I feel free in the South. The idea about the Dancing Board was also put forward in the South.<\/p>\n
-How is the Dancing Board different from the skateboard?<\/b><\/p>\n
The Dancing Board is much more advanced than the skateboard. It is difficult for beginners to ride the skateboard. However, anyone, men and women of all ages, can enjoy the Dancing Board.<\/p>\n
The wheels of the Dancing Board is cross-shaped. It goes as long as you rock yourself from side to side. To move the skate board forward, you must have the front lifted and sway your body from side to side. However, you don’t need to lift the front of the Dancing Board. It is very comfortable and easy.<\/p>\n
You can even sit on the Dancing Board and run. This is most advantageous to old people and women who tend to feel insecure about standing on a running board.<\/p>\n
-What made you conceive the idea of the Dancing Board?<\/b><\/p>\n
People like uniqueness and peculiarity. I found there was no board on which you could sit and enjoy the ride. I thus thought that it would be interesting to make a special board for people to comfortably sit on and enjoy riding. The thought sparked my curiosity and motivation. <\/p>\n
Research and Development during the night; earning a living during the day.<\/p>\n
-I think you must have faced many difficulties in both settling down in South Korea and developing the Dancing Board.<\/b><\/p>\n
I faced many difficulties. To be frank, I was happy to develop the Dancing Board because making inventions is what I really care about. But it was really hard to settle down in South Korea all by myself. I had no one to depend on, and took care of everything on my own. I think I was too young to bear everything.<\/p>\n
I think I was able to endure the difficulties because I was able to do what I cared about. Of course, making inventions is not an easy job, and does not guarantee money. However, it was very interesting and satisfying to realize my ideas by applying them to inventions.<\/p>\n
I stayed in Busan after I had fled to the South. For 5 months in Busan, I was a part-time segregated garbage collector during the day and an inventor during the night. It was exhausting to earn a living during the day, and try to come up with inventive ideas during the night, but I didn’t give up my dream. <\/p>\n
-Tell me more about the process of developing the Dancing Board. <\/b><\/p>\n
My acquaintances were concerned about me when I was absorbed in making the Dancing Board. I was crestfallen when I heard them say that it would be impossible to develop it in reality. However, I didn’t abandon hope because I knew that invention presupposes hundreds of times of failure. I stuck to my will.<\/p>\n
It took a year to fully develop the Dancing Board. It lasted from August, 2004 to August of this year. My idea underwent a hundred times of trial and error to be verified. After the verification of my idea, the complete plan, and 60 trials, the Dancing Board was born.<\/p>\n
At first, I made the board from wood and adjusted the cross-shaped wheels to the correct angle. I don’t remember how many times I did that because I did it so many times.<\/p>\n
After I found the correct angle, I made the board from iron, and rode it hundreds and thousands of times. I commuted between my home and Chonggye stream everyday to ride it because there was a flat area near Chonggye stream before the stream was opened due to the restoration work. I was exhilarated when I was fully satisfied with it. I really felt as if there was nothing I could not achieve as long as I tried hard.<\/p>\n
-Do you have something to tell other North Korean defectors?<\/b><\/p>\n
I have yet to do a lot of things. However, if I could give my underdeveloped opinion, I should say that the capitalist society does not tolerate financial errors. Sometimes it seems to value money more highly than people. I am lucky I to have met a generous partner and accelerate my business. Even though it has been less than 3 years since I settled down in South Korea, I can confidently say that success depends on how you act in a capitalist society. <\/p>\n
It is natural for North Korean defectors to feel frustrated while adjusting to the South Korean system because the North Korean system is far different. However, it is important to stick to what you like to do even if you feel exhausted. Whether you are a North Korean defector or a South Korean, you should stick to your dream if you want to be successful. <\/p>\n
-Tell me about your future plans.<\/b><\/p>\n
I miss my parents in the North a lot these days. I wish I could show my success to them. I’d like to say that I will continue to make inventions because that is what I like the most, even if I am not sure what is waiting for me. I wish to show that not all North Korean defectors are losers because they fail to adjust to South Korea. <\/p>\n
On the other hand, I will continuously upgrade the Dancing Board, which has been my first product. Besides leisure goods, I intend to invent electric home appliances. I hope you will watch and see.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[imText1]”I am pleased to be able to do what I like to do in South Korea.” Moon Myung Il (28) entered South Korean in 2003. He is a unique North Korean defector. He became the king of inventors, and undertook an enterprise. He is one of the 100 inventors who have applied for patents most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":169,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wikipediapreview_detectlinks":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[644],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-analysis-and-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\n