Jang Gil-su
Encyclopedia
Jang Gil-su is a North Korean defector
who fled North Korea
in 1999 at age 15. He became famous in South Korea
following publication there and in the U.S. media of his chilling crayon drawings, which depict horrific abuses by North Korean authorities against North Korean civilians.
. His mother was caught by Chinese authorities and repatriated.
His family, living in Hoeryeong, North Hamgyeong Province, crossed the Tumen River
into China
in January 1999. They lived briefly in China with the help of ethnic Koreans there and South Korean human rights activists. Some were caught and repatriated as part of a Chinese crackdown on North Korean refugees.
, supported by Senator Edward Kennedy
, invited teenage defector Jang Kil-soo and his family to a photograph exhibition and reception in their honor to be held in the Rotunda in early September, and the senators urged the South Korean government to allow Jang to visit it.
Beginning in March 2003 and lasting about a month, Jang began reading excerpts of his memoirs for a series of Radio Free Asia (RFA) broadcasts to North Korea.
His story is told in English (and illustrated by Gil Su) through a new book, Out of North Korea, published by http://www.historymakerpublishing.com/.
North Korean defectors
A number of individuals have defected from North Korea. Since the division of Korea after World War II and the end of the Korean War , many people have defected from North Korea, mainly for political, ideological, religious and economic reasons...
who fled North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
in 1999 at age 15. He became famous in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
following publication there and in the U.S. media of his chilling crayon drawings, which depict horrific abuses by North Korean authorities against North Korean civilians.
Defection
Jang and six members of his family escaped to China from North Korea, and were given temporary refuge by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They subsequently arrived in South Korea via ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. His mother was caught by Chinese authorities and repatriated.
His family, living in Hoeryeong, North Hamgyeong Province, crossed the Tumen River
Tumen River
The Tumen River is a 521 km-long river that serves as part of the boundary between China, North Korea, and Russia, rising in Mount Baekdu and flowing into the Sea of Japan....
into China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in January 1999. They lived briefly in China with the help of ethnic Koreans there and South Korean human rights activists. Some were caught and repatriated as part of a Chinese crackdown on North Korean refugees.
Life after defection
In a letter sent to South Korean Ambassador to the US Yang Sung-chul on August 13, 2002, Senator Sam BrownbackSam Brownback
Samuel Dale "Sam" Brownback is the 46th and current Governor of Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011, and as a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 1996...
, supported by Senator Edward Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
, invited teenage defector Jang Kil-soo and his family to a photograph exhibition and reception in their honor to be held in the Rotunda in early September, and the senators urged the South Korean government to allow Jang to visit it.
Memoir
Jang's memoir, 눈물로 그린 무지개, or "The Rainbow I Painted With My Tears: A refugee boy's story in his own words and drawings," was published by Moonhak Soochop (Seoul). It remains available only in Korean.Beginning in March 2003 and lasting about a month, Jang began reading excerpts of his memoirs for a series of Radio Free Asia (RFA) broadcasts to North Korea.
His story is told in English (and illustrated by Gil Su) through a new book, Out of North Korea, published by http://www.historymakerpublishing.com/.