SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ministry of Unification held the JOURNEY FOR LIBERTY event on Saturday, September 28, from 2 PM to 7 PM (local time) at Palmer Street in Harvard Square, Boston, USA.
The event focused on the next generation of overseas Koreans, aiming to shape the discourse on unification based on freedom in the international community. Through testimonies from North Korean defectors and exhibitions on North Korean human rights, the event emphasized the global values of liberty and human rights.
The event included a talk concert titled "Voices from North Korea," held in collaboration with Freedom Speakers International (FSI). North Korean defector authors Han Songmi and Eom Yeongnam shared their personal experiences, discussing human rights abuses in North Korea and their escape stories.
At the talk concert, Han Songmi shared, "My mother, who had already settled in South Korea, made three attempts to get me out of North Korea, but I rejected her each time." She then explained her reasons, describing obstacles that lie before those who seek to escape the North.
Eom Yeongnam captivated the audience with his escape story, stressing that "Unification is not just a political goal—it is a process of healing for all Koreans."
Talk concert attendees reflected that the stories, coming directly from North Korean defectors, made it all the more touching and impactful. Many expressed a desire for more opportunities to learn about North Korea through such firsthand testimonies.
Attendees also explored various exhibitions and programs, including the Global Unification Art Exhibition, the Escape from North Korea Simulation Game, the AI Unification Art Challenge, and displays on North Korean human rights.
The "drawings by children yearning for unification" displayed at the Global Unification Art Exhibition were greatly appreciated by the attendees, and the QR codes were found useful for understanding the artwork through children’s audio explanations.
Attendees showed great interest in the Escape from North Korea Simulation Game, noting it provided a vivid experience of the life-risking escape process in an engaging and immersive way.
The AI Unification Art Challenge invited attendees to vote on 20 artworks, with several attendees expressing that envisioning a unified Korean Peninsula gave them hope and anticipation for unification.
The JOURNEY FOR LIBERTY event was attended by over 310 participants, with 75% of whom are aged between 18 and 34, demonstrating a successful engagement of the younger generation.
Attendees valued the open setting of Harvard Square for deepening their understanding of North Korean human rights and fostering awareness of the need for a unified Korea based on freedom and human rights.
The Ministry of Unification will continue its efforts to raise awareness of unification issues among overseas Koreans, with the next cultural event set for November 9 in Germany.
