Although the event was supposed to show "Shadows and Whispers," a documentary about North Korean refugees, the documentary never arrived due to an accident involving the person responsible for its delivery. "There were much more people [at the event] than I expected," said Ha. "[But] I feel bad that we didn't get to show 'Shadows and Whispers.'"
Despite the change in plans, approximately 50 remained for the showing. "I thought [the film] was really disturbing," said Andre Perez '07. "This is another international human rights issue that deserves international attention."
Jia-Jia Zhu ' 08E agreed with Perez. "I'm really glad that we're helping to bring awareness. This is another area of the world that deserves a lot of close attention."
According to Newsweek International, North Korea is the worst human rights violating country in the world. It is a country with many prisons and labor camps in which, according to MSNBC, "at least two of the camps, Haengyong and Huaong, are larger in area than the District of Columbia."
For organizers Ha, Bonnie Lin '07 and Christina Ryu '07 the events are meant to increase campus awareness. "[We] decided that we cannot sit around knowing that a hidden holocaust is going on," said Lin.
Lin was first exposed to the refugee situation through an editor of ChosunJournal.com and then learned more information from the testimony of Soon Ok Lee, a North Korean refugee. "[The testimony] was terrifying and for many days, I was paralyzed in despair and disbelief," said Lin. She was especially moved by stories about prisoners in North Korean camps. "Especially haunting was the story of the former principal who died with maggots in her burn wounds," she said. "Her last words were, 'I want to see the blue sky. You know my children are waiting for me.' I'll never forget that."
Hyowoun Jyung '08 echoed Lin's response. "I read [Soon Ok Lee's] testimony and was very shocked by what I read and saw," said Jyung. "There were disturbing drawings depicting the conditions at a prison camp in North Korea. I had to do something."
Escaping from North Korea does not promise refugees an easier life. Many refugees do not even receive help from the South Korean embassy in China, and the Chinese government continues to return refugees to North Korea where they will be rearrested or killed. "I can't imagine how maddening it is to jump out of the fire only to find yourself in the frying pan," Lin said.
Jyung echoed Lin's sentiments. "The fact that China is sending the refugees back to North Korea, that residents in China, among them Koreans, are handing in the North Korea refugees to the government for rewards ... and that the refugees who've made it to South Korea are having a hard time settling due to inadequate aid from the government and discrimination make me so upset," said Jyung.
Organizers of the events hope to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in North Korea and to inform students about how they can help. Other efforts include raising funds that will benefit North Korea refugees hiding in China and opening a Liberation in North Korea (LiNK) chapter. LiNK is an international organization dedicated to educating and mobilizing volunteers for North Korean refugees.
Other events for this week include a lecture tonight by guest speaker Adrian Hong, a senior at Yale University and founder of LiNK. There will also be benefit concert on Saturday.