[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ background_color=”#2a2e40″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(42,46,64,0.34)” background_color_gradient_end=”#2a2e40″ background_color_gradient_type=”radial” background_color_gradient_direction_radial=”top right” background_color_gradient_end_position=”90%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/strainedrelations\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2019\/04\/temple-3-seoul-1.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”0||0||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0vw||” custom_padding_phone=”0vw||”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”68px||0|10%|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||40px|0%” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ width=”90%” max_width=”90%” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”90%”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.2″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”Oswald|300||on|||||” header_font_size=”7vw” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”30px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_letter_spacing=”0.35em” header_letter_spacing_tablet=”10px” header_letter_spacing_phone=”7px” header_letter_spacing_last_edited=”off|desktop” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_line_height_tablet=”1.5em” header_line_height_phone=”1.5em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_font_size=”12px” header_3_font_size_tablet=”10px” header_3_font_size_phone=”10px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_3_letter_spacing=”1.5em” header_3_letter_spacing_phone=”3px” header_3_letter_spacing_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_line_height=”2.4em” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”80%” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_duration=”2000ms” animation_intensity_slide=”2%”]<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never shared this kind of story with anyone since I came to South Korea,\u201d says a teary Park Jiwon. \u201cI have right to speak in South Korea, because I have identification. I feel comfortable to share,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Jiwon is a 53 year old ajumma<\/em> (older woman). She wears small white flower stud earrings. She touches the earrings shyly and explains how her Canadian friend took her to get her ears pierced. Jiwon pulls out her phone, and displays a photo taken with her friend. Jiwon never imagined she would have friends from all over the world.<\/p>\n In North Korea she grew up fantasizing about travelling to other countries and experiencing different cultures.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”Footer” _builder_version=”3.22.5″ background_color=”#2a2e40″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(42,46,64,0)” background_color_gradient_end=”#2a2e40″ background_color_gradient_type=”radial” background_color_gradient_end_position=”70%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/strainedrelations\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2019\/03\/Jiwon-jpeg.jpg” custom_padding=”292px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0vw||” custom_padding_phone=”0vw||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” mix_blend_mode=”overlay” make_fullwidth=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.5″ text_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” text_text_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.27)” text_font_size=”24vw” text_font_size_tablet=”30vw” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_line_height=”0em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”30px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_letter_spacing=”20px” header_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”right” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||0.2em” filter_blur=”5px” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_duration=”2000ms” animation_intensity_slide=”2%”]<\/p>\n strained<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”||409px|10%|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|10%||10%||true” custom_padding_phone=”|||” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_1_phone=”|||0%” padding_1_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”right” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”100%”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.2″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Oswald|300||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”6vw” header_2_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_2_font_size_phone=”30px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_letter_spacing=”0.35em” header_2_letter_spacing_tablet=”10px” header_2_letter_spacing_phone=”7px” header_2_letter_spacing_last_edited=”off|desktop” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_tablet=”1.5em” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.5em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_font_size=”12px” header_3_font_size_tablet=”10px” header_3_font_size_phone=”10px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_3_letter_spacing=”1.5em” header_3_letter_spacing_phone=”3px” header_3_letter_spacing_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_line_height=”2.4em” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”80%” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_duration=”2000ms” animation_intensity_slide=”2%” header_font_size__hover=”30px” header_font_size__hover_enabled=”30px” header_letter_spacing__hover=”0px” header_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”0px” header_text_shadow_style__hover=”none” header_text_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” header_text_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_text_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.3″ custom_padding=”1px|0px|0|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”22px|0px|24.9375px|0px|false|false” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”2em”]<\/p>\n Jiwon was obsessed with Korean and Chinese soap operas or dramas.<\/em> She watched them at night while her family slept. Her son would sneak out of his bedroom and watch the shows with her.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son started using the South Korean language and dialect with his friends,\u201d says Jiwon. \u201cThat\u2019s when I realized he was watching my illegal dramas. I was scared for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Since North Korea has intentionally cloistered itself from South Korean and American culture, speaking with a South Korean accent implies that a person has viewed South Korean or western content. Watching and selling dramas is a serious crime that can land someone in political prison.<\/p>\n \u201cIn North Korea, you never know when you are going to be called to the police station,\u201d says Jiwon. \u201cSometimes you just disappear. So, I was so scared.\u201d <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”||0px|||” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.21″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/strainedrelations\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2019\/04\/eternal-preseient-and-great-leader-together-roman-harak-2010.jpg” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0px|||||” _builder_version=”3.22.5″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.22.5″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_orientation=”center” min_height=”46px” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” custom_padding=”||0px|||”]<\/p>\n Portrait of the Eternal President Kim Il-Sung (left) and Dear Leader Kim Jong-il (right) [Photo \u00a9 Roman Harak, used with permission]<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”||0px|||” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”2em”]<\/p>\n Jiwon had always believed that if she worshiped the Kim family, then her family would be safe. But after she became a mother, she began doubting her beliefs.<\/p>\n Jiwon threw away all her Korean dramas, because she felt like she was being watched. Her instinct served her right. Her house was searched by the police shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n The search pushed Jiwon to leave. She was tired of living in fear<\/p>\n \u201cBefore I die, I wanted to see if the countries in dramas exist. If it\u2019s not true, then I planned to return to North Korea and be content with my existence. But if it\u2019s true\u2026then I wanted to change my son\u2019s life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”2em” min_height=”165px”]<\/p>\n Jiwon didn\u2019t know the route to South Korea. She only knew that she needed to cross the river into China and stay close to the road.<\/p>\n \u201cI told to myself \u2013 today, I am going to make one step out of 1000 steps. I tried to move forward instead of backwards. I decided not to look back.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” background_color_2=”rgba(250,42,32,0.61)” background_color_4=”#b2b9c4″ padding_top_bottom_link_2=”true” padding_left_right_link_2=”true” padding_top_2=”60px” padding_top_3=”74px” padding_right_2=”40px” padding_bottom_2=”60px” padding_left_2=”40px” padding_1_tablet=”40px|||” padding_2_tablet=”|40px||40px||true” padding_3_tablet=”40px|||” padding_4_tablet=”20px||20px||true” padding_1_phone=”20px|||” padding_2_phone=”|||” padding_3_phone=”20px|||” padding_2_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”3.22.5″ background_image=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/strainedrelations\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2019\/04\/Map-of-journey.png” background_position=”bottom_left” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”right” custom_margin_tablet=”7vw||” animation_direction=”left” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”100%” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”17px” text_line_height=”2em” ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size_phone=”20px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_letter_spacing=”3px” header_2_letter_spacing_tablet=”3px” header_2_letter_spacing_last_edited=”off|desktop” header_2_line_height=”1.8em” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” header_font_size__hover=”30px” header_font_size__hover_enabled=”30px” header_letter_spacing__hover=”0px” header_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”0px” header_text_shadow_style__hover=”none” header_text_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” header_text_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_text_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_2_font_size__hover=”26px” header_2_font_size__hover_enabled=”26px” header_2_letter_spacing__hover=”0px” header_2_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”0px” header_2_line_height__hover=”1em” header_2_line_height__hover_enabled=”1em” header_2_text_shadow_style__hover=”none” header_2_text_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” header_2_text_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_2_text_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_3_font_size__hover=”22px” header_3_font_size__hover_enabled=”22px” header_3_letter_spacing__hover=”0px” header_3_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”0px” header_3_line_height__hover=”1em” header_3_line_height__hover_enabled=”1em” header_3_text_shadow_style__hover=”none” header_3_text_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” header_3_text_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_3_text_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_4_font_size__hover=”18px” header_4_font_size__hover_enabled=”18px” header_4_letter_spacing__hover=”0px” header_4_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”0px” header_4_line_height__hover=”1em” header_4_line_height__hover_enabled=”1em” header_4_text_shadow_style__hover=”none” header_4_text_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” header_4_text_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_4_text_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_5_font_size__hover=”16px” header_5_font_size__hover_enabled=”16px” header_5_letter_spacing__hover=”0px” header_5_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”0px” header_5_line_height__hover=”1em” header_5_line_height__hover_enabled=”1em” header_5_text_shadow_style__hover=”none” header_5_text_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” header_5_text_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_5_text_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_6_font_size__hover=”14px” header_6_font_size__hover_enabled=”14px” header_6_letter_spacing__hover=”0px” header_6_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”0px” header_6_line_height__hover=”1em” header_6_line_height__hover_enabled=”1em” header_6_text_shadow_style__hover=”none” header_6_text_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” header_6_text_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)” header_6_text_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.4)”]She walked along a road until she found a bus stop labeled in Korean. When she would get lost, she would jot down questions in Chinese and ask people for help.<\/p>\n She told the Chinese villagers that she was visiting her relatives so they would not suspect she was from North Korea and report her to the authorities.<\/p>\n For eight days Jiwon walked non-stop. The soles of her shoes quickly wore out, and she bought a new pair in the city.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to pretend that I wasn’t North Korean and act naturally,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n After nearly two months walking and riding, she finally made it to Thailand where she received asylum to South Korea. <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”77px||80px|||” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.21″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.22.5″]\n
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