International affairs and political developments surrounding North Korea are reported in the news on a daily basis. However, the reality faced by those who risked their lives to cross the border in search of freedom, escaping surveillance and hardship, as well as the specific details of ongoing human rights violations, are not widely known to the public. Much of the information is discussed through a political lens, making it difficult to see the individual suffering behind these issues and the fundamental questions surrounding human dignity.

We believe that this issue should not be viewed solely as a matter of politics, diplomacy, or conflicts of power between nations. Instead, we aim to focus on the individuals who are still striving to survive and rebuild their lives. We created this website with a strong desire to help as many people as possible understand the backgrounds of those affected, including young people of our generation, and the harsh realities they endure. Through sharing their stories and raising awareness, we hope to encourage greater attention and understanding of this important human rights issue.

As people living in the same era, we strongly believe that this issue should never be regarded as someone else’s problem. Beyond division and prejudice, we aim to create a society where solidarity begins with “learning” and where each individual continues to care about and engage with human rights issues. Through raising awareness and sharing information, we hope to expand a network of people who stand together in support of human dignity.

*Student Insight Network is a voluntary student organization and is not a media organization conducting independent field investigations. Therefore, to protect the privacy and safety of North Korean defectors, as well as to respect copyright, we do not publish images or photographs obtained from sources other than freely available materials on this website. We are committed to sharing reliable, fact-based information from trusted organizations.