He realized that North Korea was not heaven, but hell on earth

First published on stefanus.no 11.29.2024. Written by: Johannes Morken Photo: StefanusAlliance 

Song Byeok has shared his remarkable story with the Stefanus Alliance: In the 1990s, he worked as a loyal propaganda artist for the North Korean regime. He believed what everyone was told: North Korea was a paradise on earth. Kim Jong Il was a god. 

However, during the famine that killed millions, he realized that North Korea was not a paradise, but a hell on earth. His sister starved to death. His mother passed away. His father drowned when he and Song made a desperate second attempt to cross the Tumen River to find food in China. 

Tortured in prison 

After crossing the river illegally for the first time, they were caught by North Korean border guards and spent three months in prison. Song Byeok's father was tortured in front of him, and Song himself was brutally beaten. 

After they were released - without any food - they attempted to cross into China a second time. During this attempt, Song's father drowned in the river. 

After his father's death, Song was imprisoned for six months. Beatings, starvation and hard labour made him long for death. 

But the prison commander did not want a dead body on his hands. Song was released, barely able to stand on his own two feet. 

Christians helped him 

In 2002, Song managed to cross the Tumen River and was helped by Christians in China to find safety in South Korea. The Christians were the only ones willing to take the risk of helping a refugee. 

Song Byeok is grateful to God and to those who risked their lives to help him. He is determined to raise awareness of the regime's abuses and to do whatever he can to help free the people of North Korea. 

Watch the video: Exposes dictatorship with art