'My Hell Could Not Kill Me': A defector's journey from home and back
In May 2016, Kim Kang-woo, then 21 years old, risked his life crossing North Korea's border into China to defect to South Korea in search of freedom, thinking he might never be able to return to the isolated country ever again. But three years later, in May 2019, he did not hesitate to jump back into the Amnok River — also known as the Yalu River in Chinese — and smuggle himself back into the…
In 2016, young Kim Kang-woo, aged 21, risked his life by crossing the North Korean border into China, seeking freedom from the isolated nation he deemed unable to return to. However, three years later, in May 2019, he made a bold decision to return to North Korea, this time to save his own mother.
Kim knew that the consequences of his actions could lead to imprisonment or even death in South Korea, a realization that strengthened his resolve. Despite this, it was his deep connection to his mother that ultimately motivated him to make the life-altering decision to cross the Amnok River, also known as the Yalu River, and smuggle himself back into the North.
Born and raised in Ryanggang Province, a border region near China, Kim's memoir, titled "My Hell Could Not Kill Me," details his initial defection, his daring return to North Korea to rescue his mother, and his subsequent return to South Korea. The Korean-language book, released in June, serves as a powerful account of Kim's extraordinary journey of love, sacrifice, and survival.
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- 'My Hell Could Not Kill Me': A defector's journey from home and back koreatimes.co.kr
