Yeonmi Park

Yeonmi Park is a North Korean defector, human rights activist, and author known for her advocacy against totalitarianism and her work in the field of human rights. The Washington Post has described Park as one of the most famous North Korean defectors in the world. Park escaped from North Korea to China, later settling in South Korea before moving to the United States. She was born into an educated, politically connected family that turned to black market trading during North Korea's economic collapse. After her father was sent to a labor camp for smuggling, her family faced starvation. During their escape to China, Park and her mother were trafficked and sold into slavery before eventually escaping to Mongolia.

Park gained international attention after delivering a speech at the One Young World Summit in Dublin, which was viewed 50 million times in two days on YouTube and social media. She has spoken at the Oslo Freedom Forum and other global events, sharing her experiences under the North Korean regime and urging audiences to recognize and resist oppression worldwide. Park’s advocacy has been recognized by BBC 100 Women. Her talks have been viewed online nearly 350 million times, including appearances on the Joe Rogan Experience, a leading podcast on Spotify.

Park is the author of two books. Her memoir, "In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom," has sold over 100,000 copies and has been published in multiple languages and countries. Her second book, "While Time Remains: A North Korean Defector's Search for Freedom in America," became a national bestseller and addresses broader issues of freedom of expression and political discourse in the United States.

Park graduated from Columbia University and is a naturalized U.S. citizen. She serves on the executive board of directors of the Human Rights Foundation, an organization focused on challenging dictatorships. Park has been featured on CNN, CNBC, and BBC, as well as in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. She also maintains a YouTube channel, "Voice of North Korea by Yeonmi Park," which has over one million subscribers. Through her speaking engagements, books, and digital media presence, Park is recognized for her work on human rights, freedom, and the dangers of authoritarianism.