Celebrity North Korean defector Yeonmi Park’s book, “In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom,” is now available. Yeonmi was my guest this past May in lieu of the 10th anniversary of this column to give a
Celebrity North Korean defector Yeonmi Park’s book, “In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom,” is now available.
Yeonmi was my guest this past May in lieu of the 10th anniversary of this column to give a speech free to the public on North Korea, human rights and her life there before she decided to defect. Her problems only escalated once she made it into China when she was met by a man who said he would help her and her mother but later betrayed them as he was a human trafficker. She crossed a desert on foot with her mom into Mongolia before finally making it to South Korea.
Many North Korean defectors are not able to adjust to a life of capitalism in South Korea and a few defect back to North Korea. There are 27,000 North Korean defectors and many are still in China hoping to get to Europe, South Korea or neighboring countries in hopes of freedom. They live every day in fear, they have lost families, many lose hope. Yoenmi’s book sheds light on many things we take for granted. She hopes to return to Hawaii next spring.
Weekly update:
‘The Legendary Witches’
Episodes 1 and 2
Today, 6:30 p.m.: Sooyin (Han Ji-hye) loses her husband Dohyon (Go Joo-won) in a helicopter crash. Mio (Ha Yeon-soo) goes to Dohyon’s funeral and causes a scene, saying she’s pregnant with Do-jin’s (Do Sang-woo) baby. Boknyo (Go Doo-shim) gets a furlough from prison after 30 years, but passes out after drinking juice given to her by Poonggeum (Oh Hyun-kyung). Today, 7:45 p.m.: Woo-seok (Ha Seok-jin) lost his childhood memory. He goes to see his orphanage director to investigate into his past. Sooyin also goes to the carehome when she hears that the lady she’s been taking care of is in critical condition. Woo-seok and Sooyin have their second encounter at the carehome.
‘Mrs. Cop’
Episodes 13 and 14
Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Young-jin tells Chief Yeom that it was Chairman Kang who killed her father, not Park Dong-il. Jin-woo finally accepts Do-young as his partner. Kang Jae-won takes advantage of his sick bail and escapes from prison. Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Young-jin arrests Chairman Kang for helping his son escape from prison, but lets him go to get him with something bigger. Do-young is attacked by a mystery group of men. Young-jin and her team start investing the people around Chairman Kang.
‘The Gang Doctor’
Episodes 13 and 14
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Do-joon is arrested at Yeo-jin’s funeral. Yeon-jin starts her revenge as soon as she returns home. Tae-hyun also moves into Yeo-jin’s house, but has hard time getting used to his new status as Yeo-jin’s husband. Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Yeo-jin becomes even more vicious to protect herself and her throne. Dr. Lee tells Tae-hyun the reason no one came to operate on his mother was because that was the day Yeo-jin was admitted with her boyfriend.
‘Identical Affairs’
Episode 9 and 10
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Jin-eon tearfully begs his father on his knees to make Hae-kang disappear from his life. Hae-kang finally signs the divorce paper and leaves. Bae-seok is shocked when he finds out Seol-ri is involved with a married man. Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: four years later, Hae-kang lost her memory and is living as Yong-gi. She works with Baek-seok at his law firm. Jin-eon comes back from the States. Baek Ji pickpockets Jin-eon’s wallet under pressure from her friends.
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Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. This column offers synopses of the dramas playing throughout Hawaii. Chung can be reached at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
