Defector

Sun Mu: From North Korean Propagandist to Pop Art Defector

By Heenali Patel On Friday 20 November, the Frontline Club hosted a premiere screening of the documentary I Am Sun Mu, a remarkable insight into the life and work of North Korean defector and political pop artist Sun Mu. The film follows Sun Mu as he prepares for his first solo exhibition in Beijing in […]

Insight with North Korean Defector Hyeonseo Lee

By Olivia Acland On Thursday 2 July, Hyeonseo Lee joined an audience at the Frontline Club for a discussion on her experiences as a North Korean defector. Lee, an international campaigner for North Korean human rights and refugee issues, was joined in conversation by author Paul French. One day after dinner, seventeen-year-old Lee told her parents that she was going to […]

Insight with Hyeonseo Lee: The Girl with Seven Names – A North Korean Defector’s Story

Hyeonseo Lee was just seventeen when she fled North Korea. She found herself in China, alone and with no identity. Her mother’s first words over the telephone to her lost daughter were “Don’t come back”. We are pleased to welcome her to the Frontline Club to share her insight into growing up in North Korea, the story of her escape and how she went on to rebuild her life and discover her identity.

Screening: The Defector – Escape from North Korea + Q&A

This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Ann Shin.

As the leadership in North Korea changes and Kim Jong-un takes the helm, a man who goes by the name of ‘Dragon’ smuggles North Korean defectors across borders. His latest trip with two women, Sook-Ja and Yong-hee, takes an unexpected turn when they are left stranded in China. This is only the beginning of an extraordinary 5,000 km journey. Their story reflects the reality of tens of thousands of North Koreans currently in hiding in China.