2014-01-18 Yeonmi emerges

Once a month, the English Matching program (Teach North Korean Refugees) operating out of the Mulmangcho Research Center introduces volunteer English teachers to adult North Korean refugees.

We have now matched more than 60 people in the last year, and every session has something special about it. Yesterday, it was the sheer numbers: 20+ people. All of the teachers who RSVP'ed showed up, plus we had a waiting list. Although I try to be strict, the reality is that I want to let in as many people as possible, so that hopefully people can find a good match. Yesterday's NK refugees who joined were there to collect as many volunteer teachers as possible, to study a bit more intensively during the winter break.

What was also interesting was to see the changes in the refugees who had attended previous sessions, but lost their teachers for one reason or another. This time around, they were not going to let the opportunity pass them by. One young man selected four teachers! And it seems he wants even more! But we want him to get on a schedule with them, then we can try to find more for him.

The session was also special because I am already friends with a few of the refugees who were there yesterday. One mildly complained at and about me for not inviting her sooner, even though I had already matched her with a teacher off-line. No good deed goes unpunished.!

As always, I must thank Eunkoo Lee, co-director of the program with me, for helping me without complaint. And Joo Yeon Cho, the academic adviser to the program who tracks the study groups. It is a good thing that I am not a criminal. If I told those two ladies I was going to rob a bank, Eunkoo would, by the end of the day, send me a spreadsheet with the locations of the nearest banks. And Joo Yeon would ask me: "What time? And where?" And she'd be sitting in the getaway car, telling me to hop in.

Now the hard part starts. Thanks to volunteers Pam Davidson, Abdiel Lawrence, Kate Frewer, Courtney Grogan, Vicky Oh, Miji Kim, Alix M. Tiffany, Annie D, Erin L and Adam Michelin Malcolm for agreeing to help our NK refugee friends improve their English.

Update: Yeonmi Park had started to stand out at that point, although I avoided naming North Korean at that time. She had first joined us in mid-2013, but it wasn't until this Matching session that it was clear that she was going to be something special.

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Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

Random photos from today

I went walking around today. Whereas some people like to go walking in the mountains, I enjoy walking around in the city. Well, not D.C. or other cities with many homeless, crazy and/or armed people walking around... * * * Here's where I had lunch today. About $1.90 for a hamburger hamberger. * * * Ha-ha! Bet you never would have guessed that Batman is a drinking place in Korea! * * * Man Clinic? The Koreans walking by seemed to be very curious about why I was taking a photo of a "Man Clinic." They may know something I don't know...Actually, I wasn't curious enough to go in and find out what it was... * * * Right down the street from the Man Clinic...there's a Love Shop! I love the euphemism. "Love Shop" sounds much better than Sex Shop. I'm guessing that if you don't go to the "Love Shop" to buy condoms that you may need to visit the Man Clinic a short time later? * * * Nobo...

To be a good volunteer, use your brain (Korea Times, December 5, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. There is probably an unwritten rule that a celebrity offering to do volunteer work for a good cause should immediately be embraced. Well, that’s not what happened to Jeong So-dam, the glamorous Korean cable TV announcer when our paths crossed on Nov. 29. Ms. Jeong was the MC of an event about American political philosophy hosted by the Association for Economic Evolution. During my speech about American libertarianism since 1940, I discussed my volunteer work for North Korean refugees. After the speech, Jeong approached me, asking how she could help. I gave her the same tough love I give to potential volunteers by asking: “Who are you?” After all, if you are Bill Gates, then open your wallet. If you speak four languages, then help with translation work. So I first stress to potential volunteers: Use your brain. Tell us about your skills and interests so together we can figure out your initial role. Jeong was good-natured about it, rather than c...

Why I won't go to North Korea (Korea Times, December 27, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. “Have you ever been to North Korea?” This is the question I am almost always asked here in South Korea when people learn that I have become an activist for North Korean escapees. My response is curt: “No.” “Do you plan on going?” they ask next. My answer remains the same: “No.” When they start to ask a follow-up question, I cut them off: "No." People are often just trying to make conversation, I know, but I am blunt for a reason: I am not interested in going to North Korea as long as North Koreans are held captive. I could go one day, but for now, I can do without a government-guided tour by " men-stealers and women-whippers ," to borrow a phrase from American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. I don’t mean to criticize people who have gone to North Korea for political, educational, business, religious reasons or just plain curiosity. However, some people push me on the issue, ― and I push back. A good friend wh...

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