Meet Justin

Hello, my name is Justin. I was born in North Korea in 1995 and fled the country with my family in 2011, risking our lives to escape and eventually resettle in South Korea. At the time, my 17-year-old cousin joined the North Korean army hoping to escape poverty, but he died of malnutrition during training. I was terrified of being conscripted myself. With no other option, my family made the life-threatening decision to cross the North Korea–China border under the constant fear of being shot.

Before our escape, I was forced into hard labor at age 14 and lost part of my right middle finger in an accident. When I went to the hospital, I was told to buy my own medicine. That moment shattered my loyalty to the regime. Anger took its place.

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In North Korea, pursuing higher education was impossible for me. The government claims that college is free, but in reality, access to university requires bribes and connections—neither of which my family had. We were poor, and our political background was unfavorable. I had no choice but to give up on my dream of attending college.

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After arriving in South Korea, I was finally able to dream again. I was accepted into the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Yonsei University, one of the most prestigious universities in South Korea, with a full scholarship. With the support of generous donors and government programs, I was able to continue my studies and living expenses. I immersed myself in understanding inter-Korean relations and international affairs, which solidified my aspiration to become a scholar and policy expert. Later, I was honored to be selected as a Fulbright Scholar, which brought me to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in International Relations at Syracuse University. 

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In North Korea, I was taught that the United States was the enemy—imperialist and evil. But when I arrived here in 2023, I experienced something completely different. America was a land of freedom, opportunity, and compassion. For the first time in my life, I felt that even someone like me could dream and be supported in pursuing that dream.

 

My academic goal is to pursue a PhD in Political Science in the United States. My research focuses on analyzing the mechanisms that authoritarian dictators and elites use to maintain power. Specifically, I aim to examine how dictators control information and use propaganda to ensure the loyalty of their citizens. This research topic stems from my personal experiences as a child growing up in North Korea. Until the age of 14, I was fully prepared to sacrifice my life for Kim Jong-il. However, my unwavering devotion began to waver when I secretly watched Chinese dramas. These experiences sparked my academic curiosity about the role of information monopolization in maintaining authoritarian power, and I am eager to pursue further research in this field.

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In fall 2024, I applied to PhD programs in Political Science, hoping to study how authoritarian regimes like North Korea use information control and how exposure to external media can affect citizens’ loyalty to the regime. Unfortunately, I was not admitted to any of the programs I applied to. But I have not given up. To strengthen my academic preparation and reapply more competitively, I have been accepted into a one-year master’s program at the University of Chicago’s Committee on International Relations (CIR). This prestigious program will allow me to sharpen my research skills, learn from world-renowned scholars, and build a strong foundation for reapplying to PhD programs. CIR is also well-known for its high PhD placement rate.

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Beyond my academic pursuits, I have been actively involved in advocating for North Korean human rights and raising awareness about the realities faced by North Korean people. In October 2024, I was invited by Ambassador Julie Turner to testify about my experiences in North Korea at a U.S. Department of State event. I have also participated in numerous other advocacy initiatives aimed at shedding light on North Korea’s human rights situation. I believe that these activities have encouraged more Americans to take an interest in addressing human rights abuses in North Korea.