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Three women who visited North Korea

From: Miae Kim
Length: 00:29:14

Three Korean-American women who visited North Korea give their impressions of family, food, politics, and beliefs. Read the full description.

1020241_small Miae Kim produced this haunting documentary with the voices of three Korean-American women who visited North Korea. They give their impressions of family, food, politics, and beliefs. Interviewees are Christine Ahn, Sun Hyung Lee and a woman who doesn't want to be identified. Christine Ahn and Sun Hyung Lee visited North Korea under DEEP: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Exposure and Education Program in 2004. http://www.nodutdol.com/_programs/htm_summer.php. The elderly woman who doesn't want to be identified visited North Korea with an organization for separated families.

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Piece Description

Miae Kim produced this haunting documentary with the voices of three Korean-American women who visited North Korea. They give their impressions of family, food, politics, and beliefs. Interviewees are Christine Ahn, Sun Hyung Lee and a woman who doesn't want to be identified. Christine Ahn and Sun Hyung Lee visited North Korea under DEEP: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Exposure and Education Program in 2004. http://www.nodutdol.com/_programs/htm_summer.php. The elderly woman who doesn't want to be identified visited North Korea with an organization for separated families.

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Eye-opening

I am reminded, once again, how filtered is the information Americans are spoon fed through our corporate managed major media. I go every day to well-documented online news services for my news, but hadn't read or seen anything like this personal report, nor much of a mention about either of the Korea's since, when?... the bombing of the So. Korean island, which was a while ago. I came away from this radio piece understanding how little I know about North Korea... and how I have repeated false information I have gleaned over the years. No wonder we don't know much about the world... we're like loops of disinformation spreading falsehoods, innuendos and lies, unwittingly some of us, and for others it is done with malice if our hearts have been hardened.
Thank you for this interview.

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Review of Three women who visited North Korea

I think that the things the three women had to say about their visits to North Korea were, on the whole, interesting and valuable to hear. But it was a bit like listening to an interview without the interviewer so you miss the connection that often can provide energy and life to the interview.

I prefer sound and a story arc, so I felt like it was too long to keep my attention. This is not a piece to air for a distracted audience - you have to want to pay attention.

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Review of Three women who visited North Korea

Interesting personal insights by Koreans from Koreans and not only for Koreans, into a place so unknown to, well, all the world really. Former Northerners transplanted to America return to their homeland and are reunited with family members for the first time in decades. In this program they describe these experiences.

One assumes North Korean restrictions prevented the recording of the actual meeting, which is a shame. The program is a well-edited blend of interview and music that, after the first 10 minutes, becomes rather monotonal. The interviewees seem to have been recorded quickly or even over rehearsed because, while their words suggest an emotional reunion, their tones are measured and somewhat flat.

However, this program has the benefit of being novel during a dearth of information about North Korea. It humanizes a people often painted as slavish pions of the axis of evil and attempts to show the tragedy and triumph of their lives. This alone merits a listen, if not an actual broadcast.

Broadcast History

First aired on Women's International News Gathering Services (WINGS).

Musical Works

The songs and music were recorded at the Children's Palace in North Korea by Christine Ahn.

Additional Files

  • The Korean American elderly woman who visited North Korea many times to meet her family (1020241.JPG)