On the evening of December 7, the “Year-End Celebration Night for North Korean Defectors” took place at Yongsusan in Los Angeles’ Koreatown.
Hosted by the North Korean Defectors Support Association, led by President Robert Hong, the event brought together around 30 North Korean defectors from across the U.S., including those who traveled from as far as Alaska and San Francisco.
Among the attendees was 30-year-old James, who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee. “I came to the U.S. three years ago and have been attending this event for the past two years,” he said. “Although I don’t stay in frequent contact with other defectors, it’s nice to gather like this at least once a year.”
Now a student, James recalled his first experience of arriving in America. “When I saw the large U.S. flag hanging at LAX, I thought to myself, ‘This is America,’” he shared. However, his resettlement was not without its challenges. “Driver’s licenses, social security—these are things I never encountered in North Korea, where the social system had completely collapsed,” he said. “I felt powerless and inadequate at times, especially as an adult having to learn everything from scratch.”
North Korean defectors in the U.S. pursue diverse occupations, from restaurant servers and hairdressers to tailors and sushi chefs. However, not all have achieved stability, as some live as homeless individuals.
Choi Jung-chul, who currently resides at a homeless shelter in Koreatown, shared his feelings about the event. “I’m so happy to meet my fellow defectors,” he said. Choi spent a long time talking with another defector from a similar hometown.
This year marked the 12th anniversary of the association’s year-end party. Robert Hong, the organization’s president, is a lawyer and the son of displaced North Korean parents. “When I was a child, my grandmother would talk about North Korea every single day,” he said. “When I see North Korean defectors, I feel like I’m seeing my own family.”
Hong explained that he founded the association in 2007 while helping defectors navigate the U.S. asylum process. Since then, the organization has provided legal and social support to defectors facing challenges in resettlement. “I wanted to offer some joy to these individuals who have gone through so much hardship,” he said. “I hope that, even if it’s just for tonight, they can feel happiness and peace.”
The evening’s festivities included a musical performance by soprano Clara Shin, the director of the musical Dosan, which tells the story of Korean independence activist Ahn Chang-ho. Tenor and popera singer Choi Won-hyun also joined her on stage. Together, they performed reimagined renditions of popular songs, including a December-themed version of A Beautiful October Day, Kim Choo-ja’s Come Gently, and the classic O Sole Mio.
After dinner, the event continued with a raffle and karaoke contest. Cash gifts were handed out to attendees, with single participants and families of two or more receiving special prizes. Attendees also won items like blenders and dolls through the raffle.
The evening concluded with a group singalong of Our Wish, a song that expresses the longing for Korean reunification, bringing the night’s celebration to a moving close.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
