Interviews with Kim Kwang-jin

I think freedom is discovery and enjoying the sense of self-existence. I think that the freedom to discover yourself and to be able to develop yourself based on your unique features, these elements are, I think, the most important in freedom.

Freedom is a right that every human being is born with, but because you cannot live in this world by yourself and because you are connected with other people, in the realm of society, I think with freedom also comes responsibility. The true meaning behind freedom would be to discover and develop yourself without doing harm to others.

Freedom in North Korea simply does not exist. Even if it does, it would be North Korean-style “freedom,” something defined by the authorities.
So everything in North Korea is about expressing [devotion] to the great leader, to the party and to the nation.

And there is no such thing as individual self in North Korea. So if someone wants to talk about freedom in North Korea, it would all be related to the group, the country and the great leader.

Every form of government will probably claim they help people realize freedom but based on the kind of government structures and forms that we have experienced so far, I think the kind of government that accepts and guarantees and has respect for human diversity is the most rational government. And in that sense, democratic government and government that allows for multiple political parties within a system are the most rational.

In September 2003, Kim Kwang-jin and his family rushed to an airport in Southeast Asia to fly to freedom in Seoul, South Korea. Months earlier, Kim lived a privileged life working for the government’s overseas banking operations in Singapore. Then Kim fell out of favor after he was suspected of leaking information about the regime to foreign nationals. Before being summoned back to North Korea face severe punishment, Kim made the decision to defect with his family.

During his banking career, Kim helped earn millions of dollars for what he calls North Korea’s “Royal Court Economy,” i.e., the enterprises and often illegal schemes that financially supported the country’s totalitarian dictatorship.

Since defecting, Kim Kwang-jin helped expose the North Korean government’s underhanded financial practices. He has also become an advocate for North Korean freedom and human rights. Kim currently works at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul and is a columnist for Radio Free Asia.