"Do Not Turn Away from the Suffering of North Korean Residents"… Yu Jitae's 6-Minute English Speech in the U.S.

Yoo Ji-tae Urges Attention to North Korean Human Rights
"Reach Out Your Hand to the Darkest Place"

Actor Yoo Ji-tae, the North Korean Human Rights Promotion Ambassador for the Ministry of Unification, called for attention to North Korean human rights in Washington, USA, urging to "reach out a hand to the darkest places."

Actor Yoo Ji-tae, the Unification Ministry's North Korean Human Rights Ambassador, is delivering a speech in English at the "2024 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights," jointly hosted by the Unification Ministry and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in Washington D.C., USA, on the 22nd (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd (local time), Yoo spoke at the '2024 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights' held in Washington D.C., jointly hosted by the Ministry of Unification and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). He said, "The issue of North Korean human rights is often portrayed with a certain color because it is related to North Korea. However, what we want to discuss is about the people in North Korea."

Yoo pointed out, "Women who have escaped North Korea to avoid severe human rights violations often suffer even harsher abuses during their escape and endure long periods of starvation. They spend the rest of their lives separated from their families." He added, "Nevertheless, we often find ourselves becoming insensitive to invisible suffering."

He urged, "Do not close your eyes to the suffering of North Korean residents, do not turn your back, and take action." He stated, "I hope our actions will heal the painful wounds of North Korean residents that have been ignored by their country (the North Korean government)." Yoo also emphasized, "If there is injustice in this world, do not close your eyes. Turn your body toward it and act," and "I urge you to reach out your hands to the dark places." His approximately six-minute speech in English was met with applause at the venue.

Actor Yoo Ji-tae, appointed as the 2024 Unification Ministry North Korean Human Rights Ambassador, is expressing his thoughts after the appointment ceremony at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Yoo was appointed as the North Korean Human Rights Promotion Ambassador on the 27th of last month. He has shown great interest in North Korean human rights issues, including producing the webtoon 'Ankkai' (a Hamgyeong-do dialect term meaning 'wife' or 'my woman') last year, which focused on defectors from North Korea. At a press conference held after the appointment ceremony, he said, "As a Korean, I have been living with the thought that everyone should think about North Korean human rights at least once," and added, "The human rights issues of defectors residing in China and North Korean defectors must be highlighted and protected." The term of the promotion ambassador is one year.

Meanwhile, Yoo also narrated the promotional video for the '2024 North Korean Human Rights Report,' which was based on testimonies from hundreds of defectors who entered Hana Center (North Korean Defectors Settlement Support Office).