Who is Yeonmi Park?
Yeonmi Park is a North Korean defector, author, YouTuber, and conservative activist in the United States. Born on October 4, 1993, in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, North Korea, she escaped to China at the age of 13 in 2007, later reaching South Korea and eventually the U.S. Park is best known for her memoir, In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom, and for running the YouTube channel “Voice of North Korea by Yeonmi Park,” where she shares her personal story and advocates for human rights. She has become a key voice in raising awareness about the plight of North Korean defectors and the conditions in her homeland.
Yeonmi Park’s age and birthday
Park was born on October 4, 1993, in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, North Korea, and her zodiac sign is Libra.
Yeonmi Park’s height, weight and physical appearance
Park is 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 52 kg, and has wavy black hair and sharp brown eyes. Her body measurements are 32-26-34.
Yeonmi Park’s dating life, spouse and children
Park married an American man named Ezekiel on January 4, 2017, and they divorced on January 30, 2021. They have a son, James, born on October 8, 2018. Since the divorce, Yeonmi has remained single.
Yeonmi Park educational background
Park’s education started in North Korea but was interrupted by her escape to China in 2007. After reaching South Korea in 2009, she attended Dongguk University in Seoul. She later moved to the United States and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University.
Yeonmi Park’s nationality, parents and siblings
Park is a North Korean defector, author, and activist who later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. She was born to Park Jin-Sik and Byeon Keum-sook, with her father passing away from colon cancer. Yeonmi has an older sister named Eun-mi, born in 1991.
Yeonmi Park career and fame
Park is a North Korean defector, author, and human rights activist. Born on October 4, 1993, in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, North Korea, she fled the country in 2007, escaping to China with her mother. After enduring hardship in China, they eventually reached South Korea before settling in the United States. Park gained widespread recognition after delivering a powerful speech at the 2014 One Young World Summit in Dublin, Ireland, where she shared her harrowing escape story. Since then, she has become a prominent advocate for human rights, focusing on issues like human trafficking and the oppressive North Korean regime.
Park is the author of two impactful memoirs. In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom (2015) recounts her escape from North Korea, the struggles she faced in China, and her path to freedom in South Korea. The book has sold over 100,000 copies and has been praised for its emotional depth and compelling narrative. Her second book, While Time Remains: A North Korean Defector’s Search for Freedom in America (2023), reflects on her experiences in the United States and her ongoing advocacy for human rights. The book features a foreword by Jordan B. Peterson.
Yeonmi Park’s fame largely comes from her brave escape from North Korea and her relentless efforts to raise awareness about human rights abuses in the country. Her viral speech at the One Young World Summit helped bring global attention to her story, earning millions of views worldwide. Through her memoirs and advocacy work, Park has cemented her place as a key voice in the fight for North Korean defectors’ rights and global human rights issues.
How did Yeonmi Park escape North Korea?
Yeonmi Park’s escape from North Korea began when she was 13 in 2007, as she and her mother crossed the Yalu River into China to flee the oppressive regime. In China, they faced severe challenges, including being sold into human trafficking. With assistance from Christian missionaries, they eventually reached South Korea in 2009. From there, Yeonmi continued her journey to the United States, where she has become a leading advocate for human rights and a prominent voice for North Korean defectors.
