2016 Sponsored North Korean Refugee Visit - Twin Cities, MN
Midwest Alliance for North Korean Refugees (formerly Freedom for North Korean Refugees - Minnesota) sponsored several speaking events by former North Korean refugees who were working in advocacy for refugees now living in South Korea.
The former refugees, along with a Korean American missionary, shared their refugee stories and their efforts to drive change in North Korea and South Korea today. The speakers at the events varied during the weekend because the former refugees were cautious about being photographed for fear of reprisals on family members still in North Korea.
Public events were held at the University of Minnesota in cooperation with their Human Rights Program. Other Twin Cities events were held in cooperation with the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, the Salvation Army Church (Minneapolis), and Korean Presbyterian Church of Minnesota (Brooklyn Center).
The speakers for this tour included:
Pastor Timothy Park, a Los Angeles resident and missionary for North Korean Refugees and Cofounder of Global Assistant Partners (GAP). He was a coordinator for the missionary outreach network Finishing The Task, and a graduate of North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Worship Chu and Calling Lee, a married couple, who escaped North Korea in 2008. The couple has worked as announcers at KukDong Radio Broadcasting which reaches North Korea. They are also special advisers to the Korean Military Information Headquarters. (NOTE: Some of the ministry workers use pseudonyms to help preserve their anonymity)
Joy Lee escaped from North Korea to South Korea in 2012. She formerly served in the Special Forces in the North Korean Army and was imprisoned in a North Korean prison for seven years.
Grace Chi escaped North Korea for South Korea in 2004. She spent numerous years in prison and is the author of the autobiographical Million Miles in Search for Freedom. Grace is a North Korean human rights activist, a ministry worker on behalf of North Korean refugees, and a speaker for Korean Unification Security.
Praise Kim escaped to South Korea in 2013. She is a former member of the underground church in North Korea and was imprisoned in North Korea for four years.
Midwest Alliance for North Korean Refugees (formerly Freedom for North Korean Refugees - Minnesota) sponsored several speaking events by former North Korean refugees who were working in advocacy for refugees now living in South Korea.
The former refugees, along with a Korean American missionary, shared their refugee stories and their efforts to drive change in North Korea and South Korea today. The speakers at the events varied during the weekend because the former refugees were cautious about being photographed for fear of reprisals on family members still in North Korea.
Public events were held at the University of Minnesota in cooperation with their Human Rights Program. Other Twin Cities events were held in cooperation with the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, the Salvation Army Church (Minneapolis), and Korean Presbyterian Church of Minnesota (Brooklyn Center).
The speakers for this tour included:
Pastor Timothy Park, a Los Angeles resident and missionary for North Korean Refugees and Cofounder of Global Assistant Partners (GAP). He was a coordinator for the missionary outreach network Finishing The Task, and a graduate of North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Worship Chu and Calling Lee, a married couple, who escaped North Korea in 2008. The couple has worked as announcers at KukDong Radio Broadcasting which reaches North Korea. They are also special advisers to the Korean Military Information Headquarters. (NOTE: Some of the ministry workers use pseudonyms to help preserve their anonymity)
Joy Lee escaped from North Korea to South Korea in 2012. She formerly served in the Special Forces in the North Korean Army and was imprisoned in a North Korean prison for seven years.
Grace Chi escaped North Korea for South Korea in 2004. She spent numerous years in prison and is the author of the autobiographical Million Miles in Search for Freedom. Grace is a North Korean human rights activist, a ministry worker on behalf of North Korean refugees, and a speaker for Korean Unification Security.
Praise Kim escaped to South Korea in 2013. She is a former member of the underground church in North Korea and was imprisoned in North Korea for four years.