Freelance photographer Seok Jae-hyun has finally come home to Korea after spending 13 months in a Chinese prison for trying to document on film the plight of North Korean refugees in China. He looked like he was in good shape, despite loosing 10 kg., but his first thoughts were for 10 colleagues who are still in Chinese prisons for helping refugees. The Korean language Kyeongyang Shinmun ran a brief interview with him — let me briefly translate it:
KYS: Well, your back after a year and two months in prison…
Seok: It’s a day I’ve been eagerly awaiting, but now that it’s suddenly come, I don’t know what to say. Because of the prison environment and the cultural differences in China, I encountered difficulties, but not only did I get much strength from my wife and family, but I was thankful to hear news of so many people giving me help and encouragement.
KYS: What was most difficult about your life in prison?
Seok: I missed things, like people and things I wanted to do. Being confined in a place with nothing to do was very difficult. Even though it was a foreigner prison, with the exception of two or three Koreans, most people there were Chinese serving lengthy prison terms of 10 years or more. 45 people lived in a 10 pyong (1 pyong=3.594 sq. yards) room.
KYS: Some people criticize the Korean government’s response as lukewarm…
Seok: It seems like the government is very careful with the Korean-Chinese relationship across the board, and not just with this issue. Not only the government, but the national and all its citizens must actively work to save North Korean refugees.
KYS: Is Choe Myoeng-hun, who was incarcerated for the same thing, all right?
Seok: He seems to have become more spiritual living in the same situation. Since I was released suddenly, I couldn’t meet him. There are about 10 people still in China who were arrested and incarcerated for helping North Korean refugees. We need to direct much interest and help toward those people.
KYS: Will you continue to help North Korean refugees?
Seok Yes, I will. I have come up with a concrete way yet, but based on my experiences during that time, I will continue to work with my colleagues to help North Korean refugees.
Free North Korea! has a post on this, too, which is worth checking out.
Resolution217, an “association of photographers, journalists, teachers, designers and artists brought together by a shared concern for the current state of human rights, particularly the right of freedom of expression, to actively work to overcome hatred, ignorance and injustice,” has a gallery of Seok’s work which I highly encourage you to check out.
