'Voices of Freedom' Resounds in the UK

The PUAC UK Chapter (Head Son Byung-kwon) held a lecture on “North Korean Human Rights and Unification: Voices of Freedom” at Kingston University's Guildhall at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. 

The event was attended by Lee Do-young, the first president of the South Korean Prisoners of War Families Association, and the current president, Son Myung-hwa. Brian Hope, who served in the British Army's King's Regiment during the Korean War, gave a remarkable commemorative speech. Other important participants included Korean Ambassador Yoon Yeo-chul, former Mayor of Kingston Yogan Yoganathan, and Sue Ansari and seven other members of the Kingston Council. There also were around 200 people, including PUAC members, overseas Koreans, and local citizens.

UK Chapter Head Son Byung-kwon said the chapter organized the event to "emphasize the preciousness of liberal democracy and human rights and to raise awareness of the human rights situation in North Korea." "Human rights are the fruit of freedom, and every effort to defend freedom is important," Son said, emphasizing that one should not forget that it is thanks to the sacrifices of unknown heroes that today's free South Korea has grown into one of the world's 10 most powerful nations.

In his congratulatory remarks, Ambassador Yoon emphasized that "Despite the 70 years of separation between North and South Korea, attention must be paid to the human rights situation of Korean POWs and their descendants, who are still living in difficult conditions." In particular, he emphasized the current government's active response to the issue of South Korean POWs and abductees, and the current South Korean government's commitment to resolve the issue which was included in the 2023 trilateral summit of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. 

Lee Do-young, former president of the South Korean POWs Families Association who defected across the Tumen River in 2003, testified about the human rights situation in North Korea. She vividly described the severe human rights abuses her father, who was taken to North Korea as the ceasefire approached, suffered because he was a South Korean POW. She said that her father was disabled while working underground in a coal mine, lived a difficult life thereafter, and died eventually, and that she herself had to endure collective punishment. She said in 2004, she tried to fulfill her father's wishes to be buried in his hometown, but was only able to fulfill half of his wishes, with his remains laid to rest in the Daejeon National Cemetery. 

Son Myung-hwa detailed the horrific living conditions and human rights abuses that the South Korean POWs faced in North Korea after the war, and called for national and societal attention to their plight. She also noted that under Yoon Suk Yeol's government, attention and respect for the South Korean POWs is improving, and mentioned cases such as the establishment of a memorial to the POWs at Daejeon National Cemetery. Son urged people not to forget the suffering of the POWs and to take an interest in restoring their honor. He emphasized the importance of love of country and patriotism. 

Korean War veteran Brian Hope gave a moving speech recounting the hardships and human horrors he suffered during the war. He revealed the truth about how North Korea treated military and civilian prisoners of war and pledged to never forget. He also spoke about hope for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula and expressed his deep gratitude to his Korean friends.

The event also included a screening of the documentary "Abandoned Heroes No. 43," which was produced by the Korean Prisoners of War Families Association. It gave the participants a time to deepen their understanding of the reality of human rights in North Korea. The following question and answer session provided an opportunity for the participants to raise awareness and interest in North Korean human rights issues.