Help Publish "North Korea Made Me. Freedom Saved Me"

Curious about my book?

Read a sample chapter from the draft and get a glimpse into the story: https://url.kr/x6wbp8

See Me. Hear Me. Know My Voice

Watch my TEDx Talk → https://zrr.kr/Col32V

Follow my story on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/northkoreaneunhi/

The Story Behind the Book

Hello, my name is Eunhee Park.

I was born in Wonsan, a seaside city in Gangwon Province in North Korea—known for its mountains, blue waters, and foreign tourists.

At 21, I crossed the Yalu River at 3 a.m.—right in front of soldiers ordered to shoot defectors on sight.

I left behind everything I had ever known—not for wealth, not for comfort—but for freedom.

What came after wasn’t a fairytale.

I was fired from my first bakery job because I didn’t know the names of the breads.

I once spent over an hour trying to print a document—because I had never used a printer before.

Freedom was confusing. It was lonely.

And sometimes, it was even more painful than the escape itself.

But I survived.

And not just survived—I transformed.

Today, I’m a public speaker, a mentor for fellow defectors, and a project manager at a nonprofit organization helping North Korean refugees gain economic independence through job opportunities and practical business support.

Now, I’m ready to share my full story in my first book:

North Korea Made Me. Freedom Saved Me.

A North Korean Defector’s Memoir of Escape, Survival, and the Fight for the Fragile Truths of Freedom

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Where the Project Stands

November 9 is the day I arrived at Incheon Airport and set foot in a free country for the first time.

To me, it’s not just a date— it’s the moment my life truly began.

That’s why I’ve chosen November 9 as the target publication date for this book.

Here’s where things stand today:

✅ The full manuscript is complete in Korean.

✅ I’ve begun translating the book into English, working with amazing volunteer interpreters.

✅ With just $900, I’ve started this translation process on the smallest possible budget.

But to truly bring this story to life—

to refine the translation, ensure it’s powerful and clear, and publish a professional-quality book that can reach readers around the world—

I need your help.

Next Steps

✏️ Hire a developmental editor to professionally polish the English draft

Collaborate with a designer and formatter to prepare for Amazon & bookstore-ready publication

Create a high-quality, global-ready edition that honors the dignity of this journey and reaches hearts around the world

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I’ve come this far with just $900 and the help of volunteers.

But to complete the final stage, I still need at least $10,000.

Thanks to kind supporters, $3,000 has been raised so far through GoFundMe.

After using $900 for translation work,

I now have $2,100 remaining in funds.

To complete everything—from professional editing, to design, formatting, and global publishing— the budget is $10,000.

Which means…

I only need $7,900 more to make this book a reality.

That’s it.

Just $7,900 stands between this story—and the hands of people who need to read it.

Why I Decided to Write This Book

In North Korea, even leaving your own city requires government permission. There is no such thing as domestic freedom. So how can one North Korean’s story speak for 25 million others?

It can’t.

I realized this truth for the first time inside a refugee detention center in Thailand. During my escape journey, I met people from other cities in North Korea—people who looked like me but spoke differently, used different dialects, and had lived totally different lives. They didn’t feel familiar.

Because in North Korea, we’re not just isolated from the outside world—we’re isolated from each other.

Later, as I met more defectors in South Korea, I came to a powerful realization:

Even though I’m from North Korea, I cannot represent it.

Because every single story is different. Every defector carries a truth that no one else can tell.

That’s why I wrote this book.

To offer one more perspective.

To show that North Korea is not just one narrative, but a million unheard voices.

To add depth, nuance, and truth to a place that the world still sees through a very narrow lens.

But this story isn’t just about North Korea.

It’s also about what happens after freedom.

I grew up in a country with no internet, no Microsoft, no Google Maps.

Coming to a free society was like landing on another planet.

I didn’t know how to print a document. I didn’t know the names of breads when I worked at a bakery—and I was fired after just one month for making too many mistakes.

Freedom wasn’t easy.

In fact, it was sometimes harder than my actual escape.

But through those struggles, I slowly became something I never imagined:

A citizen. A creator. A voice.

Not just a survivor of dictatorship—but a student of democracy.

In This Book, I Share Stories the World Rarely Sees — Real Moments From My Life

What it’s like to grow up in a North Korean orphanage—

where malnutrition was so common that watching children die and being carried out in rice sacks became part of the daily routine.

What the rich and powerful do behind closed doors—

a parallel North Korea where bribes, meth, and secret business deals are exchanged freely, while speaking a single critical word about the Kim regime could cost your life.

What “freedom” really feels like when you’ve never used a printer—

from being fired after just one month at a bakery for not knowing the names of Western breads, to spending over an hour trying to print a document—because I had never even seen one before.

This isn’t the North Korea you see in the news.

This is the raw, messy, deeply human reality—told not by a government or an outsider, but by someone who lived every word.

And most of all, I share the message that kept me going:

“If someone like me, who had never touched a printer or seen a world map, can rebuild her life—maybe you can too.”

You won’t find this story in headlines or political briefings.

Because it’s not just about North Korea.

It’s about what it means to be human—to suffer, to hope, to fail, and to begin again.

If you want to discover a deeper, more personal truth about North Korea—

not the regime, but its people—

I invite you to join me in this independent publishing journey.

INVEST IN ME

If you believe in freedom, unheard voices, and human resilience—

Invest in my story. Invest in impact.

Every dollar, every share, every message matters.

Rewards for Your Support

Amount & What You’ll Receive

$50 Thank-you email

$100 eBook preview PDF + early updates

$250 Handwritten digital thank-you letter (PDF scan)

$500 Group Zoom Q&A invitation (30–40 minutes)

$1,000 Personalized video message + name in Dedication Page

(I am also accepting donation via Paypal: https://zrr.kr/7dpaTb)

With all my heart,

Eunhee