Jeong’s Story

By Scott B.

We all have a story to tell—things in our life that are dramatic, sad, or just important. And we all want to tell our story to anyone who we think will listen. Recently I was listening to a North Korean refugee tell his story.  That day mine didn’t seem so important. 

Across the table sat a pair of eyes that had seen things that I could not imagine and lips that had been shut by communist rules and regulations.  Jeong, a young North Korean of 25 had a heart that longed for what we call “freedom,” but a mind that could not comprehend its reality.  He had feet that dared to escape, and now he sat looking into my eyes with a story that had finally found the surface.             

I intently listened as Jeong spoke of his ache for a better existence. After finishing high school all boys in the closed country of North Korea are conscripted for 13 years of military service, sacrificing their strongest years for a life of forced labor, long working hours, barley sustainable compensation, and severe lack of food rations.              

Knowing that his future look bleak, Jeong sought council from a close friend who lived near the Chinese boarder.  Trusting their relationship, the friend shared with Jeong the best route of passage over a portion of the Tumen River that flowed nearby.             

After months of planning and calming nerves, Jeong set out to escape in the dawn hours of a cold morning.  He avoided the guard posts lining the shore and slipped into the icy waters of the river. With only a small bag of supplies, he swam the small channel and climbed up onto the far bank of the Chinese border.  Unfortunately, this is as far as his friend had been able to guide him, and like many refugees’ seeking asylum in China without money or contacts, he was soon targeted by Chinese police, arrested, and deported back to North Korea.             

The deportation process is almost always a death sentence for those trying to escape.  A minimum three month prison term is given to those brought back to the country for desertion.  This period of time is governed by an unimaginable existence of hard labor under severe malnutrition.  In a country experiencing starvation, prisoners are placed on the bottom of the food distribution chain where only a few grains of rice are a normal day’s food allowance.             

Although many individuals do not live through the three months of imprisonment, Jeong survived.  Knowing that a harsh life of constant observation by the government and continued starvation was all he had in North Korea, the young man once again crossed the waters of the Tumen River.  Learning from his past mistakes he sought refuge with another older defector who had set a system in place for the two to establish new lives.  Together, they studied English and after 5 years made their way to South Korea where they were awarded citizenship. 

As he spoke, Jeong glanced over at the man sitting next to him and I became aware that this was the mentor he had been describing.  They have stuck together, the mentor refusing to leave the young man until he is safe in his new life.            

Looking across the table into the tired but smiling face of the young North Korean, the realization suddenly hit me; our lives could very well have been exchanged.  God has instead chosen my environment to be one of comfort and luxury while a much more difficult path was marked out for my brother on the other side of the world.

This was my first opportunity to visit with individuals who are being provided discipleship training by Alpha Relief and John Maxwell.  The love that has been poured into the lives of these men is incredibly evident in their new existence.  Because of partners like you, these men now have an opportunity to grow in their relationship with the Lord.  They have desires to lead, pastor and share the love they have been shown to their countrymen still living in poverty.  Although they desire to thank each of you personally for your generous gifts into their lives, they asked that I be their voice. 

So from the bottom of both my heart and theirs…Thank you.

To further contribute to this project and others, click here.

~ by alpharelief on February 28, 2008.