All language subtitles for Beyond.Utopia.2023.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-FLUX

=== Hardcoded Subtitles To Soft Subtitles ===
By Andrebavila

The Yalu River is the border
between China and North Korea.

And my hometown,
a place I grew up believing was Utopia

is on the border,
right across from China.

***

The night I left my home country,
more than 20 years ago

military border guards
were patrolling

and one of them
was my friend.

He was super handsome

and I think
he liked me

but at the time I was too young
to notice that.

I asked my friend
to help me cross the border.

The river was covered with snow,
white snow everywhere.

It was so dark

but I saw the moon
and the stars

I never knew

who is God

what is God

but when I was crossing
the border

I was staring
at the sky

My legs were trembling.

Somehow I prayed.

I don't know to who.
I said, "Please, just help me."

And I just kept walking.

BEYOND UTOPIA

***

***

***

***

***

***

***

***

Hello.

Hello, Pastor.

I got word that seven defectors were caught in China
and sent back to the North.

Yes, in Shenyang. They were caught because
North Korea had planted a bug in a child's toy

Crossing the border from North Korea
isn't the hardest part right now.

Once defectors enter China
it's extremely dangerous.

Yes, and they're checking
everyone's Resident Identity Cards.

But we can't tell people
not to escape.

Yes. I'll try to reach our network.

Okay, thank you.

On the right is China

and on the left is the river
and North Korea.

When defectors
cross the river

they need to immediately
climb the mountains on the right.

So is this near Changbai Mountain?

Yes.
This is Changbai Mountain.

But look.
Here's a barbed-wire fence.

And here's a military post.

They used to be just one floor high.
Now they're two stories so the guards can see further.

From the highest point

they can see
the Yalu River below.

When Kim Jong-Un came into power,
he made defecting a traitorous act.

After that, soldiers began receiving awards
and vacation-time for killing people trying to escape.

So now they shoot people
trying to sneak across the river.

And look, do you see this?

Cameras are installed in both directions
along the border.

We are trying
to save lives

so we need to monitor
the situation at the border.

For this,
we keep cameras hidden in the area

and our people film from China,
across the Yalu and Tumen rivers.

We also send cameras
inside the country.

How do you deal
with that logistically?

For shooting inside,
we can't use this.

The North Korean mobiles
have a memory chip.

So our people film inside the North
and then smuggle the memory chip out

and give it to our contacts
in China.

And of course they
are risking their lives.

If they are caught,
their entire family will be killed.

But in order to be as safe as possible,
we must understand the situation

with both the Chinese police
and the North Korean border patrols.

What routes are best?

Where is it safest to cross the river?
We have to ask these questions.

***

***

Pastor!

Thank you for coming.

Please take a seat.

This is my first time
visiting your church.

I've only talked to you desperately
over the phone.

So, let's talk about
your son.

Yes.

The brokers contacted me
from North Korea.

They plan to take him across the border
on the night of the 22nd.

But honestly, there is heavy surveillance in China right
now. I was asked to do this with very little notice

so I want to make sure
you understand the risks.

Of course.
I understand.

And although I'm most worried
about him being caught in China

I'm also concerned about
rising water levels on the Yalu River.

Yes, we're actively
monitoring this.

I'll call
our lead broker now.

Hello?

Hello, Mr. Hwang.

Yes.

The boy who's escaping
from the North...

Yes.

His mother is here
right now.

Yes.

How is the water level
on the Yalu?

It's high because
of the rains

But then couldn't it be dangerous
for the boy?

It could, but the North Korean broker
still wants to cross on the 22nd.

Have you talked
to the border guards?

Yes. I checked everything
and the car is also ready.

Okay, I would like to ask you
one more time...

The Changbai Mountain border area
is extremely dangerous right now

Yes, I haven't seen anything like this
in 10 years.

Yes, please be careful.

Of course. If the North Korean brokers decide it's safer
to delay crossing, we are ready to switch the date.

Imagine waking up one day
and realizing

that you were born
on a completely different planet

and everything you learned
was a lie

and your country's history was so fabricated
and everyone around you was so brainwashed

and the heroes you worshipped
we're actually monstrous villains.

This is like the plot
to a science fiction novel

but it's the insane reality
for North Koreans like me.

Do you remember anything
where you felt free

when you were a kid?

There is no freedom of religion.

There is no freedom of thought,
there is no freedom of press.

There is only one paper,
one radio station,

there is one TV station.

North Korea may be
the only country in the world

that completely bans
outside broadcasts.

They want people
to be deaf and blind.

That's how
the regime stays in power.

And spying on one another

is very much a part of life
in North Korea.

You cannot move from a place to place
without getting a permit.

I would call the entire country
of North Korea really a prison.

And it's strangest country
in the world.

It is the only communist,
Confucian,

hereditary dynasty
in the world.

And Kim Jong-Un
has been very busy

getting rid of
any potential threat.

Within one year,
he got rid

of his number-two man
in North Korea,

his uncle who helped him
garner power.

He dragged him out
and publicly killed him.

Then he assassinated
his half-brother

in a major international airport
using banned WMD.

Then he got rid of
about 400 top officials.

We're now onto maybe
90th Defense Minister, I lost count.

Senior officials
have been executed

by the use
of anti-aircraft guns.

If you shoot a human
using artillery

which is designed
to take down planes,

you can imagine
the effect on the body.

The only reason to do that
is for the fear

that that will put
into the people

that are gathered
and made to watch.

It's been 10 years
since I've seen my son.

I was in the army
in North Korea.

When I left the army,
I was sent to a coal mine.

I discovered that we had to dig with
our bare hands because there were no tools.

Hunger was unbearable.

I heard that some women were making money
by smuggling things over the river from China.

I took my son to school
and was planning to cross the river that night.

But after school,
he ran up to me on the street.

I said I would be back
in two nights

and that I would return with a lot of money
and cook him a lot of food.

It was almost dark and it was windy.
I told him to go home to his grandmother.

That was the last time
I saw him.

That night, I was arrested by North Korean soldiers
while crossing the river.

After spending two years
in a prison camp

I was released
but I was not able to get work

because my status
had been degraded.

I couldn't have contact with anyone,
including my son.

Finally I decided
I needed to defect again.

I crossed the river again
and eventually made it to South Korea.

I've been trying to bring my son since then,
but his father always refused.

My son is now
17 years old.

He is a talented artist and I hope
he can study here and pursue his dream.

I bought a lot of clothes
for my son.

For his safety, he needs to look South Korean
when he travels through China.

I don't know what color my son likes
so I just bought my favorite colors.

I bought these clothes,
but I wonder if they will even fit him.

I don't know his size.

I don't know
how big he has become.

The North Korean authorities want
people to live in a constant state of fear.

We are now holding
a public trial.

Choi Hyeok, an Accounting student.
was caught watching South Korean films.

He will now be judged
by the Party and the public.

Are you admitting
to your crime?

Yes!

Sometimes schools cancelled
their classes

and the students were forced
to watch public executions.

These prisoners have helped people
illegally defect the country.

Do you remember
how old you were

when you first saw
a public execution?

Seven.

When I was seven.

A man was hanged by his neck
under a railroad bridge.

Defendant Park Myung-gil
is to be executed.

Defendant Choi Je-yong
is to be executed.

Shoot!

Victims of extermination

murder, enslavement
and torture.

People whose loved ones
disappeared

without trace.

People who have been
deliberately starved.

Forced abortions,
sterilization, rape,

I mean, torture of the defectors
who get caught and returned.

You'd better
tell me the truth!

Otherwise I'll kill you!

The Chinese government
has a hard-line policy of,

if they find
North Korean refugees,

arresting them
and detaining them

and then forcibly sending them back
to North Korea

where they will face
investigation, torture,

and a range
of harsh punishments.

Sometimes people will die
through torture

and there's no recourse
for North Korean citizens,

for their families
to complain about that.

United Nations came out

with a 400-page report
couple of years ago that says

"North Korea's
Human Rights violations

is unparalleled
in contemporary history."

The only parallel they could come up with
is Nazi Germany.

***

***

Hello.

Hello, Pastor.

Yes.

We have five people
stuck near the border.

They all just escaped
from North Korea.

There's an older woman
around 80,

her daughter and son-in-law,
and their two children.

The older woman's other son
and daughter

already escaped
to South Korea.

They are
in a very bad situation.

Can I give the son
your number?

Yes, I'll talk to him.

His name
is Wu Hyukchang.

I see.

- Wu Hyukchang?
- Yes.

Our contact found the family
wandering on Changbai Mountain

and sent me
a video of them.

Saving an entire family would be good
but five people can be very difficult.

Okay, Pastor.
I'm sending you the video.

Yes, thank you.

After wandering in the mountains for five days,
luckily we found these people

but there are soldiers around
and we could be caught at any time.

Pastor, I beg for your help.

Please help us to live.

North Korea has borders with China,
Russia and South Korea.

The border with South Korea
contains an estimated 2 million landmines

so most defectors have no choice
but to flee into China

over a border that stretches
more than 800 miles along the river.

But even
if they make it across

defectors still have to travel thousands of miles
through several countries before they reach safety.

Any young females often end up
being sold into video sex-chatting in China

or sold into prostitution

or sold to unmarried men
in the countryside.

Drugs, human trafficking...

Defectors really suffer a lot.

***

Use this...

Put this
on the ground...

Sit on it.

Grandma...

Mom, it hurts.

You need to eat this
to be able to walk.

Grandma...

But you can't sell an 80-year-old grandmother
for video chatting or prostitution

and here, a husband and wife
escaped together.

And then
there are young children.

The truth is, this family is not valuable
for most traffickers.

In these instances, the brokers often
contact Christian organizations and say...

"We'll give you these people
in exchange for money."

There are baby onions in here.

***

And I'll make
corn noodles.

That's good.

I'll boil these
and make a delicious broth.

I was contacted about a group asking for help
but China has a lot of checkpoints right now.

I'm not sure
what to do.

My eyes!

I have to hold these far away,
they're so strong!

You can't only use emotion
when deciding what to do.

I'm not sure
it's a good time for action.

Yes, but they won't live
unless someone helps them.

I'll speak to the church board to see if
they'll approve funding for the rescue.

When I was studying to be a pastor
more than 22 years ago

my mentor pastor and I went to China
for missionary work.

We were right across the river
from North Korea.

My first day there, I saw several kotjebis.
(North Korean homeless children)

Before then, I hadn't thought much
about the North Korean people

that we are the same people,
who speak the same language.

But seeing those kids
who were only 5 and 6 years old...

to see them cross that river of death
to beg from us

it broke my heart.

And I suddenly thought,
"I should try to help as much as I can."

Back then, crossing the border
wasn't as difficult as it is now

and a North Korean army commander who later became my wife,
happened to cross the river at that time.

I then met her
at the missionary center in China.

In North Korea, every man was weak and skinny.
There were no fat men.

So when I saw Pastor Kim

my first words were,
"Oh, you look like Kim Jong-Il!"

With his belly bulging out
and the same height!

She thought I looked like Kim Jong-Il,
North Korea's dictator at that time

because I had a belly
and I was short.

We thought everything
about General Kim Jong-Il was great.

The jackets he wore, his fashion.
We loved all of it.

Whenever we thought something was cool
we would call it, "Kim Jong-Il".

My wife fell for me
and asked me out.

Yeah, I fell for him.

So in order
to save my wife

I had to figure out
how to get her to South Korea.

First I had to get her
to a safe country.

I thought about
many possibilities.

Should I try to take her
through Mongolia?

Or should I take her to Thailand
through Myanmar and Cambodia?

Or should I try to get a boat
and enter South Korea secretly?

I investigated everything.

And all the things I learned
when trying to help my wife

opened up opportunities for me
to help many North Korean defectors.

In North Korea, we would never
throw this water away.

In fact, these noodles and water
would feed a family for a week.

Thinking of North Korea,
I won't throw the water away today.

I will cool it down
and drink it like tea.

***

Hey, good to meet you.

***

Please sit.

I don't know very much
about your family's situation

Can you tell me something
about them?

Yes.

I defected to South Korea
two years ago.

I then brought my daughter and my older sister
here last November.

But because we defected,
the North Korean government

decided to forcefully relocate
my mother and my younger sister.

The correct word would be "exiled"
but they don't use that here

I know what you mean. You're saying
your family was going to be banished.

It's essentially
a death sentence.

Because of this,
they fled across the river without a plan.

When my older sister heard this,
she became extremely stressed.

She had a reaction resulting in facial paralysis
and she's now hospitalized in Seoul.

Even if we're here
with enough to eat

we feel we committed a crime
against our family in North Korea.

For them,
dying is the same

whether it be in North Korea
or while escaping together.

I understand
your situation

and we will try
to rescue your family.

You said your sister
is in the hospital.

As late as it is,
let's drive to Seoul.

Thank you so much.

I've earned many scars
in my work with defectors

but I never thought my health
would deteriorate so much.

While helping people
cross the river one winter

I slipped on the ice
and broke my neck.

I was sure
I was going to die.

The surgery
was nine and a half hours.

Now I have seven metal rods
in my neck.

I've had surgeries on my neck,
hip and back.

My wife says
my outer appearance is an A+

but I'm all bruised up inside.

When I was 17,

the North Korean
Security Department

accused my older brother
of working as a South Korean spy.

My brother was never released.
We are sure he's dead.

After that, I couldn't get a job anywhere
in North Korea.

I was shunned for being
the brother of a spy.

This is my first time
seeing the night lights in Seoul.

Is that so?

Yes.

***

Sister!

This is the Pastor.

Hello.

Please save our family!

Let's move away from the hospital. My contact
near the border is waiting for our call.

It's very dark.

Because we are outside.

Can you shine the flashlight?

There we go.

That's good.

Oh there they are!

Sister, please help us.

It's a miracle
you're all alive.

But we'll be killed
if we are sent back.

That's right.

Getting caught at the border
means death.

We are helpless.
We have no idea what to do.

I feel like
I'm going crazy.

There's our mother.

Mom, please be strong.

Hang on, Mom.

Please don't cry.

We need to hang up.
It's dangerous to be on the phone this long.

Please try and stay safe.

Auntie, help us.

I will try to get someone there
in a few days

but we need
to hang up now.

***

Hello?

Son?

Hello?

Why isn't the broker helping?

- Hello?
- Yes, Son.

How have you been?

- Hello?
- Hello?

Bad signal...

Can you hear me now?

Can you hear me?

I can hear you!

Good.

You're going to start
in a few days.

Okay.

The journey
will be very tough.

It's okay. It's a journey that leads to you, Mother,
so I can endure anything.

So you feel ready?

I do.

But Mother,
try not to worry too much.

Okay.

We will see each other soon, okay?

- Yes.
- Yes. But we shouldn't stay on long.

Yes...

Okay...

***

***

***

***

We just heard that North Korea
contacted China about my family.

The Chinese police will now crack down
on areas within 50 km of the Yalu River.

If anyone finds these five defectors
and reports them

they could receive a reward
of about 15,000 Yuan.

In that remote area of China,
that's equal to about six months of wages.

So if brokers see this as a one-off,
it's much more lucrative to report on us.

But everyone in our network knows
if they report on us even once

their relationship with us
is over for good.

So does anybody
along the way...

brokers in all the countries,
do they care about the actual defectors?

Not at all.

They don't care at all.

Because in the end
they don't view them as people.

They view them
as money.

Right now we need to move Hyukchang's family
from where they are staying

and take them
higher up Changbai Mountain.

Broker: Let's go.

Oh, my foot!
It hurts!

Are you okay?

She's bleeding.

It's okay.
You can handle this.

Let's endure
and keep going.

My leg really hurts.

I know it's hard
but endure it.

North Korea began monitoring my family
right after I defected.

They were watched by their neighbors,
by the local people's unit, by the state security agents.

We never imagined
they'd be able to escape.

The children were even monitored
by their teachers at school.

Then, last month, North Korea decided to banish
anyone with family members who had defected.

We discovered my mother and sister
were on that list.

September 13th was Chuseok Day
(Korean Thanksgiving)

a day when North Koreans
visit their ancestors in the mountains.

Even state security agents go to the mountains,
so the monitoring is loosened.

My mother, sister, brother-in-law, and their children
held a memorial service on the mountain.

After performing
ancestral rites

our family fled
without turning back.

When I was young, we never learned
much about the outside world

except that America, South Korea
and Japan are the enemies.

In 1910,
the expanding Japanese empire

colonized what was then
a unified Korea.

It was a very
brutal colonization.

Over the next 35 years,

the Korean culture
and the Korean language

were nearly eradicated.

At the end of World War II,
when Japan surrendered,

they lost the empire
that they had been building.

Let us pray that peace
be now restored to the world.

Part of the settlement deal
was that Korea was split.

The 38th parallel

divided
the United States Army's area

from that of the Soviet forces.

The idea was that Korea

would shortly
come back together

and then have control
over their own country.

In the meanwhile,
the South held a public election,

and U.S.-educated Syngman Rhee
became the first president

of what would
become South Korea.

But in the North,
Stalin decided to look

for a Soviet sympathizer

as a temporary leader

in what would become
North Korea.

And this is where
Kim Il-Sung comes in.

Kim Il-Sung had been born
in Korea in 1912,

two years after the Japanese
occupied the country.

His parents were very involved
in anti-Japanese activities,

and when he was just
eight years old,

his family moved
to Manchuria.

Kim Il-Sung joined
the Communist Party in China,

and he eventually actually fought
with the Soviet Union

throughout
World War II.

Stalin heard about Kim Il-Sung
because of his reputation

as a leader of several
anti-Japanese guerrilla groups.

When Stalin brought him
to Pyongyang,

Kim Il-Sung didn't even speak
good Korean.

In fact, his speeches
had to be translated into Korean

and then rehearsed by him

because he had basically
spoken Chinese

since he was eight years old.

Kim Il-Sung
had the dream

of re-unifying
the Koreas under Communism.

The American Imperialists
have divided our nation.

Expanding upon
his guerilla contacts,

he put together an army
and eventually got the support

of both Stalin and Mao.

On Sunday, June 25th,

Communist forces attacked

the Republic of Korea.

The attack was so sudden
and forceful

that, very quickly,
almost all of South Korea was taken.

In fact, there was only
a tiny pocket

at the bottom
of the country

that had not been
claimed by the North.

An act of aggression
such as this

must be met
with a worldwide defense.

And a UN force
containing soldiers

from 21 different countries
entered the war.

What ensued
was a brutal three-year war.

Nearly five million people died,

half of whom were civilians.

South Korea lost
a million civilians

just on their own.

The United States
dropped a third

as many bombs on North Korea

as it did in all
of World War II.

And in the end,
nothing was achieved.

In July of 1953,
an armistice was signed

and a ceasefire
was put in place.

But technically speaking,
the war never ended,

and the ramifications
of that are still with us today.

Eliminate the wicked American-Bastards

Eliminate the enemies,
the American Jackals.

Eliminate everyone.

In North Korea,
we don't have such a word: American.

We only have "American-Bastard."

That's one word:
"American-Bastard."

So, in math
there are questions like:

Here you see
5 American-Bastards.

The North Korean military
killed 2

so how many American-Bastards
are left?

3 American-Bastards
are left.

We learned that Americans started
the Korean War

and that they enjoy
killing people.

The American imperialist enemy bastards
are like jackals who prey upon good animals.

The bastards are beasts,
not humans.

The regime told us that all human scum
live in America

so I couldn't imagine
there were normal human beings

wearing normal fashions.

Let's put the story we learned into a song
and dance together.

American-Bastards
who crawled into South Korea

Get out, get out,
get out now.

***

I received a call that the North Korean Security Police
contacted the Chinese government

and demanded that my son
be sent back to North Korea.

In the middle of the night.

When they told me.
I said you're lying!

How on earth...

In North Korea,
they will go so far as to kill him.

Eventually, my son will beg them
to end his life.

I know this
because I was beaten like that.

They will beat him up for days and days and force
him to say he was heading to South Korea.

If he makes the confession they want,
then he will be sent to the concentration camp, Kwan-li-so.

And then

it's over for him.

I have thought
about killing myself.

But I realize that I need to stay strong
to save my son.

Who else is going
to save him?

In order to save my son,
I have decided to hire brokers inside North Korea.

I will try to save my son
no matter what it takes.

***

***

Our goal right now is to get the family
out of China as soon as possible.

If they are caught

we won't be able to recover emotionally
from such an immense loss.

Stop for a moment.

She got scratched
on her face.

Does it hurt?

Keep it like this.

Time is critical right now.

The family will be picked up
around 11 p.m. tomorrow night.

Changbai Mountain to Shenyang
has become even more dangerous now

especially with this number of defectors.

Because of this, we've bribed
a Chinese police officer in our network

and the family will now travel
in a police car all the way to Qingdao.

Hyukchang will meet his family in Qingdao.
Two days later we will all fly to Vietnam.

We'll meet them in Vietnam
and then head toward the Laotian border.

We will then attempt to cross into Laos illegally.
Through the jungle. On foot. At night.

Remember, the family isn't safe
in Vietnam or Laos either.

In order for them to be safe,
we must get them all the way to Thailand.

***

Hello.

Yes. Hello. You are going to start
moving through China in three hours.

Okay.

You should know that some defectors
were caught in China three days ago.

so the risks are present.

I understand.
We appreciate your help.

I feel like
I'm dreaming.

Bye then.

They'll be here soon.

I am so thankful.

In the 80 years
of my life...

I can't describe
how thankful I am.

Mother, come on,
get ready.

We're not walking,
are we, Mom?

No, we aren't.
They're picking us up.

See if you can hear
a car sound.

We have to go this way.

Hurry!

When I was a child, we had economic support
from the Soviet Union.

The North Korean government
actually gave out (rations).

Eggs, candies, snacks.
They were all given to families.

For a while,
the North Korean economy

was more successful
than China's,

maybe even better
than South Korea.

And people pointed, saying,

"Look. Communism really works."

But everything
was artificially propped up

by the Soviet Union
and the Eastern Bloc,

and when that collapsed,

North Korea
went into a free fall.

In 1994,
after Kim Il-Sung died,

Kim Jong-Il made weapons
of mass destruction his priority.

This policy prioritized nuclear weapons
over everything else,

including the people
of North Korea.

Society just collapsed

and around 1994, 1995...

I started seeing people
dying on the street.

People became desperate
to escape the country.

But in some places
the current is so strong

so sometimes I would see dead bodies
floating down the river

especially
early in the morning.

The North Korean regime
will never show the real data

but the outside world estimates
that up to three million people died during the famine.

Even today the regime cares
about the nuclear program more than the people.

***

Our revolutionary armed forces will deal an annihilating blow that is unpredictable and unavoidable.

Our beloved people have had to tighten their belts
and endure tremendous difficulties.

This has been the path
to a greater victory.

We can never give up
our nuclear weapons.

Kim Jong-Un needs something
to protect himself

from being overthrown.

You know, they saw
Iraq, they saw Libya,

they saw that Gaddafi
gave up his weapons

and was very ignominiously
murdered by his own people

with the support of the West.

Those scenes have
to be terrifying

to the North Koreans.

We are ready for a military confrontation
with the United States.

I see these nuclear weapons
and missiles

as a symptom of how isolated
and threatening

and threatened
the North Korean government feels.

The U.S. are brutal gangsters.

***

The North Korean people
are really the pawns

in this political game
that their regime is playing.

***

***

When you're traveling in the van with your family,
it's important that you film a lot.

If you're sitting behind your family,
don't just film the back of their heads.

Record them
in the reflection of the car window.

Shoot from different angles
like this.

Shoot from the front,
the side...

Once we get to Vietnam,
the film crew will be able to film again.

I only need to film
in China.

That's because it's not safe for our family
if the filmmakers are with them in China.

Oh, you're packing clothes
for the children!

We haven't left yet
and I'm already so nervous.

Exchange this
at the airport.

My daughter says I need to look South Korean
to be safe in China.

It's true.

So I bought new clothes
for the first time here.

Okay, we should leave.
It's after five o'clock.

We'll go in my car.

Do I look South Korean?

You do.

***

***

The security in China is much heavier
than I expected.

In train stations, airports
and service areas

they check both incoming
and outgoing traffic.

They use a machine
to check ID cards thoroughly.

There's so much surveillance that I'm starting
to worry my family may face a problem.

***

Police and soldiers are everywhere
and they seem to be on high alert.

I'm really scared.

***

***

***

I can't believe
my mom hasn't called me.

No one seems to know where he is
so your mom must also be waiting to hear.

Yes, but someone needs to go right away
and bribe the security police.

He could be dying
for all we know.

If we can't get in contact with anyone soon,
we all deserve to die.

I can't bear not knowing
what's happening to him.

My guess is they are slowly increasing
the intensity of the beatings.

You're right.

We need to keep faith
that he can stay firm under torture.

Yes.

I'm so anxious.

Thank you
for trying to help.

We don't understand
why we can't get any news about him.

The family
should be notified.

There are two kinds of political
prison camps in North Korea.

One is a closed-off gulag
where you can never get out

In the other, if you survive your sentence,
you can be released.

But if he were being sent to the second one,
my mom should have been informed.

I'm determined to find out
where he really is

The best case scenario is being sentenced
to a labor camp or a reformation center.

The worst case

is execution

or being sent to a gulag
because your life ends in there.

***

They arrested me
and called me a spy.

I was not a spy.
No way.

I was tortured
and interrogated.

I weighed 168 lbs
when I was arrested.

After 9 months of torture

I was 77 lbs.
I could not carry my body.

When I walked, I had to lean
on the wall for support.

I finally confessed
to being a spy.

There was no trial.
They just took me somewhere.

It turned out to be
Yodok Political Concentration Camp.

***

Everyone in the camp had been accused
of crimes against the regime.

Many were there simply
for criticizing the regime

or because they had been found
with a Bible.

One person was there because he tore a piece
of Kim Jong-Il's face from a newspaper

and used that paper
to roll a cigarette.

***

We were ordered to go up the mountain
with just an ax.

We had to chop down trees
that were 13 feet wide and 131 feet tall.

Logs rolled down the hill,
hitting those climbing.

Their legs and arms were broken
and intestines leaked out of their wounds

but they were still alive.

You could hear them breathing
and moaning at night.

When the bodies decomposed,
they fused together.

You couldn't
separate them.

If you tried the arm, it just came off.
The legs fell off

and the head
would just fall off.

We had to shovel them
onto a handcart like garbage

and bury them
in a hole in the ground.

It's impossible to erase this
from my mind.

***

***

***

***

***

Broker #3: The defectors must walk casually.

Casually!

Broker #4: Get them quickly in.

Here we go.

Stay alert.
We are in the middle of China.

Thanks for all the help
we're receiving.

I thank everyone.

Our clothes were destroyed
but the farmers and brokers gave us new clothes.

I just feel speechless.

We need to go.

***

***

The filmmakers and I will fly to Vietnam
tomorrow night and arrive around midnight.

We'll meet up with your family
the next day.

We won't stop for long though,
because we need to keep moving.

18 defectors were caught in China
three days ago.

Oh no.

Will they be sent back
to North Korea?

Yes, of course.

Hello?

Broker: Hello Pastor

I can't see anybody!

Can you use someone's phone
for light?

Do you have
the other phone?

We need more light.
Bring the camera.

***

That's right.

Where is your mother?

Here she is.

Mom, stay strong!

You too.
Jinhae and Jinpyeong!

We're flying to Vietnam tomorrow
so I'll see you soon.

Hyukchang, listen carefully.

We've sent someone to meet you
close to China's southern border.

They are arranging with the brokers
and will help you cross into Vietnam.

Okay, I understand.

Alright.

***

This is the visa upon arrival.

You'll be filling out
this form.

***

Wait, what is?

Wait.
Did my daughter put this here?

Why did she include
her homework here?

This is my daughter's.
I hope she got good marks.

We are heading
to Hanoi, Vietnam.

From there, we will head close
to the border with China.

Our goal is to be near the border
before the family arrives.

If the defectors arrive at the border before us,
we'll need to change our plans

because it would be very dangerous for them
to wait there.

Before 2009, I often went into China
when helping defectors.

And then a co-worker of mine in China
was kidnapped to North Korea and tortured.

During torture he told them
that I help defectors.

After that, the Chinese police officials
in our network warned me

"Don't ever enter China again
unless you want to lose your life."

In terms of the possibility of North Korea
trying to kidnap you

is that something you would only worry about
if you went back into China?

Every time I go to Vietnam, Laos,
even Thailand...

the South Korean National Intelligence Service
tells me not to go.

They really plead with me
not to go.

***

Myanmar, Laos,
Vietnam, Cambodia...

all these countries have close ties
to North Korea.

Every time I enter those countries
and the stamp is stamped, my heart also thuds.

***

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Friend of my brother

Yes. I received your message.

Are you able to do
what I asked?

Yes. I am.

Please move quickly.

Yes.

Please make sure the broker
gives you the money.

I will.

Anything else?

I'll go to the security police and call you
with any information I get about your son.

Please take care of your safety.

Yes. I will.

Okay, thank you.

He's still alive.

But he's been very badly beaten.

His lower back
is damaged

and he has wounds
on his head.

And...

his chest
must have been hurt here

because apparently
he can't breathe properly.

And my friend said my son
can't eat properly now either.

He said his teeth
were damaged in the torture.

When they hit you

they hit with an angled ruler
and a wooden club.

You can't avoid your bones
being broken.

And he said my son has shrunk
to half his size.

But he's still alive.

It's a beautiful day
and I would like to sing.

Of course.

The songs you sang
in school...

Nothing to Envy...?

Nothing to Envy

Blue is the sky

and happy is my heart

Then I don't remember.

Where people live
in harmony

We envy nothing
in the world

I think,
living in North Korea...

The moments
I felt I was happy

was the comparison.

This is Wisconsin, located
in the Midwest of the United States.

Unemployed people roam the streets
because they don't have homes.

The regime told us
that we were living in Utopia

and that many other countries
are living in a disaster.

There are over 1.5 million homeless children
in the United States.

We learned that South Korean students
didn't have any clothes.

They were begging for food
on the street.

That was actually the reality
about North Korea

but I thought everything was paradise
compared to other countries.

Many foreigners wonder how North Koreans
can live like human robots.

Why they're not questioning the regime;
why they're not overthrowing the regime?

But I believe every person,
if born in North Korea, would be exactly like us

because we didn't know another life existed
besides the one we had.

We were captured in a huge,
virtual prison.

***

***

The most taxing part
of this journey

is us having to illegally cross
through the jungle.

I feel emotionally exhausted,
worrying about it.

I had a son who
had serious health issues...

He died while I was at a meeting
about saving someone.

He had vomited
and it blocked his airway.

"We've lost you, so now we'll devote ourselves
to saving many more defectors."

This is what my wife and I said
during my son's cremation.

Losing my child while saving someone else's child,
that's when I felt the most anguish in my life.

I've helped rescue around 1.000 people
since his death over 10 years ago.

In Christian terms,
my son was the grain of wheat.

How can they tell us now,
at the last minute?

They didn't even bring two cars!

People need to keep the promises
they make.

This is where we pull over.

I threw a fit and they brought the second car.
The one in front will be a sedan and in back is a van.

Yes, the family are almost here.

I understand.
Let's talk on the way.

***

They're here.

They're here.

Let's get them in.

Bring your stuff.

Hurry.
This is a dangerous place.

Get in, get in!

Get in the back.

Go, hurry!

We still have a second car ahead of us
to alert us to dangers, so try to relax for a moment.

I'm happy
to see you all.

ls there any space over here?

There's more space up here.

It must be a relief
to be attempting this as a family

and, Grandmother,
you've done so well.

I can see
where the safe house is.

We were on the main road
but the lead car is taking us onto a byway.

We must be avoiding
a checkpoint.

I couldn't sleep again
last night.

It's been like this
for weeks.

I'll make
a cup of coffee.

Hello.

Hi. My contact in the North says
your son will be sentenced soon.

So the interrogation
is over?

Yes. She might be able to get him released,
depending on how much money you spend.

Right.

And since his sentence will be decided now,
she says it's time to use money. She says it's urgent.

Okay, I will wire the money now then.

Good.

I'll make sure
she uses the money wisely.

I'm not sure
if this is a trick or not

but I have no choice
but to trust that broker.

I have no choice.

I'll park the car here.

Hello?

My contact called me again.
She just visited your mom and talked with her.

I thought my information
was accurate

but it wasn't.

According to your mom,
your son is still being interrogated.

My contact said your mom was shaking in fear
and doesn't know who to trust.

Her house is under constant surveillance
and she doesn't want to be involved in any of this.

She doesn't believe
your son was planning to defect.

I see.

I'm really sorry. We thought the interrogation was over.
It's so hard to get accurate information from there.

Okay, we will talk again.

Yes, I'll call you again.

***

***

You can wash your hair.

That water is falling
like thunder.

I thought that was a blackboard
for studying.

I think it's a television.

A television?

Brush your teeth.

This bag must be weak,
we've carried it so much.

Let's go.
I'd like to buy everyone some fruit.

Jinhae, come here,
I want to show you something.

Look at how green it is.

We're going to get some fruit.
What do you guys want?

So pretty.

Can you get us a towel?

Yes I'll get it.

You have to peel these
and you can only eat the inside.

Are those chestnuts?

I want to wear
the one with the bear.

Wow, that's also pretty.

Okay, try that one.

This is much too big.

It's hot here so it's good
if it's a little big

But I think
this one's okay.

There are snacks
over there.

- Do you have a comb?
- Yes, mother.

Stay in there
so you can be cool.

I'll help you wash.

What's this?

This is popcorn.

Those are crackers.

Mine is crackers?

Yeah.

One second.

Let's eat it together.

So this is Vietnam?

Yes, of course this is Vietnam!

Everything is new to me here.

There isn't water or lights
in North Korea.

We need to draw
our own drinking water

and the whole family gathers
to use the water from one cauldron.

And it takes hard work
to get that water.

If we have a whole day, we can draw enough
so that we have more than just a small stream.

But when the authorities call us to a rally.
often there's no time to draw any water at all

so having access to water was always
my biggest worry.

So this place is really

Heaven on Earth.

It would be impossible for a North Korean
to imagine this place if they didn't see it themselves.

I feel like our country
must become more developed.

I know how intelligent our Marshal Kim Jong-Un is,
so are our people just not smart?

Or what could the reason be?

Jinhae, what's been
most memorable so far?

When crossing over.

Did you feel any relief
once you crossed into China?

No.

Because we could
get caught.

Children North Korea are taught that
if they do something wrong

and then are caught,
they'll be killed.

That fear is instilled in them
from when they're very young.

After school, in the afternoons
we had to gather on the school grounds

and then we had to practice
for the mass games.

For dancing.

For the parade.

The card sections.

We practiced
almost every day.

In total,
it was countless hours.

I thought that was the normal duty
as a North Korean citizen.

Many people were suffering
under the cold weather

and then during summer
it's super hot, right?

So some people had heat stroke
or fainted.

And when we were practicing how to match
all the pictures

if one student wanted to go to the bathroom,
there would be a big hole.

So nobody could leave.

So some students are peeing
in their pants.

In a way, the scariest
parts of North Korea

are some of what they wanna
show you at these mass games.

And there's 100.000 people

wearing the same kind of clothes
and marching in unison.

And you see these children
who are five, six years old

with their mass games,
cards spelling out

propaganda messages
in perfect unison.

You've gotta think, you know,
"How do you get your five-year-old to do that?"

You see how much repression
there is.

People had to repeat the same moves
so many times like a machine

And if we made a mistake,
we could be punished.

We usually practiced
on the cement

so kids were rolling on concrete
for months.

Some kids even broke their jaws
when they fell on the ground.

Foreigners were amazed
by watching the mass games.

They just couldn't close
their mouths.

It's a painful memory
for me.

Behind the pictures,
I know what students are suffering.

Please eat a lot because once we leave tonight,
we won't be able to eat.

We'll rest for a bit
after our meal.

It will be dark
when we reach the mountain

and we'll be crossing
for about three hours, illegally.

On the Laos side of the border, our people
should be waiting for us with cars.

So eat a lot
and gather your strength.

I'm worried about crossing
this mountain.

That's what I'm worried about too.

Whatever happens in the jungle,
we have to be as quiet as we can.

Hyukchang, does everyone have
their water?

Let's go!

Are we ready?

All family members should go
in the other car.

Get in quick.

Get in there with your family.

***

You'll each get a torch
covered in a plastic bag.

You need to press hard like this,
okay?

Press hard.

Hey, hey!
Turn off the light!

The light!

Turn it off!

Please be careful!
That light is too strong.

Never shine your light up.

When we are in the jungle,
you can shine it down, but never up.

Let's go.

Slowly, be careful.

Watch your feet.

Follow them.

You'll get hit
by the branches.

Keep going.

Tell them to stop
by the waterside.

Tell the person in front.

Go that way, go ahead.

Father, it's this way.

It's here. This way.

I'm okay.

No, not that way, here!

Here we go.

Careful.

Follow me.

Shine it towards the ground.
It's too high.

The problem isn't just how steep the mountain is,
but how slippery it is.

Yes, I was afraid
I was going to fall.

Remember, we've only been walking
for 30 minutes.

We still have another
2 1/2 hours to go.

Let's rest a bit.

If we lose energy early on,
it'll kill us.

Should I wash too?

The stickiness
will wash away.

It's refreshing, isn't it?

Let's go.

In North Korea, every household
has to hang our Dear Leaders' pictures.

On the best spot,
on the best wall.

It's mandatory.

They're the most important thing
in every home.

We had to remove the dust
very frequently.

Government officials come to every house
without warning us

wearing white gloves

and they're just checking the dust
on the pictures.

What would happen
if they found dust?

Severe punishment.

When I was young...

we prayed to "our Father and Leader Kim Il-Sung"
before breakfast every morning.

We had never heard of a book
called The Bible

and if anyone was caught with one,
they'd receive the worst punishments imaginable.

In North Korea, I studied the "Ten Principles
(for a) Monolithic Leadership System".

After I got to South Korea,
I came across the Ten Commandments

and they were basically identical.

North Korea
has basically plagiarized

the Christian Bible
and you can see

a lot of parallels
to the Old Testament.

They told us that during
the colonial period

Kim Il-Sung fought against
our Japanese enemies

by crossing the rainbows from this mountain
to another mountain.

During the Korean War,
he made rice from sand.

He made bombs
from pinecones

and crossed the Yalu River
standing on tree leaves.

Kim Il-Sung is God,

and Kim Jong-Il
is the Son of God.

They claim that he was born
not in a manger

but in a log cabin
on Mount Paektu,

which is at
the Chinese-North Korean border.

He was actually born
in Russia

but they faked
his birthplace.

It's said his birth
was heralded

by a beautiful star,
and a double rainbow.

They wanted to keep this
powerful imagery for themselves,

so the Bible is banned.

***

Wait.
Let one of the brokers go first.

We'll die
if we go in the front.

Let's follow him.

Watch out
so you don't slip.

Oh, be careful here.

If it rains,
it'll kill us.

If you're about to fall,
let go of Grandma's hand.

You don't want her
to fall with you.

We shouldn't rest yet.
Let's go a little further.

***

My legs are like jelly.

Come this way.

Yes, like that.

You can't climb up alone!
Hold my hand!

I'll get stuck
between those rocks!

My hand, hold my hand.

Have a broker lift her up.

Let's take a seat.

There's something wrong
with my ankle.

I think I've sprained my ankle.

My body can't cope
the way it used to.

After having three operations last year,
my body can't cope.

You big girl.

Have we only climbed
over one mountain so far?

Broker #2: We went up and down one.

We have to cross
three mountains like that.

So the next mountain
will only be the second?

Yeah.

I got in touch with a broker
who can reach the highest security levels.

But since then,
I haven't heard anything.

I'm so confused.

Do you think he really meant
to bring me back to the North?

I guess it's possible but, if so,
it's because he wanted to be with you.

Some guys in Hyesan city contacted me.
They said the case might be more serious than we thought

Really?

Yes, they say it sounds dangerous.

But let's wait and see
what this high-level broker can find out.

Okay.

***

Where?
Where's the boo-boo?

Where does it hurt?

Try not to cry.

Broker #1: if we continue like this,
it'll be at least 6-7 hours more.

Broker #2: Yes, 6 more hours.

Oh gosh.

Did you hit your head?

Why are we going
on this same path again?

These brokers are making us go over
the same mountains.

We have to stop.
I need to sort this out.

It's okay.

You're sweating so much.

As you can see,
I'm only okay on the outside wrapper.

This is wrong. The lead broker
is really screwing us up.

Please drink some water.

I'll drink some.

They're taking us in circles
and asking for more money.

I don't think
we're going to make it today.

I want to eat kimchi.
Cabbage kimchi.

I don't know if this is going to work.
They are making it so hard.

They don't care
about our condition.

The jerk wants to make us suffer.
Even more money now?

I need to sit again.

The wind is blowing.

It's refreshing.

You hear the dogs barking, right?

There are military dogs
around the border.

We should turn the lights off.

It's now 1:50.

The breeze
is the only thing saving me.

How much?

Tell them we'll give them some money
when we all come back safely.

But if you keep taking us in circles,
I can't give you money.

Broker: Okay, agreed.
You can give it when we arrive.

Fine, let's go.

Be careful.

I think I hear a car.

Wait, stop!
Look there!

Turn the lights off!

Light!

Stay still for a moment.

Okay, you can use the lights now.

Go, go!
Let's get going!

Go!

Go! Run, run!

Let's go!

Go!

***

***

You can sit on the bags
since they are soft, okay?

I thought a lot about our neighbors
on that mountain.

I wonder about the path to survival
when the price is abandoning our hometowns.

I miss our friends
and our dog.

Bobo.

We should have brought him.

She misses him so much.

My old neighborhood
was full of flowers

and full of birds

When the harsh blue wind blows

from the South.

I miss playing in that place.

***

***

Hey GPS,
don't do this to me.

We have to get there on time.

He's got a rifle.
We should avoid roads like this.

Okay, another unpaved road.

Finally the route I know.

Does China surveil here?

Laos is a communist country
so China certainly monitors a lot here.

So the Pastor arrived first.

Which route did he take?

***

Are you ready?

Okay, get out.

Hurry.

Run!

Have some of these.

What are they?

It's chocolate.

Brown rice is so good to eat.

Hyukchang...

Can you close the window, please?
People will be able to see us from outside.

Stir-fried potatoes and soup.

Seaweed makes it
more delicious.

Uncle, how many more bowls
do we need?

Let's pray before we eat.

You don't have to say anything
until after I finish praying.

When I say, "In the name of Jesus Christ",
then you say, "Amen".

That's all you need to say.

You simply say, "Amen".

Amen?

Yes.

Thank you for protecting us
from the police until now.

We will rest here
for a few days

and we thank you for allowing us all
to spend some quieter time together.

We pray to Jesus Christ that you won't let go
of the string of hope until we reach our destination.

Amen.

It's savory and delicious.

Ah, it's good.

Do you want some of mine too?

Your daughters eat very well.

Of course.

In North Korea,
we can't throw out the

what is this, the sh...

Poop.

There's no fertilizer system in North Korea
so we had to give the government our own poop.

And this was mostly during the famine, right?
Or was this always...

Always.

Every winter,
so it's just like ice.

They're preparing
for spring.

In North Korea the common toilet
is made with wood. Like a small garage.

And there's a hole.

We just bent our knees...

I don't know, you know what...
squat?

And under
is a huge wood bucket

to save all the poos.

If we don't give our portion,
we will have problems

so sometimes people
are stealing each other's poos.

But, no matter what,
everyone had to

distribute to the government.

Some people are carrying the poos
on their backs

or in huge buckets.

My family used
a huge sack.

Some people are putting the poos
inside carts.

And where would you take it?

- The poos?
- Yeah.

We just gave it
to the school

and the company people
are giving it to the companies.

And then people are coming from the countryside
to take all the poos for the farmers.

***

Hello?

***

Yes...

I spoke to your mother.

Yes!

She said she wants you
to enjoy your life.

I will.

Is she okay?

Your mom doesn't understand
how you could let this happen to your son.

She says he only wanted to bring you to the North.
He never wanted to leave.

I know that now...

She just hopes she can see him
before she dies.

She must.

She is getting old and she feels
she could stop breathing at any time.

I've committed an unforgivable sin
against my son and her.

Please listen! She doesn't want to be involved
with this. She only says to have a good life.

Something must
have happened to her, right?

She feels alone...

Something must have happened to her!
Please tell me everything!

She asks that you
not contact her.

We were just born
in the wrong country.

We were born
in the wrong country!

ls my mom being banished
to somewhere?

She says to have a good life.
I'm sorry but we need to hurry.

Okay, thank you...

Please tell my mother
to live for a long time.

I will.

Please tell her I'm so proud
to be her daughter.

Thank her for bringing me
into the world.

Please tell her...

that I can't wait
to see her again...

I will.

We need
to end this call.

Okay...

***

***

This all feels like a dream.

Am I dreaming?

I can't tell
if this is real

or if I'm dreaming.

The regime recently began
reinforcing ideological education.

They said we must continue to persevere
until the country becomes prosperous.

They made a "banishment list" that included
everyone who had family members

who had defected
in the past three years.

When I heard
we were on that list

I felt hopeless.

If we had stayed,
they would have taken us in a car.

We wouldn't have known
if they'd come in the day or the night.

We wouldn't have known
where they were taking us.

When you're banished,
the place is an unliveable place.

Somewhere in the mountains.

Deep inside Kapsan County.

From the old days of the Choson Dynasty,
Kapsan has been a place for banishment

because it is a highly
uninhabitable place.

(They'd drop us) at this inhospitable place.

We'd bring a few blankets and things,
but once we got there

they'd take away those belongings.

They'd leave us there
and tell us to live there

and then that's the end.

We knew that
in case we were caught

we'd rather die than go back
so we carried cyanide pills with us.

We didn't want the kids to know
we were defecting

so we lied and told them we were going
to pick mushrooms.

As we crossed the Yalu River, we described
all the different mushrooms in China.

I was afraid my mother was going to fall
so I held onto her arms.

The kids didn't have socks
so we wrapped their feet with my husband's shirt.

After wandering for 5 days,
we found a tent.

It was a Chinese ginseng tent
and there was a man there.

North Koreans often steal from ginseng fields
in China to make money

but we had my mother and the children there
so he let us in. We looked pitiful.

Even at night we barely said a word.
and our hearts became small like the size of a bean.

When I heard any rustling,
I stayed completely still

and heard trains going past

faintly.

The sound of the train whistle told us
that we were still very close to the North Korean border.

Then from somewhere,
someone mentioned the pastor

and they recorded the video of us
at the hut.

If Pastor Kim had not decided to help,
was there any plan, was there any hope?

Then we wouldn't have lived.

Do you still think North Korea
is the best?

How-How should I respond?

How should...
You can say whatever you feel.

If it's bad, it's bad.
If it's good, it's good.

Nothing was bad.

Okay, then talk about that.
Don't look at me when you talk.

I believe Marshal Kim Jong-Un
is really...

at a young age,
trying very hard

to support
so many people...

Wait, Mom.

Mom. Don't lie.

When did Kim Jong-Un ever
give you rice to eat?

Just say it like it is.
When did you eat rice?

Don't lie.

They're asking if you've ever been
disappointed in Kim Jong-Un.

I've never felt
that way.

I had decided not to leave
with my daughter.

I was going to stay in North Korea
and live alone until I died

but the State Security Police would have made
me report to them several times a day

and pay whatever amount
they wanted each time.

And now I'm old
and I can't earn much at all.

So I realized that whether I live or die,
I had to go with my daughter.

I've always felt all my wishes would come true
if only my country was better off.

I mean, our Great Leader Kim Jong-Un
is taking care of our country at such a young age.

So we must,
we must really

work hard to make Marshal Kim Jong-Un
even a little happy.

That is what I believe.

We were taught that Americans
were the most evil people in the world

and that, given the chance,
they would just kill people.

So it seems like Americans
would be like that

but it's been the opposite.

I was talking with my daughter,
and I said...

"These Americans are acting nice,
but what if that changes?

What if they kill us
because we're from North Korea?"

So I'm not sure
what will happen

but right now

as I look at you

and see how kind

and nice you are...

This makes me think
that perhaps

my government
has lied to me somehow.

If my mother disappears

Will she come again?

Mother, Mother

It's a children's song.

When the mother passes away it's a song
about a child having to live alone.

What are her thoughts
on Kim Jong-Un?

You can tell them
both of our thoughts.

He is the greatest person
in the world.

Yes.

There aren't any monkeys
in North Korea.

I feel sorry for it.

Sit down.

It doesn't understand Korean.

Look at its hands.

It's like a person's hand.

What is this fruit?

It's a grapefruit.

Do I have to peel this skin here?

You can eat it
the way it is.

Is it a tangerine?

It's like a tangerine
but a little bitter.

So it's an orange.

Let me try it.

But a tangerine
is orange color.

I can't believe it.

Oh my. Oh my.

It says, "Mmm, tasty!"

Tomorrow night we will take a boat
across the Mekong River.

I can cross the river with you,
but I can't go any further than that.

If I am caught illegally stepping on Thai soil,
I will receive at least 5 years in prison.

However, when you arrive in Thailand,
you are finally free.

So, this is Thailand.

This is Laos.

And this
is the Mekong River.

You will cross
the Mekong like this

and I will go with you
but only until this point.

Right at the shore.

You've been hiding from the police
this entire journey.

You were hiding in China
and also in Vietnam.

The same here
in Laos.

Why have you been hiding
in these countries?

Because they will send us back
to North Korea.

All those countries have strong ties
to North Korea.

That's why Thailand
is our destination.

And in Thailand, you want to get caught
by the police as soon as possible.

After you get off the boat,
you will see small paths in the rice fields.

Follow those paths
and you will come to a road.

It will be very dark
so be careful not to get hit by a car.

When you see someone

you tell them
that you are North Korean.

Police cars with lights and sirens
will arrive.

Don't be scared.
You are supposed to be arrested.

Now there are two things
you need to be aware of.

Many drugs go through Thailand
on their way to the U.S. and Europe.

Because of this, there is
very serious security on the river.

We are crossing via a route
used for smuggling drugs.

But we must be very quiet.

Once when I crossed,
we were shot at on the river by the police.

The second thing to know is that
the boat we're taking is long and narrow.

You need to hold on tight
because it's very wobbly.

If the boat loses balance,
it can easily flip.

Earlier this year,
five people died.

The depth of the water there is not gradual.
It goes straight down.

It's very dramatic.

And the water swirls
on the bottom.

That's the Mekong River.

So if the boat flips

there is a good chance
we will all die.

So the boat slowly approaches
the Thailand shore

and then rotates and docks
parallel to the edge.

Those people who died
were impatient.

We will let you off the boat
one person at a time.

Rushing off will make the boat flip
and we could all drown.

It's the same when we climb
onto the boat.

We must board
one person at a time.

This is very important.

***

Everyone get in the cars.

Hurry.

We're running out of time.

The trunk door
is open.

We will be at the river
in 18 minutes.

We don't have much time.

Turn right.

Please turn off the car light.

We will arrive
in about a minute.

You have arrived.

Broker: Don't get off yet.

We have to drive in
as far as possible.

Don't get off.

Our broker
will go ahead first.

He'll go first.

***

Broker: Come sit down here.

Closer. Closer.

Don't get impatient.

Come closer.

Come closer.

I shouldn't sit more
in the center?

You're okay.

Don't get impatient.

Slowly!

Mother, make sure you remain
right in the center.

Have a safe trip.

See you again.

Good bye.

I can't see them anymore.

Broker: Stay very still

and do not get off the boat yet.

You must get off
one person at a time.

Get off that way,
one by one.

Get off one by one.

Okay?
One by one.

One by one.

Pastor, point the light
this way please.

Go ahead. Get off.

Grandma, you're too far up the boat
to stand yet.

Come toward me first.

Mother...

Okay, step off now, Grandma.

Jinhae, now you.

Slowly.

Go one by one.

Slowly, one by one.

Next. Let's go.

I should carry her first
and get off, right?

You're fine.
Walk slowly.

Leave it here for now.
Grab it later.

People first.

If you follow this path,
you will find the road.

Yes, yes.

Now you are in Thailand.

You have all found freedom.

Thank you so much.

Enough. Enough. Let's go.

Don't cry.

I have to go.

Please follow the directions
I gave you.

Let's meet again.

Sure.

***

Hello.

Yes, hello?

I paid them and asked them
for the information.

Yes.

It's not somethng
that can be fixed by money.

We'll need to leave it to fate.

But do you think there is any chance
he could ever get out alive?

Could there be any way?

No, there isn't.

But...

He cannot come out.
I told you.

Do you understand?

Do you understand
what I mean?

I got it.

I also have family in that place.
My older sister is there.

Let's not talk too long.
It's unsafe.

I just heard

***

that my son was sent
to the camp 10 days ago.

I don't know
if I've shown this to you yet or not.

He had just crossed
the Yalu River.

He's covered in dirt.

My goodness...

They sent that little boy
to the gulag.

He had almost made it.

***

***

***

10th floor.

Open the door.

Oh, Grandmother!

My grandma.
It's been so long.

Come here.

Here you are.

You've made it.

Grandma, you've got new teeth.

This place is nice.
You have enough space for all of you.

We can lend you a room.

This is where you start again.

This is your home.
This is a new beginning.

It's a bit better than the ones
the People's Party provides.

The People's Party
doesn't give out houses.

I thought they promised free education,
health care and housing...

That's one big lie.

Honey, look at this footage
we just got from North Korea.

It came the day before yesterday.

These are some of the finest apartments in North Korea.
None of them have elevators.

The people there assume
that's how everyone live

Look at all the smoke.

Because they use wood
for all heat and cooking.

Hello?

Is this the Pastor?

I've got some people who want to cross the border.
Can you help them in China?

You're in North Korea so you might not know
much about Coronavirus

but the route from China to Thailand
is blocked right now.

Wow, why so many messages?

Hello?

Yes, hello. My mother and younger sibling
are in North Korea.

I wanted your help.

Right now, even if they make it
across the Yalu River

they won't be able
to move through China.

Things are very serious right now.
You can't get to Thailand from China.

There are days
when I don't get any calls

but there can also be
double digits in a day

and it's heartbreaking
that we can't help right now.

Hi!

How are you?

How is South Korea?

We're so good
we can't describe it.

We love it so much.

Come visit us
when coronavirus is over.

Come visit us, will you?

Yes!

What are some
of the most surprising things...

When we learned the truth about the regime,
we were completely shocked.

I regret that I came
at such an old age.

If I came earlier
when I was younger

I could've changed
my outlook sooner.

We North Koreans tend to be skeptical
even when we have the proof in our hands.

When we saw videos of the outside world,
we usually assumed they were fake.

We were living
like worms.

Coming here
in my 50s

I feel I have missed
so many opportunities.

It's an unsettling realization.

I quickly run out of words
to describe how angry I am.

We didn't leave North Korea
because we wanted to.

Most defectors came to South Korea
in order to survive.

Brothers, families, children,
everyone was separated.

If it weren't for the North Korean regime,
there'd be no reason for people to leave.

We could have just lived there.

I was sent these
from the police in China.

Cheong had them and they were left in China
when he was repatriated.

The Day of the Sun
is Kim Il-Sung's birthday.

This award was for an art competition
on that day.

Cheong did good brushwork.

This one
is for calligraphy.

And this one
is for a drawing.

A mother and child just wanting to live.
Is that a sin?

It's not.

A son just trying to find
his mother.

It's not just anger.
I hate the Kim regime.

This was my home
for 40 years.

Can you imagine how it felt
to leave my home?

I miss my relatives and...

All my relatives, friends,
my memories are there.

I want to have that moment again with them,
but I know, I can't.

So sometimes
I'm just looking at the sky

the birds are flying.

I'm thinking...

if I'm a bird,
I can fly anywhere I want.

What if I'm flying
to North Korea

seeing everyone there...

And I was thinking:
"What if you see your friend is dying?

for starvation or sickness...

You are one little bird,
you can't help them out.

So is it happy for you
to see that reality

or is it just better
if you don't know

you don't see that.

Which one makes you happy?

But I miss everyone.

I just miss that place
all the time.

Right now as we're talking
at around 6 pm

people in North Korea are probably
at a market trying to sell one more rice cake.

You stay outside until it gets completely dark
hoping to sell more.

- If you can bring home a bowl of noodles
- That's a success.

And if the boss says you didn't
perform well at work that day...

You will spend the evening
being reprimanded.

You won't even get
a single grain of rice.

You will be told that you work
only to make Kim Jong-Un happy.

Even though it's been a tough journey for us,
we are now happy.

But it keeps me up at night
to think about the people still there.

Me too.

=== Hardcoded Subtitles To Soft Subtitles ===
By Andrebavila