You are invited to the 24th “I am from North Korea” English Speech Contest, which will be held on October 10, 2026, starting at 10 a.m. at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul.
Stay tuned for details that will make this unlike any of our previous contests.
FSI co-founder Eunkoo Lee was notified on May 13 that we received a grant from Seoul City Hall that will allow us to expand the contest in several ways.
We had been considering holding it on August 29, but the October date is better for several reasons.
Why Is This Event Important?
This speech contest offers North Korean refugees a rare and empowering platform to share their stories, speak their truths, and inspire others. By allowing North Korean refugees to express themselves in English, this event not only enhances their confidence and skills but also raises global awareness of the challenges they’ve overcome and the dreams they’re pursuing.
Every story told here is a step toward building understanding, empathy, and support for their journey to freedom and new beginnings.
What Can You Expect?
* Powerful Stories: Hear firsthand accounts of resilience,
courage, and hope from North Korean refugees.
Inspiring Speakers: Witness incredible talents, including past
participants who have become authors, TEDx speakers, and
influencers.
* Matched Donations: A generous South Korean donor will double your impact by matching all donations up to $5,000.
Previous winners include:
* Sungju Lee, author of Every Falling Star
* Eunju Kim, author of A Thousand Miles to Freedom
* Cherie Yang, TEDx speaker
* Eunhee Park, TEDx speaker
* Yuna Jung, influencer
* Jeong-Cheol Lee, Fulbright Fellow
* Yusung Park, North Korean movie director
* Songmi Han, co-author of Greenlight to
Freedom with Casey Lartigue
* Eunmi Park, future author
* Myeonghee Kim, winner of FSI’s Harvard speech contest
Matched Donations: Even if you can’t attend, your donation can still make an impact! Every contribution will go twice as far thanks to a matching pledge of up to $5,000.
