ZOE Gim

A North Korean refugee’s journey from entertainer to advocate
By Casey Lartigue Jr.
Published May 3, 2025 1:46 pm KST
Gim So-yeon is originally from North Korea, but you wouldn’t guess it from seeing her on South Korean television or performing on stage. She sings, acts, and captivates audiences with the confidence of someone born for the spotlight. Since resettling in South Korea in 2019 shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, she has steadily built a name for herself in the entertainment world.

She is becoming known, yet behind the bright lights and applause, she carries painful memories and untold stories that shape the woman she is today.

That’s why her decision to join Freedom Speakers International (FSI) in 2024 at the recommendation of a North Korean refugee friend is meaningful. She already had a platform, but wanted her voice to do more.

She arrived more than an hour early to her first speech coaching session at FSI on Nov. 4. I dissected her speech and invited her to return with a revised version. Two days later, on Nov. 6, our mentoring session was recorded by a television crew that was filming a feature about FSI.

On Nov. 12, she arrived two hours early and practiced alone before we had a two-hour mentoring session. When I was unavailable a different week, she visited the FSI office to practice alone. Even before she ever spoke in public, she was already showing the seriousness and focus of someone who understood what it means to use a platform responsibly.

After months of preparation, she gave her first public speech at FSI’s 21st “I Am from North Korea” English speech contest on Feb. 22. To prepare for the contest, we connected her with Jennifer Nevins, a dedicated FSI volunteer mentor based in the United States. Together, they held online mentoring sessions leading up to the speech contest and Gim occasionally visited the office for extra help. Gim didn’t expect to win, and she didn’t — but that would have been hard to guess from the big smile on her face after the contest. Her satisfaction came from giving her first public speech in English.

To protect the North Korean refugee contestants, we don’t include a Q&A session on the day of the contest. Many are already nervous simply stepping onto the stage, and for most, giving the speech itself is challenging enough. In addition, the contest typically lasts close to three hours, and adding a Q&A could overwhelm both the speakers and the audience.

On March 10, Gim gave her second English speech at an FSI event for visitors from Australia, the UK, and Ireland. After I introduced FSI’s mission and Gim, she gave the same speech she did at the speech contest and the audience was moved. During her first Q&A, Gim reflected on her experiences, shared details about her escape from North Korea, and the broader struggles of those still trapped in the North.

On April 29, Gim gave her third public speech to thirteen American visitors to South Korea. I began by introducing FSI and Gim’s journey. FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo and I had previously heard parts of her story during our mentoring sessions and her first two speeches. She gave the same prepared speech, but during the Q&A, she went deeper. Her responses were more detailed, more personal, and more emotionally raw. I’ve seen this before — speakers often start by giving short, careful answers, but over time, as they gain confidence and comfort, they begin to open up. We learned, in particular, how much she suffered as a child in North Korea and before she successfully escaped to South Korea.

The emotional atmosphere in the room shifted. The facilitator began crying, which led to Gim also crying. When I looked around the room, I saw several of the attendees in tears as well. After the event, a few of them gave her long, emotional hugs.

Events like these are valuable in ways that can’t be measured by applause or press coverage. They give international travelers a rare opportunity to hear directly from North Korean refugees, hear their personal stories, and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges they face. For the North Korean refugees, these moments offer meaningful practice — opportunities to speak freely, familiarize themselves with common audience questions, and build confidence in a supportive low-pressure environment before stepping onto larger stages.

Afterward, during our debriefing session, Gim was eager for feedback. I gave her some tips to sharpen her public speaking. She was touched that people were interested in her story and about the plight of North Koreans still trapped in the country. She thanked Lee and me for providing a space where her voice could be heard.

Gim could continue her career in entertainment without ever mentioning her past. She’s decided to stand on a new stage. Speaking publicly isn’t easy, but Gim has chosen to face that challenge.

One line stands out in her speech: “I seem fine on the outside, but there’s still a little child inside me who has not fully healed.” What she meant became apparent during the Q&A.

Gim is claiming her strength while opening a window into the emotional aftermath of escaping North Korea, the inner trauma behind a successful public image, and the ongoing struggles faced by many North Korean refugees long after they escape. She reminds us that behind every performance and appearance, there may be a story waiting to be told — and a voice ready to rise.

Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@alumni.harvard.edu) is the co-founder of Freedom Speakers International with Lee Eun-koo, and co-author with Han Song-mi of her memoir "Greenlight to Freedom: A North Korean Daughter’s Search for Her Mother and Herself.”

Thanks to a generous South Korean donor, Freedom Speakers International is running a Matching Challenge to empower North Korean refugees.

From June 22 to August 3, forty supporters of FSI set up donations in response. The donor has pledged to donate $100 for every fundraiser set up — up to 40 fundraisers total. Additionally, an American donor has secretly donated $20 to each fundraiser.

At FSI, we empower North Korean refugees through education and public speaking. Many are now giving speeches around the world, writing books, and telling their stories in English for the first time.

Our Korean donor has pledged to continue this Matching Challenge. He is inspired by the people who support FSI.

By starting or supporting a fundraiser, you’re helping them continue that journey.
Even if you don’t raise any money, just setting one up helps us unlock more support.

Set up your fundraiser. Show your support.
Together, we can amplify voices that were once silenced.

—
Casey Lartigue Jr.
Co-founder and Chairman
Freedom Speakers International (FSI)