South Korean actor You Ji-tae delivered a six-minute speech in English at the “2024 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights” held in Washington, D.C., on July 22. He attended the event as the South Korean government’s ambassador on North Korean Human Rights. This event was co-hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in the United States.
In his speech, he said, “It is not injustice itself, but our indifference that nurtures injustice. I hope our actions can heal the painful wounds of the North Korean people.” You emphasized that while the issue of North Korean human rights is often framed as a political matter, it should focus solely on the “people.” He stated, “What we aim to discuss are the ‘people’ within North Korea. I urge you to extend your hands to the darkest of places.” His comment reflects the reality that North Korean human rights, a major concern for progressives and leftists worldwide, is attacked by some factions only in South Korea, the country directly involved.
You has been consistently active in the North Korean human rights movement over many years. He has met with North Korean defectors over the past decade and personally wrote the script for a webtoon based on their stories. A few years ago, he received the first “Good Donor Award” from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of South Korea for supporting underprivileged children both domestically and internationally for over 10 years. His charitable activities have since extended to the North Korean human rights movement. Similarly, South Korean actor Cha In-pyo, known for his philanthropic work, organized rallies and concerts in 2012 to oppose the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors, encouraging the participation of many fellow artists.
In South Korea, the issue of North Korean human rights often faces not just indifference but political distortion. Although the National Assembly passed the North Korean Human Rights Act in 2016 to investigate human rights violations in North Korea and establish the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, the foundation has yet to be launched due to obstruction by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which has held the majority since the 20th general election. Some DPK members have derogatorily referred to defectors as “traitors” and “garbage.” The DPK argues that addressing North Korean human rights could provoke the North Korean regime and harm its people. However, the atrocities faced by North Korean residents have far surpassed the point where such logic holds. The primary goal of North Korea’s human rights abuses is to maintain Kim Jong-un’s power. Ignoring these issues only supports Kim Jong-un’s tyranny. It is time for the DPK to move beyond outdated reasoning.
