“I urge you to extend your hands to the darkest places. I hope our actions can heal the painful wounds of the North Korean people,” said actor Yoo Ji-tae (48) at the ‘2024 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights’ held in Washington DC on the 22nd, co-hosted by the Ministry of Unification and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Yoo was appointed as an ambassador for North Korean human rights last month and accompanied Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho on his trip to the U.S. on July. 21. to discuss cooperation on unification and North Korean policies with senior U.S. officials. Yoo stated, “It is not injustice itself, but our indifference that nurtures injustice,” urging, “If there is an unjust situation anywhere in this world, do not close your eyes, turn away, and take action.” During his appointment as ambassador, Yoo emphasized, “As Koreans, we should consider North Korean human rights,” underscoring his commitment to addressing this critical issue.
At the ceremony, notable attendees included Minister Kim Young-ho, Julie Turner (the U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights), and Damon Wilson (President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy), along with other key figures from both South Korea and the U.S. In his opening remarks, Minister Kim stated, “Around 34,000 North Korean defectors who have resettled in South Korea are vividly narrating the harsh realities of human rights violations in North Korea.” He emphasized, “Building on the strong U.S.-Korea alliance, we must deter North Korea’s military provocations and address the human rights issues there.” Following this, Yoo Ji-tae took the stage and delivered a six-minute congratulatory address in English. Holding a tablet PC in his left hand, he read his prepared speech with clarity, effectively using gestures and eye contact to convey his message.
Yoo’s interest in North Korean human rights was sparked while co-creating the webtoon “Ankkai” with cartoonist Zephygaru. The webtoon highlights the hardships faced by North Korean women in China and their forced repatriation. “Ankkai,” a dialect word from Hamgyong Province meaning ‘wife,’ became a pivotal project for Yoo. He explained, “As a Korean living on the Korean Peninsula, I naturally became concerned about North Korean residents, who are among the most marginalized people in the world.” He added, “My interest and connection to North Korea led me to deeply contemplate the lives of defectors.”
The webtoon took a decade to develop, from the initial concept to the final script, during which Yoo conducted personal interviews with defectors. In an interview with The Chosun Ilbo in February, he said, “As an actor, my sense of responsibility towards social issues has grown.” He believes “the biggest human rights issue we need to be aware of is the plight of North Korean defectors in China.” He also shared, “My personal history of struggling in a small room with my mother after my father’s business failed connects to my empathy for those in poverty or emotional distress. While I am interested in issues concerning North Korean defectors, Korean-Japanese, and refugees, the story of North Korean defectors emerged first.”
Yoo highlighted that “women fleeing North Korea to escape severe human rights abuses often face even harsher violations during their escape and endure long periods of starvation,” noting that “they are separated from their families for the rest of their lives.” He further commented, “The issue of North Korean human rights is sometimes overshadowed by its association with North Korea,” and stressed, “We are talking about the people inside North Korea. I have strived to capture and convey the genuine stories of North Korean residents from where I stand.” This remark was interpreted as advocating that the improvement of universal human rights for North Korean residents should transcend political divides. Although South Korea is a key stakeholder in this issue, the North Korean Human Rights Act was passed by the National Assembly only in 2016, 12 years later than in the U.S. and 10 years later than in Japan. A foundation responsible for investigating human rights conditions in North Korea and developing research and policies for inter-Korean human rights dialogues and humanitarian aid has been unable to launch for eight years due to conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties over the appointment of directors.
