Joh Kyeongil: What it means to be a progressive North Korean defector

Many prominent North Korean defectors who have resettled in South Korea are known for their alignment with conservative political causes, such as the former DPRK diplomat Tae Yong-ho, activist Yeonmi Park and defector lawmaker Park Choong-kwon. But author and political commentator Joh Kyeongil has built his reputation as a defector who supports progressive stances, advocating for peace-building efforts and criticizing activist tactics like leaflet balloons. This week, Joh joins the podcast to discuss his work fostering discussion about the DPRK and how he seeks to bridge the gap between the Koreas, as well as to share about the three attempts it took him to escape North Korea. Joh Kyeongil is the founder of the Peace Agora YouTube channel and the author of "To Aoji: The Country of a Boy Who Escaped from North Korea Three Times.” He fled the DPRK as a teenager. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.