‘I SURVIVED A NORTH KOREAN PRISON CAMP’

*Representative photo used for security

By John Choi
Open Doors

Someone recently asked me this question: “What is it like to have the freedom to live an open Christian life?”

This seemingly easy question took me back to the North Korean detention center where I almost died 14 years ago. I was only fifteen at the time. I was arrested for trying to escape the country.

Though I am happy and free now, my life has been hard and dark. I’ve buried many memories, but certain ‘triggers’ inevitably bring them back to me.

A few weeks ago, I was doing some research about the North Korean gulags—and suddenly I found myself back in the North Korean detention center. That night, when I went to bed in my free country, I couldn’t close my eyes, afraid for what I would see.

But I heard them. I heard the other prisoners scream and cry.

Prisons in North Korea are not silent, not at all. Writing about this topic is difficult, but I want you to know what it is like.

Prison at the border of North Korea at Dandong

Fifty people were crammed in my prison cell. The guards forced us to sit on the floor the entire time. We were back-to-back. One other inmate behind me died during the night. Cause of death? Torture? Starvation? Illness? Lack of medical care? All of the above?

Two policemen came and dragged him out like someone drags a dead animal. Prisoners are not humans in North Korea.

When I was a young boy, I saw a lot of death on the streets. Many died of starvation and were left outside. But at age 15, when I was in a North Korean prison cell, and the prisoner behind me died, that was a new–shocking–experience.

I was overwhelmed with fear. Fear of death. Fear of being dragged away like the other prisoner.

There were hundreds of prisoners like me in this intelligence detention center. That means that all prisoners–like me–were arrested in China or on their way to China. The guards needed to interrogate us so our sentence could be determined.

Even before my arrest, I had seen many tragedies.

Once I was forced to witness a public execution. After the soldiers were done, I ran to collect the empty cartridges. Later, I felt ashamed of myself.

Why am I sharing all this? Because you need to know where I come from to understand how much I value freedom.

I was released from prison after I almost died of torture. It was a miracle. God used a guard to release me. Eventually, I fled a second time to China and this time—despite many obstacles and dangers—I reached South Korea safely. Now I live in the United Kingdom, and I’m able to study and work in a free, democratic society.

In North Korea, freedom was a concept, an idea. Here freedom is my daily life. I can walk to church without being arrested. I can read the Bible and not be afraid of spies. I can pray, sing and worship, knowing that God AND others can hear me. I don’t have to be afraid.

Website: Open Doors USA