We Interviewed A Former Elite North Korean Spy | Stay Curious #36
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Chul-eun Lee is a former high-ranking North Korean government official who defected to South Korea in 2016. He swam 6km from North to South Korea and started a new life. We asked him about his journey, his former job with the North Korean government, and the differences he sees between North and South Korea.
Special thanks to Chul-eun Lee for taking the time to share his story with the world.
If you're fluent in Korean and English and want to help him with English subtitles, feel free to reach out to him here: lgh871111@gmail.com
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@AsianBoss we need an update of where Chul-eun Lee is nowdays!
i wanted to listen to this in the background whilst doing work, then I realised I don't understand Korean.
xDD
😂🤣
haha, same
😂😂😂
love that your used "whilst".
He managed to talk for almost 40 minutes without saying anything unnecessary or boring. Every sentence was packed with information and the interviewer asked the right questions. Great Job from both.
Except for that BS about the buybull. Other cults are banned as well, of course. And NO! that OF COURSE doesn't make it an "atuist cuntry" because they are brainwashed to "worship" their own "supreme being". The only difference is, this one actually exists....
@@WilbertLekthe bible? im confused as to why youve chosen to miss spell these words. are you mocking him?
lmfao
He was concerned he couldn't speak very well. He spoke beautifully. Amazing story
@@gmoney6075 Wilbert Lek is being a bigot and a troll trying to mock people of faith. It sounds like the people worshiping in the Christian church were executed or enslaved for their faith. Same attitude of hate and intolerance on display, Wilbert Lek is just being too small-minded to realize it.
This guy is clearly a man who has reached another level of wisdom. He's seen (and participated) in the worst aspects of his home country, abandoned hearth and home, rejected his old ways, started from nothing in a new country, and can speak honestly and frankly about the shortcomings and strengths of both countries (without making any false equivalence). Bravo!
Unlike you
@@mryellow9655 awesome response! You really got him there! Wow!
@@mryellow9655 Looks like we've uncovered another Trump voter. "Unlike You? Where do you get off with that? I agree with Gates 100%
@@johnnyohness go cry
He is a SS officer equivalent in NK. He describes crimes againts humanity he parted like fun stories in his job. No remorse, no regret. I heard tons of NK dectors saying how they hate the organization he worked in.
I love how pragmatic he is. And how he just states facts without resorting to bias. Didn't even notice the time running. He would make a great analyst. Sure hope he gets to start his own channel soon.
He should become a diplomat for South Korea since he could facilitate a better relationship with North Korea.
@@flytink1 I don't think North Korea would like to talk with him in any way that is well mannered.
@@dennisddt1146 lol well he can pretend he’s a double agent and tell N. Korea he defected so they could have a man on the inside. Then he can feed N. Korea just enough intel to be convincing so they trust him as an agent. But not enough to give away truly important state secrets. Even if N. Korea was mad he defected, his intel is too valuable to pass up! At least they’d cooperate with him. In fact, if I’m North Korea, I’d send over a spy who supposedly “defected”. The defector would have an interesting, harrowing story and then try to work his way into a gov’t position in South Korea. Lmao I’m not siding with N. Korea but if they’re smart, that’s what they should do. If I’m South Korea, if I find out there’s a spy for North Korea working in South Korea’s CIA or NSA, I’d turn them into a double agent. They could serve as a back channel and they can plant false intel to mislead N.Korea. You could say, “what’s the point in all this?” The point is to gather intel on North Korea and to have another back channel or point of communication. Nobody’s going to learn anything worth knowing about North Korea while sitting at a conference table at the DMZ! If you poke a hole in a dam, you create a leak. The dam loses a little water but if your main goal is to break down the dam wall, it’s a small win! The only way you can defeat your enemy is by learning everything you can about them. Aside from their nuclear weapons program, the most valuable intel to gather would be on their infrastructure, GDP, trade relations, etc. North Korea’s only hope of survival is opening their borders to trade. But I guess if their country as a whole becomes stronger, the Kim family regime becomes weaker. That’s probably why they keep N. Korea so isolated. But N. Korea has a wealth of natural resources, so realistically, because their economy is so underdeveloped and they have an agrarian society, this is their most valuable commodity.
@@flytink1 yeah i doubt the north would take kindly to a defector being a diplomat.
And he still could be a spy? Maybe because he’s such a great analyst, he was sent to SK as a spy with a cover as a defector
I was really impressed with how easily he saw through South Korea's nationalism. He never idolizes anything, but rather objectively assesses his surroundings. He's really open-minded and I enjoyed hearing his story
I like how you point out he objectively assesses, which if you think of it, thats what spy’s do. That’s what intelligence officers have to do. He cuts through and just see’s it.
Wonder how many deaths he has on his hands
@@pyrrosdimas5798 You wouldn't have done anything else in his position.
yeah - that mindset helped him see through the north korea propaganda
@@oliver24x I would, but I guess that's my family and there is a reason why a part was deported in Siberia by communist's.
"I don't think I spoke well". The entire time I was thinking that he was extremely good at story-telling and conveying his ideas.
seriously. i havent watched a full youtube video in a very long time. usually i skip around. i looked down at the 30 minute mark and thought i was only 5 minutes in. absolutely amazing story teller.
They are not defectors. They are surivors
@@gubeym same
I thought I'd watch a little bit of the beginning and maybe skim along, but I was captivated by the storytelling and watched the whole thing without a stop.
exactly
I appreciate the guest's candor and he was so authentic about the good and bad in N. Korea. It's sad that employers discriminated him in S. Korea based off the fact that he was from N. Korea instead of looking at the perspective of a defector that was brave enough to escape for a better life. Great interview.
I thought the same thing. What a waste of talent and experience. I look forward to him realizing his dream of his own English-based KZhead channel.
There is a lot of prejudice and fear towards North Koreans in South Korea, partly because they don’t trust that they’re not spies. They are also assumed to be unintelligent because education is extremely lacking for most North Koreans, and even if they’re “lucky” enough to be educated, it’s full of propaganda and lies. It’s unfortunate that they’re stigmatized for something that want no part of.
North Koreans are stigmatized in South Korea. Most work poorly paid unstable jobs or sell their bodies, typically only the really goodlooking ones become highly paid live streamers
Maybe he could apply for a job with the US Dept of State as a consultant. His knowledge would be from a true insider's.
He strikes me as a man who cares more about truth and honesty than crafting a narrative to please or avoid offending certain group of people. Very refreshing, and I really hope he's able to make a positive impact throughout his life in South Korea or whereever he may end up in future.
his story didn’t really add up. he somewhat still seemed a bit brainwashed by nk propaganda. definitely got spy vibes. his escape way to easy.
He SWAM FOR 8 HOURS ?! To defect to South Korea?! This guy is EPIC!
@@user-ks1rn8ze2i okay big guy
@@user-ks1rn8ze2i why is that? Could you please elaborate?
There are North Korean and Chinese government commitioned (as well as voluntary Patriotic Chinese) people (spies/hackers) stationed in China whose job is to go on line and try to sway the public opinions towards their regime. They are obviously using psudonames and North Korean ones commonly pretend to be a South Korean. They usually say things on comment sections to change the opinions of the people towards more positive image of North Korea. So one needs to be decerning as to which comment could be made by such people when faced with crazy or questionable comments.
ikrrrrrr
I mean 8 hours does sound unrealistic. Can someone really swim 8 hours long? Probably with tides, I would be tired in less than 30 minutes. It could be true but I have my doubts
"I'm a simple man" Recognizes tidal cycles, alludes security, knows how.... tendons work in relation to an electric fence, or how they cramp in an eight mile swim.
probably because its in-line with his previous work that he knows that knowledge and base on experience. they have different education system there after all
@@chaosghostring9682 True, but my point is while he says "simple" as almost derogatory towards himself. It is an incredible strength lacking in most adults today.
Simple doesnt have to mean a retard ... And the things he knows must have something to do with the fact that he was planning to leave North Korea , isnt it ??
@@brettwilson5389 simple means different from where you, me, him and others came from. being simple depends on your experience and background, simple for you might be eating a bucket of chicken but for some simple can only be eating a fried egg. simple knowledge for you might be how to file taxes, but most dont know that. it depends on perspective as relation to background and experience :)
Yeah... he clearly had at least a passing knowledge of how torture works *sweat drop*
This man's story is so amazing . Here he was living an elite life but could see the cruelty of the treatment of the poor and working class. I'm so happy he escaped and appreciate how well he told his story it could be a Netflix movie indeed.
No apologies and no remorse from his side. His organization executes and kills innocent people.
This is the best interview I’ve watched from North Korea defector so far... the details of how he get escaped and swim across the sea just so stunned... hope that he never gets anymore discrimination in SK, or if he gets, hope that he’s able to understand and ignores that and just having faith in whatever he does..
He's eloquent and his story was very clearly communicated. What he said about not underestimating North Korea is probably the truth that people are not comfortable with. It's a mindset thing.
The West has done extensive analysis. In the first two weeks of a war situation, North Korea could do a lot of damage to South Korea, in particular the Seoul area. After that it would stop pretty quick, and they would be forced into a defence situation. After 4 - 6 weeks the US had converted the entire North Korea to farmland and rocks, without using any atomic bombs. I can hear in him the same sentiments that many East Germans have/had.
@@krollpeter When nothing is certain, anything is possible.
@IAm Nana No need to think the other countries were any better when they developed their atomic bombs. The US for example exposed hundreds of soldiers in different locations to tests. They let them view the explosion from near, as an example. Of course they claimed at that time it was not known how dangerous the radiation is. That however is BS. No excuse for these inhumane experiments and incidents. It seems when it comes to national interests, governments thinking is like: A sacrifice but we have to do it for the greater good.
@@user-ks1rn8ze2i posts like this should be auto-removed. You can not state someone is lying without saying why you think this.
I don't think any knowledgeable person is in doubt that North Korea can do a lot of damage/win a battle or two BUT they don't have enough resources or allies to win an actual war. Having lived in South Korea several years, I never truly worried about NK attacking because they know good and well, they day they attack is the day they die. As long as the rich stay rich like this guy talked about, they're not going to be interested in dying.
I like how his tall friend just goes along with the “you go first” plan to get past the mines
I didn't really understand that part. Does having long legs make it easier to avoid mines somehow? Or did they just get lucky?
@@parkpatt if his friend steps on a mine, only his friend dies, because his legs are further away from them
@@Azrazel_qwp wow. Thanks for explaining. What a heroic thing to do.
@@Jay-pm9gh how horrible and strange. Can you share the link to the article?
@@Jay-pm9gh istnt it that the dude just escaped the same year? he is not necessarily mr Lee's friend
I’m so happy I clicked on this video. I’ve never learn so much about anything in this short amount of time. It’s crazy to think that they swam for 4 hours. My hands start hurting after 40 minutes of being in water. He is honestly so inspiring and his friend. He really grabbed my attention and had me completely focused on every single word for 40 minutes. Definitely watching this again later. Favorite story so far.
Are you aware that he and his organisation took part in crimes against humanity where innocent people get executed or put into concentration camps? No apologies, no remorse.
I was working with a south korean organization that help NK defectors for few months, the org. called PSCORE… tbh his story of escaping is one of the fastest one, which makes me kinda doubting him. I know for normal people it’s really hard to swim for that long, but i’ve heard stories that are worse than his. Because others have to go through either china or russia before reaching SK, others even have frostbite while escaping, and once they escape it’s also hard to keep contact with family etc… that’s why it’s kinda hard for me to trust him.
@@tatiairwinn do you think his fast escape might be because he was in the top 10% and was able to access or ask around for more information on the fastest route compared to the everyday north korean? That's what I'm guessing at least
@@naritruwireve1381 probably. Maybe because of luck as well. However, that is not the only thing that makes him seems fishy.
But this wouldn't make him look fishy, of he just is smart and looks for the fastest way? @@tatiairwinn
19:43 is one of those moments where you're like 'Wow. I bet so many others have tried to escape but WERE 10 minutes late, and those ten minutes cost them their lives.' Such a great interview, so interesting.
This guy is something. You don't need to know the language to see how well-spoken he is. He cognizes the world and reflects each problem in its perspective. He is a dreamer. Even South Korea will become small for him. No wonder he defected.
TRUTH
Yeah … he comes across as a classic adventurer and dreamer or seeker … I agree … grafting in South Korea will disappoint him … I like the guy’s style. Cudos to him
I have no idea what he is saying and relying on subtitles but the way he speaks and his inflection are captivating for some reason. I found myself turning it up to hear better even tho i am just reading it lol.
Looks like he has more social skills than the StarCraft players from South Korea
I agree with your observation, he will probably emigrate to Japan or China next.
Swimming 8 hours to freedom, now that is truely badass.
@Kirk Wolfe Well said though
@Kirk Wolfe They keep going because the system like this is implemented and a new change could risk bloody civil war and lots of refugees the other asian countries do not want. Also north korea totaly missed the the point where they could modernise at least a bit. The constant comparison with germany is nonesense because germany before the division reached a certain level of industrial development and so did some other eastern european countries like poland, Czech, hungary and others which are do overall good these days again. The eastern european countries who didn't reached that level suffer till today from communism days. There are certain steps in devleopment which have to be done in certain time frames and if you do not you never will able to keep up. One of these steps was the industrial revolution in 19th century and the next big one is now the digital revolution. Also majority of the world is going down and not up. It always goes in cycles of 70-100 years. Usually at that time there had been wars and cards new mixed and new growing after because everything had been destroyed. Thanks to nuclear weapons no direct wars anymore between the super powers and because of that it is not exploding but imploding, and governemnts do war against their own puplic in cooperation with big companies. Yet because it is so clever intelligent portraied majority doesn''t realise it. We are in the beginner phase of the biggest economy crash ever happend and the biggest experiment of humankind considering scoiety transformation and technology development. In retro-perspectiv Trump wasn't such a desaster as he is portraied, because he tried to prevent that, but had come too late into power and had no idea how political power is gained and used inside the institutions (and has no manners). He is not part of the real deep state ochestraiting all this, which is why he had be removed. It was pure luck he won the first election because establishment was sure they would win.
@Alexander Samuseu Stanislav Kurilov decided to leave the USSR because he was an oceanographer who kept getting excluded from overseas projects due to the authorities restricting him from a visa due to his Chemical Warfare instructor military experience/family who emigrated/dad who was a POW in WW2. He jumped off a USSR cruise ship with a snorkeling mask and fins off the coast of Siargo Island, Phillipines but due to storm conditions and strong currents he was out at sea for 3 nights, 2 days clinging to a local fishing boat when a Filipino fisherman found him.
@Kirk Wolfe Wow, you sound like you're ready to join the 1984, not so Great Reset team of totalitarians. Please allow me to clue you in on a tiny detail you got wrong; the globalists who it sounds like you're primed to worship want 100% of the world vaccinated so that millions of people are eliminated & they're left with just enough "human capital" as they call us to do their bidding; you need to wake up before you're no longer free to spout such foolishness.
@@sheilacabrera3986 Got vaccinated- doing just fine 😀
This is one of the best interviews I've seen in a long time. The man doing the interviewing asked some really great questions, and it was interesting to hear from a privileged class defector. The fact that he was able to get air time about his experience without being expected to recount his most traumatizing experiences was refreshing. I know it's important for those stories to get told too, but I worry about their PTSD getting worse after the stress of an interview like that. Getting re-traumatized is awful.
Isn't telling your story part of healing PTSD though...
@@VitaKet not always. Sometimes, until you find a productive way to talk and break down the trauma, you just relive it every time you talk.
This was one of the most insightful and fascinating interviews I've ever seen. Well done.
"Punishment depends on the severity of a crime" "He overtook a car with a 216 numberplate, so he got executed"
Seeing as that got interpreted as disrespect to their supreme leader, that's only natural
Rofl..... ha ha. Sad but true
Bro he was so calm and casual about I had to rewind to make sure I heard that right.
@@sormin3456 Of course, but from a western point of view this is just silly.
@@heret1c385 The United States differs.
Stories like Lee Chul-eun's are one of the reasons why Asian Boss should never stop from existing. Thank you Asian Boss for another quality content. Love all the way from the Philippines!
Indeed.
also Love from Washington State in the U.S.A.
onga pre kaya makikiangkas ako sa kasikatan ng 2k likes ng comment mo. His life in NK and escape could be a good movie / autobiography documentary. South Korea film makers needs to see this very thrilling spy like setting. This interviewer is very good the interactions, conversation and questions are on point. Very informative. 31:00 para sainyo to fellow peenoise 🇵🇭 na mga adik at sinasamba ang kpop / kdrama. Hanapin nyo mga testimonies ng ating ibang kababayan o kahit ibang foreigners na nanirahan sa South Korea ng makita niyo gaano kababa tingin nila satin lalo na sa mga ofw dun na mga minimum wage / workforce / domestic helpers. Tingin nila satin mga tools, modern slaves kasi kahit anong trabaho kahit gaano kadumi at kababa gagawin natin kasi wala eh alang alang sa pamilya sa pinas na kesyo mababa dito sa South Korea eh mataas naman kikitain kumpara sa Pinas kaya tanggapin nalang mga pang aalipusta ng koreano. Fight me triggered dudongs come comment
Yeah this was the most genuine and fair interview I’ve ever seen with a defector. Great stuff and I hope to see more, I hope this guy ends up being able to make that KZhead channel, I’d definitely be a watcher
he pulled me in with his story, i was so interested. im thankful to know the struggles he and his friend went through, hopefully it doesnt always have to be like this...it reminds me to never take my life for granted..i hope they are doing well mentally.
amen
Wow, I am truly impressed with Chul-eun Lee's eloquence and ability to communicate his experiences as a former elite North Korean spy. It's clear that he speaks with honesty and an open mind, making it easy to engage with his story. I was so captivated by his interview that I didn't even notice how much time had passed! I would love to see him start a KZhead channel in the future, so we can learn more about his unique perspective and experiences. Thank you for sharing this incredible interview with us!
I teared up when he said 6 km. Not because it was such a feat to swim that far, which it really is, but because 6 km feels so close. It's unbelievable how different things could be in only 6 km.
If you go to the DMZ you can even see the NKs just working and their houses, it’s a strange feeling how close by they are yet they are living in the past almost.
@@jewellui Or a - dystopian society.
@ Well, he said that the south korean thermal cameras lost them because of their body temperature going down, so they were close
@ Yes he did. 17:47
What boggles me is how can they swim for those many hours and don't get hypothermia? and granting he said they have no pants
"I'd like to eat soybean paste soup made by my mom". Damn, this hit hard
She’s probably brought to a camp though
@@RubelliteIsHere most likely publicly executed to serve as examples for other north koreans trying to defect. Its just a matter of choice whether to continue living in the "perfect" north korea jong un empire or try to see some change at the south side of their fence. I bet if his father was still alive he will stay there. Looks like he and his father are very close. If i were him i'd probably wait until my mom dies then i'll go
@@kakashihatake1869 He will be 50 years old then. Maybe he will die when swimming to South Korea. If I was him I will say goodbye then go
No, it doesn't hit that hard. It is like me sort of wishing to taste that soviet ice cream again. It was pretty damn nice, I swear. This shouldn't hit hard. Any mother who isn't shot by the regime after such a high standing son has escaped the country is to be seen as extremely high ranking person. (Edit: she hasn't even been declassified, as far as I can understand from this interview, which is MUCH stronger fact). She embodies the elite of NK, the very people who make that country so dreaded by all.
@@RubelliteIsHere FeelsBadMan
I'm about to shed tears when the North Korean man said how he missed soybean paste soup made by his mother, hope he can meet mother in near soon. also hope he can live well in South Korean. This is a quite impressive real talk.
This man is so open minded. So broad minded. Always willing to put things backed by logic, facts and intelligence. And needless to say, extremely fearless.
The guy was an educated, trained, committed intelligence officer. No wonder he speaks intelligently, no wonder he is an observant. As he said, stereo types in peoples mind, make it hard to realise.
stories like Lee Chul Euns raise attention in the eyes of fake news investigators like me, and this fake news is easy to debunk. juyst google 'Lee Chul Eun escapes North Korea, and not a single fox, cnn, aljazeera, rt, or bbc, or even korean news article pops up.. just 'asian boss' who is living from youtube earnings, and willing to get his disco dancing boyfriend to pretend to be an ex north korean spy. No North Korean of this name escaped in 2016 or any other year. Lee Chul Eun, is a famous S Korean MMA fighter and also an olympic shooter name, which is where Asian Boss probably made his mistake with this fake news. Google says "Your search - Chul-eun Lee escapes north korea - did not match any news results." So don't you think that proves the event never happened? as swimming to freedom would be jumped on by all major news agencies of the world, if true. But Asian Boss is a fabricator of Fake News, cares more about his youtube earnings than how much he influences his viewers.
@@AjarnSpencer How could you search his name if he is using an alias?
@@AjarnSpencer He is using an alias, he's real name is not public.
Intelligence officers (of any nation) are absolute cnuts, not the erudite, sophisticated and genteel people you imply.
@@AjarnSpencer Lol you didn't even watch the video fully and you don't know that the name is an alias. Mr. "fake news investigator" LMAO
“I’m a simple man- I miss my mom. A lot.” 😭
His certainty that his family will be OK is part of what makes him an obvious NK plant.
Great interview! I hope he’s doing well.
A very handsome, well spoken man.. I hope he has much happiness in his life
"A single spy inside is scarier than hundreds of enemies outside"
That sentence is like a double edged sword.
Among Us in a nutshell
... said the spy. This dude is a spy, reading from a script
@@solmoman ...writes the guy who really must be so much smarter than everyone else to be able to dismiss everything he's shared and just go on "well, he was a spy, so he is a spy, so he is just reading a script".
@@solmoman Prove it.
He was such an elite spy that he's convinced us that he's not a spy anymore.
was, or is?
@@faroukabad bum bum bum buuuuuummmm
He sounds like a spy in contrast to other defectors like anomi park
@@suronbru9568 I am not saying that it's impossible, but I am not sure if that's the case. He said bad things about North Korean government (like there is less freedom) and he exposed things that they said, like the fact that NK elite government call lower class citizens "trash".
I was worried going through the comments that I was the only one who got that vibe.
Just after going into the comments after the video, did I notice it was 40 min long. This interview was incredible. It felt like a 10 min video, while being packed to the brim with information. I could definetly listen to more of his stories any day.
I'm glad he survived and is willing to share his story. Wishing him the best of luck and health. Hopefully everything continues to work out for him.
This simple interview is better than any Hollywood movie.
Sad that our movies are generally well below an interview. Network paparazzi here wouldn’t have done a good interview either.
Why don't you contact Yeonmi Park? Or maybe you've done it already 😊
No , just no
They'll still get scarjo to play him
It sure went by fast! Hard to believe it was 40 minutes, seemed more like 10 minutes! Great interview
He swam for 8 hours to escape north korea? Get this man in the olympics asap
@@user-ks1rn8ze2i how do you know? Are you north korean?
@김시접 you understand you made the interviewee’s point right? Wish you had more brain to realize what you’ve done.
@@heleenblbas8669 Yes im
@@user-ks1rn8ze2i So which parts of the interview did he lie about if you can explain it since you made a pretty different comment from everyone else?
I don't think we can accuse him of lying, nor should we welcome every sentences as undeniable truth. There might be events that were twisted or expressed in a certain way to hide uglier things, there might be parts of the escape that were perceived by him in a given way based on how traumatic and nerve racking of an experience it was, there might even be parts that he can't remember well and romancized a bit. Did he really swim 8 hours in cold water? We can't know for sure how long it took, he definitely didn't start a timer when he left guys.. I mean c'mon. What we do know for sure is that he is insanely brave for risking his life to run away from his comfortable lifestyle to chase the unknown. May it be 100% true, 95% or hell even 50% true, this was a fascinating interview.
철은씨와 같은 생각을 하는 사람들도 많을 거란 생각이 들어요. 소신있게 이런 용기를 낸 것에 정말 감사하다고 생각합니다. 상대를 제대로 알아야 우리도 대처를 할 수 있는 건데... 듣기 싫은 말을 들으려 하지 않는 사람들이 많은 것도 사실이에요
I can't read a word of this. But, I agree completely.
This is an unbelievable interview. I never spent 40 minutes so focused in a video, now I really want to improve my knowledge about North and South war, differences and so on. Thanks, Asian Boss for sharing this video! And I hope somebody help this guy to start his channel, he has SO MUCH to share and this host lead this talk easily. It was a high level content🔥
Watching him talk about his views and experiences, I can see that he is a person of intellect, the one that observes and understands well.
yea
This really jumped out to me too. This guy really pays attention well
ofc he observes bruh. He is a SPY
Exactly what i got from him
Agreed. I guess that was the perks from who he was back then in North Korea. He is very observant & good at deducing the current situation.
This did not feel 40 minutes long. Words cannot express how enlightening it was from start to finish. Thank you so much for working on this!
I didn't even what that this is a 40 minute long video, until I saw your comment.
I would've happily listened to this for 2 hrs.
Yeyeye np
i also watched with much higher speed tho hahah
@@kyzcent3061 ikr
I love when someone decides to go totally honest! I knew this was going to be a great interview as soon as he talked about the public sentiment. Great job 👏
I really enjoyed this interview, he is a very smart man and was able to tell his story and share inside information beautifully. Also although I don't understand a word, he has a very capturing way of speaking, in his tone and movements! Loved this interview for every part, from topic, to chemistry, to filming, to the way it was cut! Also probs to whoever did the subtitles! Amazing job!
I wonder what happened to his friend that defected with him and if he's doing okay. But I really hope Mr Lee will be able to get his dream of having a youtube channel some day and that somebody will help him with the English subtitles. I can tell he has so much more to share.
I wonder how many of these defectors are actually legit and if their credibility are being verified at all. Lots of western media outlets would jump at the chance to capitalise on this and for all we know they could literally just be south koreans that can speak with a northern accent.
@@AW-rv6fz North Koreans are still looked down upon in South Korea.I don't think anyone would fake being North Korean.
he does have a youtube channel if you scroll up to the pinned comments
his friend is doing well. married and have a job. they came out on TV together once. and they both tried to take the credit for escaping the NK in a funny way.
@@AW-rv6fz South korean goverment has a dept dedicated to this kind of matters and they were able to successfully screen all spies out so far. there are some korean Chinese that try to come to South Korea to receive money from South Korean gov. b/c the gov gives you money to settle for a yr and provide housing for a yr. and pays college education for you if you are legit defector. (yeah, once you come to South korea, you receive all these but N korean dont know about this. they were educated that South korean gov will shred them into pieces and take your eyes out) Sout korean gov literally has a list of all population of N Korea, they asked you things like who were your classmates? what are their names? how many kid does your neighbor have. etc.
"I lived 30 years in North Korea" Me: w-wait, He's not a young 20 year old man?
Arent north koreans genetically smaller due to the large scale famine in the 90s
@@blackdiamond808 Yeah, plus most North Korean teenagers look like pre-teens/younger because they're malnourished
@@blackdiamond808 There are social classes in North Korea just like there are in countries all around the world. In the beginning it's mentioned that he was an 'elite', he was likely a more well off North Korean from birth. I think this guy has had some cosmetic procedures done to his face though
@@blackdiamond808 Upper-class, no malnourishment. There have been a couple of upper-class people defecting in the past years. Most of them had some sort of trouble over there, they did not escape because of bad living.
The hell you talking about, he looks his age...
This is gold, I enjoyed every second, thank you so much you guys! Hope he's doing well.
It would never get boring while having a conversation with this person. I was captured by his way of thinking and portraying his views regarding the two different society. Simply amazing!
This is the most insightful interview I've watched from a defector. The fact that he is very self aware of himself, the world and incredibly honest makes me trust his experiences and opinions so much more. Great vid!
not so honest. when asked about the reason to leave he first talks for 5 minutes about the fact he didn't like rulers calling average people 'garbage' and only after that for a second mentions a real reason - problems with his superior. and i also had a feeling all this interview is of course not the way to tell people about north korea but to get some personal benefits i.e. media coverage.
His biggest culture shock was the move from elitist to peasant!
i dont trust him at all
@@unechka also said he took off his cloths and everything and took off his backpack but when he arrived he said he was in uniform with his ID and knife...
This comment is directed towards all the saps, fools and useful idiots commenting on how enlightened and insightful this guy is, and that suggest that the whole business of the cold war, and the remaining two Koreas, is just some giant unfortunate misunderstanding; that there are good and bad things to be said about both the ROK and the DPRK, and that maybe what we really need is just more "understanding" of North Korea. Let me begin with a little story: Years ago, before I was married, and while working abroad, I had a Chinese girlfriend that was from Dandong (city across the Yalu River from the DPRK, on the Yellow Sea/Wan Hai). She came from a true believing family of CCP members and was an ardent defender of the PRC, although she also lived abroad and was really no communist. She told me of how, during the DPRK famine of the 1990s, ordinary North Koreans would come across the river and appear on the doorsteps of ordinary Chinese in her town, simply wanting something to eat. Eventually, most of these North Koreans would be rounded up by the Chinese police. They would be held in police compounds in Dandong until DPRK police could come across the bridge and collect them. The DPRK police came in a truck. They lined up the handcuffed and starving North Koreans, ran steel shackles through their noses, like oxen, connected them all with a light chain; attached the chain to the truck, and towed them, shuffling, back over the bridge to a DPRK police or military compound where someone walked around with a pistol and shot each one of them in the head. This guy in an ex-DPRK secret policeman. He is a participant in the murder and torture of innocent people--even if his only role was as that of an "investigator"--although he related how his family used to be "stationed" at a DPRK gulag, which he then went on to describe like some sort of kibbutz surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. His experience of the DPRK was that of the ruling elite, in which he held membership by position of birth. The only reason that he was able to defect as he did was the opportunity afforded him as such. And he was received as a defector in the ROK, and not prosecuted, for the obvious reasons of international politics. He now has to live in South Korean society. That is much more easily done if one is not a pariah. It is for this reason that he soft pedals the horrors of the DPRK as much as he is able, tries to suggest various false equivalencies, and suggests a sort of pan-Korean reconciliation on the basis of the dismissal of a non-existent misunderstanding. Not only is everything he says and does entirely self-serving, I wouldn't be surprised to eventually learn that he is actually still a DPRK agent, although I am aware of no particular evidence of that. Anyone that would like to know more about what this man really did for a living in the DPRK would do well to read The Aquariums of Pyongyang, by Kang Chol-Hwan. And, Asian Boss, maybe you could do an interview with Kang Chol-Hwan. Better yet, maybe you could get Kang and this guy together for a joint interview. They could reminisce about Yodok Prison Camp. Given that you "don't want to vilify North Korea," that ought to be very sweet and poignant.
The interviewer was genuine while listening, that encouraged the defector to be eloquent at his best. Also he was a good listener, kudos to Asian boss and journalists should learn from them.
Yes I agree, interesting questions, nice pacing and satisfying conversation
Totally Super Agree
Interesting to hear his perspective as he was largely from the Elite class. His view is more partial and sympathetic of North Korea. He ate well, had a respectable job, and had some "freedoms". Of course his escape is extraordinary and not being in contact with his mother must be awful. However the majority of interviews of defectors are from the lower classes who were the ones spied upon(by him and others in his position), starved, and mistreated. He is not even worried that his mother may be punished because of their class status where others have the burden of knowing 2 to 3 generations may be imprisoned. Fascinating young man who appears to be very proud of his country just like the South Koreans he speaks of in the interview. I wish him the best.
Not me send him back
@@lovesallanimals9948 he wasnt proud of his country tho, he wanted people of the world to see the dangers of underestimating north korea by giving an unbiased view of their accomplishments. why do u say send him back? thats incredibly disrespectful
@@lovesallanimals9948 i think your mindset are better fitting in north Korea.
The majority of interviews are also with people who can’t get a job besides telling about North Korea and get more money if they lie and invent crazy stories. That’s a reason why there are so many weird myths about North Korea flying around. It’s sensationalism and a lack of perspective for defectors.
I think that his perspective is very valuable for the reasons you mentioned. Being part of the North Korean upper-middle class allows him valuable insight into North Korea's strengths that we don't really hear about. He is not saying South Korea is worse than North Korea or whatever. He is giving an objective review of both sides and I can see that his loyalties now are completely with South Korea. He is like all outsiders adapting to a new home; he is able to give honest and helpful feedback because he has nowhere to go besides his new home. And so he is fully committed to South Korea.
He spoke so well! I found this 40 min passed so fast. I wish so badly that he finds a subtitler and someone to help him make a KZhead or twitch show. So many would watch. And what would be shared would be invaluable. Bravo! 👏 So happy you made it out and are safe.
wow, I never watched an interview fully. He kept us engaged with his story and wow! he is so open minded, that is what humans lack the most, to accept both right and wrong things about something. Be doesn't want to bring a bad name to S/N Korea, he is just telling the facts it's just the people who have a backward mindset think that whatever he says he is one sided. Really enjoyed this interview, like really really. Loved this interview thanks for sharing such amazing insights asain boss!n
just think of all the other great interviews out there that you have not fully watched yet! so much to discover!
@@robopecha yeah,I'd love to do that, I maybe sometimes I just don't find the time or such nice interviews, but this interview was truly insightful :)
same, when i first looked at the video duration i was pretty off to watch but when i was watching i was so engaged i didn't feel bored at all, surprised when it ended.
True, first interview on this channel I didn't even pause....felt like this dude's mindset will bring him places.
me to on the edge of my seat
I really do hope he gets his own channel! This is so informative and it really do leave out the bias we hear from media. I love how well spoken and engaging this interview is. I hope we get to hear more from him.
Without doubt the best interview I've ever watched. Extremely insightful and I wish nothing but success for Chul-eun Lee in his new life.
A smart, well-educated North Korean, he definitely has some interesting perspectives on us. Hearing him out is important.
Yes exactly , i was looking for a comment like this one , i 100% agree
You realize the he was Secret Police and that he probably defected as a spy for NK, right?
@@elenabob4953 And you too must realize that I'm just interested in his opinion on outer world, and I'm not nominating him for world president.
@@elenabob4953 he said the south korean went through several months of interrogation. I dont think it would be likely that this 40 minute interview would provide enough information to undermine the months of interrogation they went through
MASS MEDIA ACCOUNTABILITY! This king is out here speaking facts about how the media will rip someone to shreds and desert them, even if the story was completely wrong or the person was falsely accused.
Exactly! he was able to dissect the issue with the south korean media and even compare to his country!
Dude got out of dictator regime and was investigator security officer of course he would have a good perception skills I like this dude Sadly his mother and his family might get killed or executed
Yep he mentions exactly what is wrong with media around the world :)
Maybe he just thinks rationally but not emphatetic. He probably sent a lot of people in prison camps or to get executed during his 20s just because they wanted to freely criticise the government he worked for or follow a religion
@@jojobad1796 that was his job. unless we watched different interviews Im sure you picked up on the fact that they will "weed out" any dissidents or those who aren't doing their job. It was probably his life or theirs. He even mentioned that they report each other so yeah definitely didn't have a say in the matter since he was always being watched
THIS WAS BRILLIANT! Easily one of the best interviews I have seen on any subject matter. Good luck!
I really wanted to listen to this interview. However I do not understand Korean and as a person who is totally blind I am unable to read the subtitles. I hope that one day this interview can be translated into English and audible format. I’m sure many of us would like to know his story. Thank you Just The same for putting it out there. The more informed we are, the better.
if you don't mind me asking, how did you type this comment then? Or was it another person who helped you typing this? If so then can the person translate it to you?
@@2hot1 I don’t mind at all. I have an iPhone and I use VoiceOver. If you go into settings, then go under accessibility you will find it there. I also use dictation when texting and I can type as well since I can hear the letters. However, if there is no audio description on videos, nor translations, that definitely makes it challenging. I would honestly rather have people ask me questions than assume. So ask away. 😁😁
In the drop-down of this video there is a “transcript” section with the Korean. If you can copy it, you should be able to Google-translate it. That said, this is 40 minutes worth of dialogue.
@@TheAeroInsider thank you. I think that would be a little tedious and it would definitely take a very long time. Maybe I’ll watch this with someone someday in the future.
@@pottedplant1524Have you been able to hear it yet?
Somehow I couldn't take my eyes off the subtitles for 40mins. Best piece of journalism I've seen in decades.
I knowww
AGREED
Excellent journalist , really skilled.
I had to slow down the speed of the video to be able to keep up with reading it all. It went so fast in some parts!! I wasn’t going to miss what was being said! I was hooked within seconds.
Seriously. Excellent interviewer, and concise interviewee.
This is world class content. This is the sort of stuff that news media should be doing.
💯
the MSM dominated by american news corporation won't tell you of their deep collusion. The american government supports the kim dictatorship while still having military bases posted in the south. It's their best interest to keep the conflict going.
@@winstond4445 true because a conflict with someone outside unites the home. If there is no one on the outside, the home divides starting inner conflicts. Conflict is just human nature.
This became my favorite interview from a North Korean defector. So interesting to hear his story and his wisdom. Love that he showed no bias, just simply observed and stated what he's seen.
amazing interview. thanks and love from the U.S.
Well that was the fastest fourty minutes of my life. How engrossing
I dont even realize its a 40 minutes video until reading ur comment. It feels like 10 minutes only 😱
@@irenemarietha5277 yess same! I was shocked when I read this comment. It only felt like a 10-20 minute video actually.
same
i saw the duration at first and i thought that i would just watch a bit and not finish it because i never finish a 40 min interview/ documentary. but man, it was so interesting, i kept watching then realized that i was almost finishing and was like.. it's been 40 mins already?? XD
HOLY I didnt even realized its 40 mins
Wow the mental fortitude on this guy. Really enjoyed the post-defecting conversation and his ambitions to improve the world's understanding of North Korea.
I'm sure, depsite his modesty, he has physical fortitude as well - he must be a catch! Asian Boss: we need a new entry in the dating series!
he's a spy, you dimwit
@@solmoman there is nothing more dimwitted than name-calling, I hope someday you can find a positive outlet for your energy, and maybe even some worthwhile contribution to the world beyond yourself
This was amazing !!! I loved his sincerity and authenticity.. thank you for this !!
I am literally 8 minutes in, and this is one of the most fascinating conversations I've ever seen on KZhead. EVER.
I mapped the journey that he and his friend swam on google Earth and my god… its insane. Seriously look it up.
Can you please share a link?
@@rishabgupta1772 you can do it yourself, just go to google map and put the location he mention.
I wanna help this guy write a book in English. For real. Not joking.
Sameeee he swam around 16km his estimates were far off.
@Meghan but where did he start from? Which part of the province
Fascinating. Thanks for the quality journalism. You're outdoing the msm with this stuff big time.
Not just MSM, but all the news organizations.
Everything he said is lying. i know coz im from korea
Hey Eric, didnt expect to see you here. Love your work in God of War and Tekken videos
@@user-ks1rn8ze2i sometimes you need to be from outside your culture to see things you can’t see from inside. Everyone has blind spots
@@user-ks1rn8ze2i I know there are some things we dont want to accept that hurts our national pride, but we have to admit there is still some form of hostility and discrimination in korean news and society, im saying this as a korean
Such a brave man. He had a decent life but he still was dissatisfied with how the others “below” him were treated. I hope he’s a happy person with his new life and he was very informative. Proud of him
he's a NK spy, trying to make it look good and collect data about SK
FASCINATING INTERVIEW!! Courageous man! Thank you both!
Mr Lee is very self critical and impartial in his speech. I hope he comes to be a frequent feature in upcoming programs, if not a guest reporter on Asian Boss. Kudos on this episode guys, very thought provoking!
I hope so too!
I would love to see him as a guest reporter on Asian Boss..🧡👏👏✌
the part when he was explaining how to detect electric current is fascinating
Right? I made a mental note if I ever come near an electric fence and had to escape with my life on the line. If I ever come into this situation (hopefully not), I hope I can recall this information.
Yes, always use the back of your hand to touch electricity.
@@michaellim4165 Also for checking heat, as you need your palm more than the back side
plus how to get away from cramps
Yes I didnt even know that until now!!!!
The part when he described the 8 hour escape hit me in a different way. The fact that he escaped knowing that he could get killed instantly, or his own mother meeting that same fate would have been scary, and very hard to decide if he was doing the right thing. I hope he lives his life to the fullest from now on, he really does deserve it.
There is a follow up interview with him!
Excellent interview and my heart goes out to the interviewee and his friend; truly brave and driven. Very glad to have watched.
wow. he’s a great storyteller. Even coming from someone who doesn’t speak korean and reading subtitles. i can imagine his escape so clearly. you can tell he is quite an intelligent man.
Yeah his empathy and intellect and self awareness are impressive, those kinds of people are rare in the world itself, let alone an even more propagandized nation
this is the first youtube video where i watched an entire 40mins of video without doing other stuff. great stuff
Me too! I was so drawn to the interview.
Me too.Otherwise I sometimes scroll through comments section while watching.
same here, it was such an informative and well executed interview!
yes exacly
☝🏻
이런 이야기를 나눠줘서 너무 고마워요!
Amazing interview and content. Thank you for sharing all that with the rest of the world and many wishes of peace, prosperity and freedom for all the good people in the Korean peninsula.
His interpretation of media is spot on! Accountability and humility are enormously under developed and under appreciated aspects. *also, does anyone know if he made a youtube channel?
I thought the same thing! Also the point that he made that people actually do not know what the value of freedom is.. "Take a look in North Korea!"
This comment is directed towards all the saps, fools and useful idiots commenting on how enlightened and insightful this guy is, and that suggest that the whole business of the cold war, and the remaining two Koreas, is just some giant unfortunate misunderstanding; that there are good and bad things to be said about both the ROK and the DPRK, and that maybe what we really need is just more "understanding" of North Korea. Let me begin with a little story: Years ago, before I was married, and while working abroad, I had a Chinese girlfriend that was from Dandong (city across the Yalu River from the DPRK, on the Yellow Sea/Wan Hai). She came from a true believing family of CCP members and was an ardent defender of the PRC, although she also lived abroad and was really no communist. She told me of how, during the DPRK famine of the 1990s, ordinary North Koreans would come across the river and appear on the doorsteps of ordinary Chinese in her town, simply wanting something to eat. Eventually, most of these North Koreans would be rounded up by the Chinese police. They would be held in police compounds in Dandong until DPRK police could come across the bridge and collect them. The DPRK police came in a truck. They lined up the handcuffed and starving North Koreans, ran steel shackles through their noses, like oxen, connected them all with a light chain; attached the chain to the truck, and towed them, shuffling, back over the bridge to a DPRK police or military compound where someone walked around with a pistol and shot each one of them in the head. This guy in an ex-DPRK secret policeman. He is a participant in the murder and torture of innocent people--even if his only role was as that of an "investigator"--although he related how his family used to be "stationed" at a DPRK gulag, which he then went on to describe like some sort of kibbutz surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. His experience of the DPRK was that of the ruling elite, in which he held membership by position of birth. The only reason that he was able to defect as he did was the opportunity afforded him as such. And he was received as a defector in the ROK, and not prosecuted, for the obvious reasons of international politics. He now has to live in South Korean society. That is much more easily done if one is not a pariah. It is for this reason that he soft pedals the horrors of the DPRK as much as he is able, tries to suggest various false equivalencies, and suggests a sort of pan-Korean reconciliation on the basis of the dismissal of a non-existent misunderstanding. Not only is everything he says and does entirely self-serving, I wouldn't be surprised to eventually learn that he is actually still a DPRK agent, although I am aware of no particular evidence of that. Anyone that would like to know more about what this man really did for a living in the DPRK would do well to read The Aquariums of Pyongyang, by Kang Chol-Hwan. And, Asian Boss, maybe you could do an interview with Kang Chol-Hwan. Better yet, maybe you could get Kang and this guy together for a joint interview. They could reminisce about Yodok Prison Camp. Given that you "don't want to vilify North Korea," that ought to be very sweet and poignant.
@@thisisyol I'm not clear on your point. You're German? What does this have to do with the subject at hand?
@@joeanonymous1834 After thinking about it for a bit and being german obviously: "Everything is relative".
@@thisisyol I'm still confused. By the way, were you around during the Third Reich? You're not guilty by blood.
I feel like every defector's story would be worthy of a novel or movie. What they have to go through is insane.
Agree especially in order to live by yeonmi park(north korea defector)
@@drstrange6563 Yeonmi makes up a large portion of her stories tho. There have been many inconsistencies pointed out by many journalists. Sure, she's been through hell i assume but she needs to exaggerate it to make a living and bring in more attention and views
@@drstrange6563 No way! She is the worse one who lies through her teeth just for money and attention.
@@myra8695 Exactly! Many in South Korea know how fake she is. She lies just for money and attention.
Why did you watch her video, if you watch her video you will know what humanity was. Also some of his video are more humanity than hatred just like you who loves hatred and heartless.
Thank you very much, the whole world is watching this interview (with english subtitles), indeed. I'm watching from Germany. Good day to you and all the best and thanks again for your genuine sharing.
I loved everything about this interview. Thank you for sharing your mind blowing story and also to the interviewer asking all those amazing questions. Both were phenomenal and the dynamics were incredible. Wow, simply wow
The interview was very well executed. His story was so intense that I didn't realise that I was reading subtitles. Hope people like him get to make the impact they want.
Same, I forgot about the subtitles, until I read your comment
Vous êtes nord Coréenne aussi ?
@@julien23lastchristmas2 "Of course". They're the mirror of society.
A true elite. I love how honest and transparent he is, talking about both countries, without any bias. And looking at the knowledge he has, he is definitely an intelligent figure. Its quite unfortunate that his talents and intelligence are wasted, but hope he will get the freedom and success he earned for. This is a very interesting interview. I could go on listen to his experiences and life story. Hope one day he could meet his mom.
It is fortunate though that there is no demand for his surveillence skills in South Korea. I don't think his intelligence is wasted, he just hasn't yet figured out what he wants to do with his life.
He would have made an excellent police officer. Perhaps thats why the discrimination happens. Fear of a North Koren elite showing up their cops. But isn't it supposed to be about service to the people of Korea? This is a disservice, to waste these talents. South Korea should have been proud that he would choose to have swam 8 hours in freezing water to wear their uniform... a shame. But he's quite young still. Who knows what the future will bring?
@@Krystalmyth He was doing surveillence on people. Spying on what they do in their personal lives, whether they go to church, what their opinion is about the system. I don't mean to speak against this guy, he's great, but in South Korea there is no equivalent institution conducting such surveillence (as far as I know of), and that's certainly not what police officers do. At best he could be an investigator journalist.
@@tamasmuszbek I'm sure it takes lot of skills to be an intelligent service officer and do your job for years, especially in North Korea. South Korea can definitely use this asset but they are just discriminating and wasting his value. I reckon he could be some sectors of CIA if he had proper language knowledge.
he's truely intelligent. no wonder he got in to Samsung
Considering he worked in intelligence in North Korea, I find it difficult to believe that his mother and relatives are still safe (not executed/punished) following his escape.
And he really talked to the world, here I am, a brazilian who lives in Brazil and I was one of the people that thought North Korea was just rural poverty. It was awesome to hear all the different aspects I wasn't expecting. I really hope Lee makes his youtube channel and clarify a lot of things, and I can only imagine how hard it must be to have a love-hate relationship with your own country and people (which is kinda the situation a lot of brazilians are at the moment), it must be hard to conciliate both sides. I wish you all the best, Lee!
What a lion this guy is! He's intelligent, cool-headed, articulate, and he has a lot to tell us. I really hope he gets to share his story and knowledge with the world. Kudos to the interviewer too! He's a great listener and he asks all the right questions.
He's a also a lion in terms of participating through his work in prosecuting, torturing and murdering innocent people. It's like saying a Gestapo policeman that left Nazi Germany to live in Argenetina is a well spoken lion.
@@Strokwor It's entirely different. Because North Koreans have no idea of the world outside. No idea of democracy or real freedom. No idea of what is even right or not. They don't believe in God, so they don't care about self righteousness. You have no idea how it is. He had no other choice or chance to live differently. It's all he knew.
@@Strokwor not exactly true, but I wish he was asked more about this stuff. However, I believe that if he would be responsible for murdering and torturing, then he wouldn't be released in the first place. Not everyone in the secret police does such things.
Luckily he decided to flee because he had to do cruel things to poor people, and that talks a lot about him
@@Strokwor Fix your way of thinking please, its broken.
Huge respect to the escape. I can understand the argument "not everything is bad in North Korea". My parents were born and raised in East Germany (GDR) and they always say that there were many good things back then that they miss now. But they would never wish for the GDR back. I hope that the two Koreas will unite someday and become a similar success story as Germany!
korean unifications is very unlikely and i think unlike in germany no one in SK really wants it.
Germany was not a success story. Say what you want about the historical tensions in place, but from a purely numerical point of view Germany is doing much worse than before it combined. West Germany was killing it a few decades ago, it's definitely a world power but doesn't hold foot against what it was in the 70s and 80s. Also, Majority of South Koreans are against it. We do not like our current president and while good relations with NK are supported, merging is both unrealistic and unfavoured.
@@sangeuncho8374 why is President Moon hated? He is a top shelf diplomat who significantly reduced tensions with NK.
@@eugenedebbs2189 I think it has something to do with Housing
@@eugenedebbs2189 Because he is a North Korean sympathist, so he overlooked the attrocities Kim Jong-Un committed
Amazing interview! Thank you so much. Love from Iceland ❤
That is one of the best interviews I have ever watched in my life. I wish I could just seat down with him and talk, talk for hours. He seems well spoken, kind and observant. Really interesting man.
Wow, this is one the most interesting interviews that I've watched. It was amazing to hear these nuanced and realistic perspectives, and perhaps this is the beauty of KZhead. One can learn so much through this platform if properly used. Thank you Asian Boss!
The good thing about him is he's frank. He doesn't sugarcoat things beyond his control. He doesn't care if he hurts the ego of North or South.
Indeed!
Probably why he had to leave nk
What a beautifully held interview. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
This is one of my favorite interviews, because he’s very open about both the positives and negatives of his past and present situations
This got me hooked from start to the end wow
Indian check 🇮🇳
@@divijdevsingh216 check.
Chul-eun lee is actually a badass and his story sounds like from an survival movie. Scouting prior to escape / breaking a possible electrified fence, clearing a minefield, crawl in mud for 200 meters to avoid being shot, swim for 4 hours and giving his friend a foot massage while he himself has issues being afloat.
Right? I can see the movie starting with him getting up and getting ready like a normal happy person, and then you start seeing things to indicate he's in N Korea, like the portraits on the wall, his uniform, etc. But it still shows him happily going to work and doing his job until something jacked up happens in the street and we start to see the cracks in the veneer. It could be such a great movie!
@@tubblebub I like the slow reveal its set in North Korea idea a lot
It makes total sense since he was what we'd consider a well educated man, and not any education, probably a military oriented one, considering where he worked at, any person like him would probably approach an escape the same way, scouting first, elaborating a strategy, preparing, etc.
A foot massage is the least you can do when you use your "friend" as a minefield blind walking cane.
@@xckk5849 haven't watched but wtf?! dummy test? jeez this guy is extreme for escaping
Amazing story! thank you very much for this interview!
Wow! So thankful for this interview!