Yeonmi Park: North Korea | Lex Fridman Podcast
Yeonmi Park is a North Korean defector, human rights activist, and author of the book In Order to Live. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
- Belcampo: belcampo.com/lex and use code LEX to get 20% off first order
- Gala Games: gala.games/lex
- BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off
- Eight Sleep: www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings
EPISODE LINKS:
Yeonmi's Twitter: / yeonmiparknk
Yeonmi's Facebook: / officialyeonmipark
Yeonmi's KZhead: / yeonmiparkofficial
In Order to Live (book): amzn.to/3wdtKfL
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast
Clips playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast Clips
OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
3:58 - Growing up in North Korea
9:22 - Animal Farm
15:37 - Search for meaning
20:25 - Love
22:42 - Language
27:06 - Yeonmi's dad
29:07 - Escaping North Korea
34:24 - The world is ignoring the genocide in North Korea
46:26 - Evil
49:17 - Nuclear war
50:07 - Marxist origins of North Korea
55:20 - Famine
1:00:07 - Kim Jong-un is pure evil
1:06:43 - Freedom
1:09:55 - Michael Malice
1:13:35 - Diversity
1:20:55 - Political correctness
1:30:27 - Jordan Peterson
1:34:39 - Michael Malice book on North Korea
1:40:08 - Advice for young people
1:43:10 - Facing assassination
1:53:25 - Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
1:55:57 - Meaning of life
SOCIAL:
- Twitter: / lexfridman
- LinkedIn: / lexfridman
- Facebook: / lexfridman
- Instagram: / lexfridman
- Medium: / lexfridman
- Reddit: / lexfridman
- Support on Patreon: / lexfridman
Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Belcampo: belcampo.com/lex and use code LEX to get 20% off first order - Gala Games: gala.games/lex - BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off - Eight Sleep: www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings 3:58 - Growing up in North Korea 9:22 - Animal Farm 15:37 - Search for meaning 20:25 - Love 22:42 - Language 27:06 - Yeonmi's dad 29:07 - Escaping North Korea 34:24 - The world is ignoring the genocide in North Korea 46:26 - Evil 49:17 - Nuclear war 50:07 - Marxist origins of North Korea 55:20 - Famine 1:00:07 - Kim Jong-un is pure evil 1:06:43 - Freedom 1:09:55 - Michael Malice 1:13:35 - Diversity 1:20:55 - Political correctness 1:30:27 - Jordan Peterson 1:34:39 - Michael Malice book on North Korea 1:40:08 - Advice for young people 1:43:10 - Facing assassination 1:53:25 - Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse 1:55:57 - Meaning of life
Thank you so much for talking to Yeonmi, she's a real one
Conversations like this are so important for lex podcast. Real discussions. Ppl need to understand their family history.
Beautiful podcast keep up the work Lex you’re the man
GREAT GUEST LEX !!!!! Her story/book is one that should be required reading for all. Ms. Park is a modern day hero. I appreciate her YT channel. ✌💫🍀
What's the books you mention?
Thank you so much, Lex for having me and also everyone’s heartfelt support!
Thank you for sharing your story :)
You are very brave
You have our love and respect.
❤️
Was nice to hear from a different angle and not just the re telling of the same journey. Enlightens and intrigues more listeners 🙂
Lex: “aren’t people inherently good though?” Yeonmi: “I love your optimism” ✌️❤️
Yo. It's deep
Naievity
We are yes, absolutely inherently GOOD. Look above at my response. We are inherently 2 x 2=4.
@@multirichardb That is a remarkable observation given the limitless cruelty humanity celebrates from this moment backwards in time to.... hmmmm.....Cain and Able? The orange colostomy bag and his 70 million followers honor inhumanity and see compassion as weakness.
I love Lex, honest to God. But I can't help but feel a bit cynical (and perhaps envious) when people say this. Maybe he's just a "glass is half full" kind of guy. Fair enough.
"freedom is not a gateway to happiness, it can make live much more complex, but its so fun, isnt it?" This really struck a cord with me and I'm grateful to be able to hear her story.
This is one of the most moving conversations I’ve ever heard.
You should listen to her podcast with Jordan Peterson.
@@wendyolson7110 thank you for the recommendation. I love hearing stories like this. Keeps me humble
@@wendyolson7110 That was unbelievable.
Yeah because there is no way she is not motivated by financial gain for exaggerating.
since Lex is such a fan of suffering maybe he should live in north korea for a few years :D
Lex surprises me with his willingness to be vulnerable, and it’s so incredibly valuable in a conversation like this. I don’t know if it was his influence, or if Yeonmi has seen the guns pointed at her and has just made up her mind to run directly at the enemy, but this was one of the most powerful conversations I’ve ever heard. She is moving, articulate, and intelligent - a gift. As an American, I am so grateful for her witness and her example of courage in the face of real danger.. I believe that if her voice saves North Korea, it will be because she first saved the United States from this lunacy. I have no gift to bring to the table, but I will remember to pray for you and to teach my children to think. God bless you both.
i love your response. thank you.
Beautifully articulated. Thank you.
May I ask what you mean by "it will be because she first saved the United States from this lunacy"
Well put, thank you!
@@JerryMetal I find it hard to believe you would ask that question if you listened to the entire show? She sees the progress towards Communism in America and the insanity of the current censorship of thought and speech.
She educated herself living in South Korea while working the most menial jobs as a cashier at a 711 type of store while reading and studying on her own at night. She read through all the Korean and international classic literature in total rapture and enthrallment. She got into university and graduated while learning English and she then applied and got into Columbia and wrote her book and basically created her career. She's beyond brilliant. From a Korean cultural perspective her academic achievement allows her to wield a level of respect that Koreans worship but there's a shade of brokenness and shame that shows through. Her insane achievements and her intense makeup and fashion are her armor. I wish her happiness and peace in all she does.
I love that you get this girl.
👏👏👏👏
No. She is funded by powerful rich people in America with an agenda. She is not doing this on her own. What she did before, yes but not now.
@@imminenthope8970, Imminent Dope give her a break. The lady has suffered so much with millions of other North Koreans.
She's a proven liar. As a Korean, I am disgusted by her actions. She's actually pretty loaded right now because conservatives pay her big money to say things that they want to hear. There are hundreds of North Korean defectors every year. Why do you think you don't hear stories from them? Why aren't they celebrities like her? She's no different than Elie Wiesel who wrote Night as an autobiographical experience at Auschwitz. But, people later found out that the story was completely made up. First, he denied it, Then, he said he simply changed certain details. Finally, it was proved that it was completely made up. It's really disgusting what people will do to make a buck.
Man…when she talked about missing her dad, and how she wished for a son so in some way she could view it as taking care of her dad and showing him a better life. So profound…brought tears to my eyes.
That makes no sense. You cannot show a better life to a being that does not yet exist. One should prioritize the living, not the non-existant.
@@MonkeyDIvan bro you're are what shampoo 🧴 have instructions
@@MonkeyDIvan Just because her views & beliefs may not align with yours, that doesn't make hers wrong or right. Who are we to dictate how another person should honor & revere the life & loss of their loved one? Free your mind & don't be so critical & judgemental of others. Be Blessed ~ Godspeed 🙏🏽
@@MonkeyDIvan you must struggle with reading comprehension. Key phrase you missed: “so in some way she could view it as…” and you still decided to post an embarrassing comment taking the statement out of context. Maybe you think she’s silly. Maybe your feeble brain can’t even come close to understanding what she’s been through. Who’s to say?
@@MonkeyDIvan Totally agree, 100%. Focus on taking care of those actively suffering now instead of creating more is the ideal mindset. But also good for her if that is a good coping mechanism for her. But as long as she realizes her son isn't her father and /having a child is not a way to deal with trauma/. Her son is a completely different, unique human being, and too many parents don't give a shit about that.
18:00 Jesus Christ. Lex's question and Yeonmi's response... I'm crying. The fact that if given a choice she wouldn't delete these horrific, painful memories because she is a "witness" and she feels a responsibility to remember and speak on these atrocities....
Get off the internet
it was not even that astounding..jesus christ!!!
@@vedantdubey2316 because desensitized from the internet, you don't see any of this as real. Touch grass
@@hamilt55467 i have heard many worse real stories.
@@vedantdubey2316 was it before you started spending your time shouting people down in youtube comments sections?
“You don’t know oppression” Powerful If every person in the west could try to understand this perspective with empathy. Yes the west has issues, but we have brothers and sisters who are treated as if they are not even fellow humans.
+1
That’s true. But it’s also illustrative of how hypocritical American foreign policy is. It’s not just and true - it’s self interest. If the govt was more honest and didn’t waste the last 20 years in a sandy shithole, maybe people would still believe.
@@SoundsSilver Who jumps from factories in the west?
@@ev0lution1 Suicide is an epidemic in the West
oh shut up. people in the west know about empathy. point your finger else where.
1:11:22 "Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free." ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
It's all about luck.
That is so profound!
Yup. Everybody is not* created equally in reality. We humans are not made for a Utopia. It is NOT in our biological & psychological makeup. There will FOREVER be the obsession for being the most powerful, i.e. Kim Jong-Un literally allowing, making, his own people starve to death because he refuses food/help from the UN or any other country based on pure stubbornness + arrogance. The world will always need suffering to balance out the joy, I'm afraid. It is far beyond most of our psychees can even imagine and try to make sense of.
@@MaddyIntravia I agree but on the other hand "all man is equal in the eyes of God. He loves us all .As far as life is concerned.. we are born,we get slapped in the ass,and the rest is different for each individual.
@@trackrunner11 oh I absolutely understand that and I know any child of the Lord can repent & be forgiven. I mean, look how fearful the Kim's must be of religion since they will literally execute any of their people for having a Bible or practicing prayer at all 🤷🏻♀️ they knew how compelling believing in a Higher Power can be which would completely destroy their ability to brainwash these poor North Koreans into believing he IS their God 🙁 breaks my heart ❤
Yeonmi should meet with a director and screenwriter and make a movie about her experience. . .it may be controversial but man .. Yeonmi's journey from NK to the U.S really is a inspirational story.
she talks abt this in a recent podcast w andrew schulz - how they did work on a movie script but they literally rewrote her story in a way that makes china looks good and when she questioned why it was changed they told her this is the only way they can produce a movie abt her
Then Hollywood will warp it. Go independent directors, producers etc
@@healypa the question is will someone gambles on it? hopefully there is. this is a great story to tell across generations
Movies are good yes, But books last longer, not everybody in the world can watch movies. Books can be sent to north korea etc
i just realised that many people wouldnt be able to read the books though
She is just so strong and amazing. She makes me believe I can live through anything. She’s lived through so much and is still so whole. It’s so inspiring.
She could be talking shit. Probably is.
@@markflynn2669 you are correct mate , north korea probably doesnt exist , its a hologram and every defector is a paid actor , PROBABLY
I avoided watching this because I knew it would be painful just to hear. At several points I could feel myself tearing up. I'm 6'6, she's 80 pounds; and I am in awe of her strength.
Watch her interview with Jordan.
I am from Belarus and relate so much to what Yeonmi has to say. Dear Americans, it’s truly on you to appreciate freedoms you have & help the rest of the world
Belarus is definitely a priority to help and set free
@john 7 then go live in North Korea
@john 7 What blame? What's going on in North Korea and US foreign policy are two completely different things.
@john 7 Dude, you're trolling every thread on this video. How much free time to do you have?
Well you need to help to. This isn't on America to solve and in not American but they aren't responsible for the world
This is honestly one of the most important videos on this channel, we should always be aware of the horrors that could be upon us if the power over the people ends up in the wrong hands
lmao
This interview is one for the history books. Such great questions, as always, Lex. What a remarkable, strong, incredibly brave and beautiful woman. Great job.
‘I don’t want someone to do something because they’re guilty, I want them to do something because they’re grateful’ And THIS, is the problem with America today. Thank you. What a gem 💎
This interview was so powerful I could only listen in segments before having to stop, walk away, and breathe. It genuinely hurt my heart and soul. I cannot begin to understand the depths of pain and suffering Miss Park experienced and that continues to plague millions of innocents in N. Korea and China. Thank you, Lex, for bringing this horror to our attention.
Hello, you should watch her podcast with Jordan Peterson. She described her experience more there.
She's lying. Stop being so easily manipulated. Study the evil of history more often to strengthen your tolerance. Atrocities are bad enough, but propaganda always opens the door for the next atrocity, genocide, democide.
Snow flake
@@dupersdelite how is she lying
@@user-qi3hf8ko3q Dude you have Google
After watching this and her interview with Jordan Peterson I think I can honestly say Yeon mi is quite possibly thee most extraordinary human being I've ever encountered so far. To have gone through everything she has gone through and yet still have empathy towards those who have harmed her is unbelievable. She is a beacon of hope for humanity.
She a lier.
@@laqueenawilliams4762 can't even spell liar right 🤦
yeah sadly its been proven that a lot of what she says is a lie, she decided to to make herself more famous to sell more books :((((
Read about her and it seems there are some reports out there about “inconsistencies” with her story, so I looked into them… Here are a few of the big ones: 1. She said a friend’s mother was executed for watching a James Bond film, other times describes it as a Hollywood film, other times as a South Korean DVD. The problem with this story, besides the “inconsistency” is that other defectors say you would not be executed for such a thing, even in North Korea, and that executions, when they did happen, were few in number, for more serious things, and done on the outskirts of the city, not in a stadium as she said. 2. She played a version of herself in a pseudo-reality show in South Korea, wherein she is described as the “Paris Hilton” of North Korea, whose family was somewhat well off in North Korea and had things like designer purses-obviously this is in stark contrast to the way she describes her life there elsewhere. 3. She said she was near starving in the wild with her sister for a period of a few years, resorting to eating grass and dragonflies to survive. Other times, she has said she and her sister learned to cook during this time to survive, and another time that her sister went to live with an uncle while she lived with an aunt. Okay, so to play devil’s advocate, none of these truly seem like lies or inconsistencies to me. 1. The movie she speaks of could be described as a James Bond movie or a Hollywood movie or a South Korean dvd. They aren’t mutually exclusive. I am assuming it was a dubbed/subbed Korean language James Bond film, smuggled into the country, and “South Korean” in the sense that it subtitled for a South Korean audience/literally a dvd from South Korea, of a James Bond film. As to whether the film was “Hollywood” vs. British, this is a small easily explainable discrepancy-many Asian people, and some westerners too, will refer to any big budget western film as “Hollywood” regardless of where it was produced. Having lived in Beijing, I can tell you that Harry Potter is called a “Hollywood” film, even though it technically isn’t. Also, it’s my understanding she was a child when this execution happened, which she has said. It could easily be the case the mother was executed for subversion and a number of things, one small part of which was watching banned western films. When I was young I remember asking my father why Bill Clinton was being impeached, and him telling me, “Because he is a bad husband.” For years, I thought this was the reason. And while true in a childhood sense, it’s more of a turn of phrase than the actual technical reason. 2. The tv series she was part of is just that-a tv series. She didn’t even use her own name. Whether the series is presented as reality or not doesn’t make a difference to me. As a young pretty girl she could easily have been playing the “Korean Paris Hilton” role and we shouldn’t take what was said on a tv show too literally. 3. It’s my understanding that the period she described was several years… a lot can happen over the course of three years. She may have been starving and eating grass at one point-but not literally every single meal for three years… it’s pretty unfair to say “she lied” because she has described different meals over the course of several years. Same with her sister and her being apart. Finally, she chalks this up to poor English at the time and imperfect childhood memories. Are parts of her story untrue? Did she embellish things? I don’t know. But looking into these “discrepancies” hasn’t led to any earth shattering revelations. In fact, they aren’t really discrepancies at all.
Considering she’s not trying to make herself famous or make herself rich from all this, but merely expose how awful life is in North Korea, I’ll give her a pass on those discrepancies (no doubt brought up by communist apologists). I agree with your devil’s advocate arguments. 👍🏼👍🏼
I believe she’s obviously seen some bad stuff, but its pretty easy to tell she exaggerates the story. Sure it must have sucked at times but she knows & kind of pushes it, she also knows she’s beautiful and a lot of us are watching just for that. She knows all of this, more power to her I guess. But the way she makes her voice whine so often, knowing she’s told the story hundreds if not thousands of times, gives her away a little in my opinion. Again sure some things must have sucked, but she makes nearly every sentence sound either seductive or on the verge of tears. I’ve watched a dozen videos of her, She gets super pretty and tries to sound cute and sad at the same time, she knows the best two ways to “attract” an audience. Happy she made it out but I know what she’s trying to do; she turns her story into an act, weather it’s true or not… if you talk to many women such as myself you tend to catch onto these things quite easily… she seductively exaggerates her expressions
She's a liar. I've looked into it. This is how US empire propagandizes people into buying the narrative that US is the good guy savior of the world, so that they can actually start empire wars all over the world for the corporate state.
@Paul Kulha Neh, I think you're just obsessed with her and projecting whatever it is onto her. This is a weird comment to make, to think you know somebody on that level of intimacy because you've watched her interviews. And not even taking cultural difference into account too. What a shallow, stupid take on the woman.
Thanks for taking the time to do a bit of research.
I have been a student at Columbia University since 2019 and my experience has been a complicated mess to the point where I have been heavily considering leaving before finishing my degree for the last few months. Yeonmi Park is the first person to make me feel pride in my school since I have been there. Thank you for your passion, your love, and your voice.
You can do it! Don't give up, it will make your story that much cooler when you finish. Best of luck.
As part of the alumni you can influence the proceedings in your university. Don't accept the indoctrination, warn potential students, put pressure everywhere you can
Yeonmi Park blew me away. One of the most powerful interviews I have ever experienced in my life. Thank you Lex, for having her on your show.
Lex, I’ve discovered your channel only a couple weeks back and have been binge-watching it ever since. You’re introducing me to so many interesting, insightful, genuine, deep, different, clever perspectives and I applause and thank you for that. These conversations are a true trove of hope and inspiration.
I spend a lot of time trying to remember that pure thought doesn't happen in words...but what Yeonmi says about language and power in childhood seems very profound. The clarity and simplicity of her hard earned wisdom is mesmerising.
The part about controlling your words and through them your thoughts made me realize why Jordan Peterson was so upset about the compelled speech law in Canada.
The part that fears me the most is that after the transition people will try to read old books and don't understand a thing because they will not understand the difference between a single person and many, just to mention one thing. Just like what Miss Park mentioned about not knowing what love and freedom is, people at the top of this evil movements are trying to twist every concept of the free individual society so that in a few generations people don't know anything other than following the rules of the "supreme leader", just like what happened at North Korea.
Was it just me that heard that and thought, "hey, there's a book about that! Controlling words controlling minds available now to order" Michael Knowles' constant, shameless plugs worked spectacularly.
Canada is headed for serious trouble
@@col.hanslanda2013 hey, we've got a north Korean schill here!
@@SnakeWasRight, Park does seem a bit dishonest tbh. There are some videos on KZhead that question the authenticity of a lot of what she says and some of the videos might be North Korean propaganda but they're convincing and provide evidence regardless. In case there's doubt about me, Kim Jong Un is a fat man-child and North Korea is a shit country. Park is probably only dishonest about certain things because she's told to be by the managers who saw dollar signs when they originally scooped her up to make her a celebrity activist but money and the comfort it brings is still definitely an influence for her. I'm sure she also genuinely cares about helping other North Korean defectors though.
Yeonmi's responses are so profound.. every sentence so deep. A brave heart and a wise monk at the same time. Keep going, Park. Best part of Lex is, he speaks his mind out, without spoiling the integrity of the conversation.. Keep going, Lex
"Suffering is necessary for people to be gratful" -Yeonmi park
this is one of the most powerful interviews yet
I am from Poland so I am hunted by the stories of my grandparents and my parents as well. They overcame difficulties because of love. That's why our only protection from evil is learn how to love. Otherwise we will eat each other, history proved it many times.
Cześć
You can be violent and still loving. It's in some cases the only option in order to defend and grant justice. It's only when we use violence as a tool for progress when we become blinded by material things and hatred.
I live in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México and my kids will be haunted by my stories of this narco city
@@ThePorschefan Fuerza hermano. Te deseo todo lo mejor, y que tiempos mejores lleguen a tu tierra
For me, this was a very powerful conversation. She's a very strong and courageous individual.
She is a US psyop.
Goddam YES! I learned allot.
@@debbiedogs1 Prove it
@@debbiedogs1 stfu
@@wardog0327 she changes her story all tbe time and says tbe most ridiculous things.. One has to be completely naive to believe her . She has been exposed
thanks for offering your podcasts on multiple platforms with limitted advertising. It's unusual to offer so much for so little in this time. Appreciation m8
Yeonmi reminds me of a monarch butterfly. Beautiful, intuitive, grounded, searching, seeking, and always looking to go home. What a beacon for the potential we humans can aspire to. Us mortals can only hope to follow in her light.
“It is when people underestimate evil - that’s what scares me.” Absolutely. Most Americans don’t understand the evil that humans are capable of.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely
Exactly
When Yeonmi asks "why is there so much anti-human sentiment in this world?" ... I believe that's a question many of us are asking lately. We must get to the bottom of why this sentiment exists, understand who is perpetuating it and how we can combat it individually and collectively.
The devil is the perpetrator
@@jiggy5144 and the devil is influencing the current globalist power structures that run the world
in plain sight "the market" feudalist neuroses/ideology - competition *is* conflict you're welcome
The answer is greed.
@@salishseas lame. behavioual causality... anyone? nobody....? so, ...are you greedy? is your mama greedy? i am not greedy and greed is a symptom, more so, greed is kind of survival strategy in a market-based world, to compete and become ""successful"" working *against* everyone else, against your people. Cultural/structural/systemic "rules" we blindly accept, we forgot these are not natural laws, but power abuse mechanisms of the last few hundred years, old grown children, existential fear, structural terror. Not natural law. Yes, everything's irritating and "evil" and.. wrong. - bc all human beans, we, are simply are very, very social, cooperative, thoughtful and caring , even funny or whatever, species.... with unimaginable potential to solve shit. it's about time to realize what is going on, who we actually are, where we went wrong, to learn to grow up into this 21st century. it's here, now is this time. x
That intro Lex you didn't have to make me cry like that. Love the interview.
i stumbled upon her book in a huge book store, covered in dust on a top shelf. i finished a couple days ago and really was an incredible one. this just happened to pop up on my feed, thank you!
I have not yet listened to this podcast, but I am deeply intrigued every time this lady tells her story; her story is powerful. Her wisdom is gold, so brutally earned.
34:24 The horror is not the crime, the horror is everyone else looking away.
A slight twist of C3PO's words........."Oh, we excel at that."
The evil lives on the cowardice of the good
It's both
No. But the later is the greater evil.
@@jasonsharpe9963 Oh ok Jason. Keep on telling yourself that.
This is, to me, the best interview you have ever done. Bringing up Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning was perfect. This women is so brave. I hope she can find happiness. With love.
I have seen so many of these Lex podcasts I love them all and this one was such a gem.
Gotta say Mr. Fridman, I'm thoroughly enjoying the conversations I've seen so far. Your questions are intellectually well thought out with an obvious sense of earnestness and compassion.
I am American. I care. I care very much. Im so sad to hear all you are saying. My 💙 breaks for you. For all the poor people who are still suffering in N. Korea. God bless you both. I pray that God will end all the suffering in the world. We are all equal. We are all human beings. Everyone should be able to go and live where they want.
I may have only seen this 7 months after it was uploaded, but one is never too late to watch this. Lex, you are a legend. Yeonmi, there are simply no words for your bravery. Massive respect to you both.
i think you need to revisit this and set tings straight
When she said "That's the unique thing about freedom, you've got to fight for it, otherwise you'll never get it" shows her wisdom. God bless and guide this woman.
Intro was intense Lex. Powerful stuff.
I've seen many talks with Yeonmi Park and almost didn't watch this one thinking I know her story. I have to say Lex, you are such a loving and intelligent force of humanity. You get people to relax and to speak freely in a way that is most relatable. And you get to the very essence of human connection. Anyone could read her book and listen to her story, the way you talk with your guests lets us feel the way they feel. I'm so glad I didn't skip this one. The two of you took us on a journey of intelligence and emotion.
What an amazing woman. I’ve heard her speak about many topics, but I had no idea how deep and thoughtful she is
I have heard several interviews with Ms. Park. I learned a lot about her journey. This interview was the most compelling. Great job, Lex. God bless you Yeonmi.
Wow. I’m 30 minutes in and am blown away. Lex - please don’t ever stop this podcast. You’ve opened my eyes to so many things.
I got schooled by this conversation. Yeonmi Park and Lex gave me a lesson in life and iam older than both. Thanks for this video.
One year later, I finally m ready to listen and this podcast is extremely hard to swallow. I m sure in time, I will reach the end eventually. Thank you Alex and Yeonmi Park. May you overcome and succeed in time.
This was incredible such a powerful and inspirational interview, Lex. I am grateful for the hard work both of you do to spread love and compassion ❤
I hope you realize that much of her story is made up.
Lex, thank you for interviewing her and for helping raise awareness about what you rightly call unimaginable cruelty. I watched Peterson's interview with Yeonmi and remember bawling my eyes out. The worst part was her brief comment about meeting other survivors and realizing *she was lucky.* Her story is beyond heartbreaking and extremely difficult to hear. But we have to summon the courage and the fortitude to do something about this.
@you- tube this is a perfect example of something to keep to yourself, and something not even worth thinking to begin with. THIS was the reply you thought my comment most needed?
@@lifeinthejazzlane he is disappointed with the free world. I think.
1:08:20 - "It's not that easy to be free. Thinking for yourself, constantly"
This is how i came to understand why the mass majority of people are followers. It is hard work and can make you feel alone in a weird way.
I agree thinking for yourself is connected to loneliness because it is just you thinking in your own head which is tiresome and lonely.
She was on Timcast IRL last week. She said that it was physically painful for her. If NK would have given her a potato, she would have gone back.
@@theresazg5722 what was physically painful?
@@2brainsdividedby498 sorry I didn’t express that well. Being free…all that it entails…was painful and overwhelming. Making choices. Expressing opinions. She didn’t even know she had a favorite color. She said it hurt her brain.
Such a beautiful person. Thank u for sharing. I don’t know how she continues to be so optimistic. Yeonmi, ur bravery helps many people. And very much across time. This video will persist n be recognized as very special for a long time. It will we very special and help many people for long after we are here.
Thank you Lex for having this one on one conversation with Yeonmi!! I’m truly touched by your story Yeonmi You are a very strong person and so inspirational so keep doing what you do best to bring peace to humanity🙏🥰🙏 Thank you so much for sharing your story because I can totally relate in many ways. My family and I escaped from war and our lives have been spared and are given a second chance. we are so blessed and grateful for the new life that we have now 🙏🙏🙏
What an amazing country we have, that two people whom English is their second language can use those words to have such a powerful conversation.
Very profound point, reminds me of Jocko Willink, a SEAL commander, talking to Jordan Peterson about why he majored in English when the army required him to be educated to progress further. Reading and writing skills are our key to understanding each other and coming across productively in a way that's positive for each other... this was only illustrated further by Yeonmi on this and JBP's podcast going into depth about how total newspeak can eliminate concepts.
@@Queltzer Extremely well stated
schill is real
@@MusikAddict1 you mean shill?
I was down but north Korea makes me optimistic about life.
Props to the interviewer for getting so deep with Yeonmi. I've heard nearly ever interview she has ever done but I learned some new things and got insights from this that I never had before. Well done and thank you.
This is the most powerful podcast iv seen yet. It hits home when you see how emotional lex is in the opening statement and throughout when usually he is very level headed.
Yeonmi, I love you, I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for being so brave and for educating us all. My heart is broken, I will try to help
The pain you feel in her voice when she talks about her experiences is so heartbreaking. It's so unimaginable what kind of suffering she had to go through I hope all people in North Korea will someday have the freedom and the quality of life we have here in the Western World.
Equality?
Stop being so easily manipulated. Study the evil of history more often to strengthen your tolerance. Atrocities are bad enough, but propaganda always opens the door for the next atrocity, genocide, democide. Know that humanity is an assembly line of programmable bio-robots. Snap out of it..
She has such a sharp and beautiful mind. I often ponder between how different she would be if she didn’t have all of her life experiences growing up versus how all those life experiences shaped the person she is today. I am happy to know that we will have her here for many years to come!
What an amazing person. She ought to be so proud of the strong woman she became after living through that horror
Cannot begin to say how impactful this podcast is. Lex you are an absolute legend and truly an inspiration when it is most needed.
This one was heavy, I've had the impression she was about to break into tears quite a few times buh held strong. Keep those memories alive so we don't make mistakes again.
If this stuff doesnt bring you to tears then i dont know what will.
He seemed the same at several points
Damn!!! This conversation, I think could be one the best conversations I’ve EVER heard. Life changing. I feel so uneducated about the world. This podcast is TRULY eye opening. Thanks Lex
Check out the one with Jimmy park yeah and with miss park and Jordan Peterson
@@cesarpalacios2475 I will!! Thank you so much.🙏🏻✌🏻
@@lillyanp4 The conversation between Park and Peterson is what brought me here. I thought it was even better than this one, but not by much. Lex is awesome
Listen to Yeonmi’s interviews wherever you can find them! She will make you appreciate life so much more! Also, her book, In Order to Live, is a jaw dropping heart wrenching story of her life and escape. I can’t think of a more impactful book. Congratulations on finding her!
@@chattsignal you do realise her stories seem fabricated. Check out the other videos where she was a tv star in South Korea and her mum was a government employee and supposedly the Paris Hilton of North Korea
i have never felt so compelled by someone's story. Beautiful interview, Lex. Yeonmi, you are a game changer, i really do hope your testimony brings change into the situation in your home country, and someday you can go back to your land to see your people free from this regime. Much love to you both
I’ve listened to Rogan’s podcast with Yeonmi, then yours and now I’m going to listen to Peterson’s. Yeonmi has inspired me. She is uncommonly intelligent with fierce individualism. More power to her.
The fact that this woman is so articulate in a 2nd language, so insightful on the plights of humanity and is not completely consumed by her past, we are witnessing a conversation with an exceptional human being. This is the best of who we are. One iota of her experiences transferred to me or anyone in the western world would spiral most of us. I don’t say this to denigrate us in the west, simply an observation on the lack of perspective not as individuals but as a whole. Fascinating, inspiring, troubling and humbling. Yeonmi is an exceptional human being, period. Honored to listen to this conversation.
The lack of gratitude in the west is almost inconceivable. Even in myself I see it, if the internet is slow to load I'll get angry and have to remind myself what a miracle it is I even have food and water, let alone electricity and the internet.
@@spracketskooch so true. The older I get the more grateful I am about larger things like family, having a good career, my health but not about simple, everyday luxuries and conveniences. That’s where I fall short. We’re lucky as hell to only have to worry about first world problems. Just have to do our best to stay humble and treat our fellow brothers and sisters and our community with respect and continue to be grateful.
On the dictator and reading Animal Farm: "but when I was ending the last chapter... everyone was responsible for creating this dystopia..." And that is one of the great and horrible truths of life we have to recognize and live with. Everyone shares the guilt.
At the same time its tough to be the first to stand up. Like in the secret speech when Kruschev detailed Stalin's atrocities and someone in the crowd shouted "what did you do to stop him" or something along those lines. Kruschev looked up and shouted "who said that"....no one says anything and Kruschev says "exactly, that's where I was" - or so its rumoured
Not everyone. There’s many people that have been screaming about this “from the rooftops”, but we’re discredited and ostracized from “civil society” and labeled as “conspiracy theorists”. It was the government that created that term, they did it so they could discredit anyone shining a light onto corruption.
@@jeffw6692 I keep the CIA memo on my phone so that it's always on hand to show people what they are supporting by using the term disparagingly. People conspire & I've got some theories. I refuse to be a coincidence theorist. Doubt nothing, question everything.
@@eliakazan637 Ok, great. But how does Kevin Lee fit into all of this?
@@eliakazan637 the commenter didn’t even mention her. He talked about a book that shows the pitfalls of Communism…. You’re clearly a communist so nobody here cares from your dumb copy and pasted comments. Bot
I'm crying. We don't really have problems, do we. Thank you, Lex and Yeonmi.
stories like this really put into perspective the stupidity of some of the things that we choose to complain about.
people do have problems. her survival was an extreme scale
I cried too that she doesn't have an onlyfans '(
Disinformation agent Yeonmi Park.
When you say "we", you mean Americans?? Because if yes, yeah... You do have problems! I actually met an immigrant who was in USA a few years ago... The dude even returned to our "Socialist Paradise"! Said USA wasn't worth it. The guy worked like a mule, he said "it's just work & pay bills, work & pay bills". And get this... Our Socialist country is at the BOTTOM of wealth in the European Union. Sooooo, even the worst (European) Socialist country can match USA. Now, granted, idk much about USA never been there and the dude lived and worked in Massachusetts... Idk if Massachusetts is a good indicator of 'American Life Quality'... But that's what he said. He also filmed and talked about EVERYTHING soooo that's a trustworthy source for sure. Also, met a Texan youtuber that is living here and she said she preferred my country also. Again, idk if Texas is also an indicator of American Life Quality... But when you start to hear 1, 2, 4, 10, 50 people saying the same thing... Something is going on! There's a difference between being a RESPONSIBLE Socialist and an irresponsible one. But that goes for everything really. You think you can be an irresponsible capitalist?! How long would your business last??
Every time I hear Yeonmi Park speak I am so inspired. God bless her in her work and you in yours. Thank you for helping educate the world.
It must have been mesmerizing being one of the people by her side who helped teach her the meaning of these words and watching her moments of discovering our way of life. Beautiful moments. Thank you for sharing your story. Some stories have such triumph and wonderful victories. You deserve nothing but peace and freedom from here on out.
I was deeply moved and inspired by this conversation. As a fellow Korean from the south the story feels somehow more personal. I'm awed by how smart she is - how well she tells her story and expresses herself in a language that is not native to her, not to mention the clarity of thought. She is also so beautiful. It's going to sit with me for a while to process this I think. On a larger sense, it makes me think about the freedom we take for granted, but on a more practical level, I do believe the South Koreans must play a bigger role in this effort. Makes me look back how many of us Seoulites care, or even, are aware of the North Korean defectors in our society. Thank you Yeonmi and Lex Fridman for this podcast.
I think one of the problems is that China is a protector of North Korea right? So how can we start to affect any change in a country so close to China. When that would probably start a world nuclear war. We live in an insane time
Thank you for these quality, mind opening, heart crushing and expanding interviews.
I was very moved by your intro. Your podcasts are a great contribution to humanity. Great work.
Yeonmi Park has been on fire lately, being on all the famous channels and podcasts. I hope everyone hears her story in order to learn and prevent past generations’ mistakes. Brilliant how you got her on, Lex. Also, I’m expecting this to get emotional as North Korea is no different than the Soviet Union.
Imagine if this was tv, and not Fallon or Love Island
The world would be so much better. I wasted my teens looking for folks like Lex.
You're assuming brainless npc's don't exist.
@@leafdesi5967 same
Exactly 💯
This is also tv.
What an amazing podcast. I remember hearing her speak a few years ago, so happy I ran across this eye opening piece. Thank you Lex and thank you Yeonmi
From Wikipedia : "Some commentators, as well as other North Korean defectors, journalists, and professors of Korean studies, have criticized Park's retellings of her story for having various inconsistencies, contradictory claims, and exaggerated accounts." This makes me critical of anything this woman says. She wouldn't be the first to severely exaggerate her life experience for political and/or financial motives.
so people who are apart of north korea disagree with her? SHOCKING
I have lived in South Korea since 2003, and have talked to others here who have North Korean friends who escaped from the Hell of North Korea. They have collaborated most of her story. Yes there are a few inconsistencies, that is no surprise as her escape was a number of years ago, but the majority of what she says is true. North Korea is a text book example of George Orwell’s Animal Farm or 1984. It is a totalitarian state where most people have no idea of freedom. An example of this is that when they escape to South Korea, the hardest thing for them is the idea of choice. Never in their lives have they been able to choose. Their whole life path is dictated for them, and based on the family history, by the central government. This is what communism is based on, the control of all by the central government. Utopia, no North Korea is an example of communism in its ugliest form. We thank the UN every day for saving South Korea from the fate of being a unified nation under the rule of the Kim dictatorship.
@@gfurstnsu thanks for the comment, it's good info on the matter.
Absolute champion of a lady and one of my living “heroes”
Why quotation marks?
Every US student should be encouraged to watch this video.
@john 7 Moral equivalence much? So that justifies the Kim family's reign of terror?
@john 7 You're arguing in bad faith in a non-sequitur fashion. We can debate the pitfalls of US Foreign policy, of which there are many, but to compare the US to NK is a waste of time.
@john 7 but i agree the institutional media is probably the worst feature of the US at the moment.
@john 7 Trump never did.
@john 7 Democrats love war is that enough for u ?
Such an amazing interview, Lex.
Lex I have been listening to many of your Podcast's from some Smart, Fascinating and Interesting people.So Thanks so much for sharing. Deb ✌️
Mesmerized by the intro. Thank you, Lex, for all that you do.
I love this interview. There is no compromising with evil. Her statement regarding how strange activist are loving animals, but have no empathy for people in totalitarian nations. This is a classic.
Thank you for standing up Lex!! Big props to PARK YEON MI…. a lovely, strong woman! May she enjoy more prosperity, new friends, and REMAIN SAFE.
Damn, this was a powerful interview. Yeonmi is an inspiration.
I'm beyond excited for this. Lex will ask her questions others have not.
And her number?
"Will you marry me?"
One of the insane things is that she mentions having to eat grass because there was nothing else to eat
@@abdullahireland1172 🤣
@@abdullahireland1172 lol what?
The intro gave me goosebumps ! Look forward to listening to this
this is true strength, no bs. just plain realness from someone who lived through really hard times, unimaginable for most people. delivered in a very intelligent and peaceful way. what a beautiful human being
You always have the best up to date news thanks
Thank you so much for having her on your podcast to share her story, insight, and bravery. This conversation was very eye opening and led me to have a shift in my perspective. Also thank you for the honesty and transparency that you contribute every episode, it really elevates the conversation.
Amazing! Thank you for doing this.
The intro is even more amazing. The embargo the US has over Korea was the main reason why the famine happened.
The main reason was flooding that impacted more than 30% of the country. Along with destroying crops, their hydro electric dams were damaged, which provided 70% of the power in the country. They didn't have robust distribution systems between provinces, and the Regime itself refused to import food to alleviate the shortage. They had opened a free trade zone but in a very remote area of the country, so no appreciable business or food stock was ever brought there. mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/92548/
@@AlaskaFinal yes and the trade embargo that caused food shortages and no international chain of supply for it to happen in the first place lol @t in the 60’s N Korea had the 2nd biggest economy in Asia. Indignât lex forgot to mention why how North Korea was a playground for US bio weapons too back in the day, but guess they being evil is a faster explanation. www.jstor.org/stable/43908677?seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents
@@cryptocaesar8972 >:0 that evil dictator wanted to not prosper!!!’ Yes, I guess that’s why saddam got lynched too after complying with sanctions that left his military an empty husk and allowed for an breezy invasion.
@@eliakazan637 i have read many comments on this thread and in other videos about her, and you have copied and pasted the same text. Get out of here you Bot.
What a beautiful and moving conversation. Yeonmi Park is incredibly insightful.
Eye opening, saddening, frustrating. Thanks Lex! Thanks Yeonmi! Something else to feel helpless about changing.
That thought process is the problem.
She's a liar
This conversation is so beautiful. Her story is not just a story, it is an important lesson. Thank you for sharing
@Vasileios Voutsinos continue please
@@ianbarry6193 Don't bother. Probably another Chinese wumao.
@Vasileios Voutsinos Still waiting for you to show proof.
She is, easily, one of my favorite persons on the planet!
You are truly an inspiration to me to never give up no matter what!! I’m so blessed to have came across your story!! Thank you so much for being so brave!! You are one of my hero’s!!