And I was very proud.

當時我好驕傲。

In school, we spent a lot of time studying the history of Kim Il-Sung, but we never learned much about the outside world, except that America, South Korea, Japan are the enemies.

在學校我們花很多時間學習有關金日成的歷史，但從來沒有人告訴我們外面的世界長什麼樣子，我們只知道美國、南韓和日本都是敵人。

Although I often wondered about the outside world, I thought I would spend entire my life in North Korea, until everything suddenly changed.

即便我對外面的世界充滿好奇心，那時的我也沒想過自己這輩子會離開北韓，直到一切忽然急轉直下。

When I was seven years old, I saw my first public execution, but I thought my life in North Korea was normal.

在七歲那年，我第一次看到公開處刑，但我還是覺得在北韓的生活很正常。

My family was not poor, and myself, I had never experienced hunger.

我的家境並不窮困，而我也不曾餓過肚子。

But one day, in 1995, my mom brought home a letter from a coworker's sister.

1995 年的某一天，我媽媽帶了一封信回家，那封信是她同事的姊姊寄的。

It read, "When you read this, all five family members will not exist in this world, because we haven't eaten for the past two weeks. We are lying on the floor together, and our bodies are so weak we are ready to die."

信上寫著 「當你讀到這封信的時候，我們一家五口已經離開這個世界了，因為我們已經足足餓了兩個禮拜，我們五個人現在全倒在地上，身體虛弱地感受死亡的逼近。」

I was so shocked.

我當下真的好震驚。

This was the first time I heard that people in my country were suffering.

那是我第一次知道原來我們國家也有如此生靈塗炭的一面。

Soon after, when I was walking past a train station, I saw something terrible that I can't erase from my memory.

那之後沒多久的一天，當我經過火車站的時候，我看到一個可怕的景象，我這輩子永遠忘不掉。

A lifeless woman was lying on the ground, while an emaciated child in her arms just stared helplessly at his mother's face.

一個女人奄奄一息地倒臥在路邊，手裡卻仍緊抱著羸弱的孩子，那孩子瞪大了雙眼無助地凝視著媽媽的臉龐。

But nobody helped them, because they were so focused on taking care of themselves and their families.

但沒有一個人幫助他們，因為大家都忙著照顧自己和自己的家人。

A huge famine hit North Korea in the mid-1990s.

90 年代中期北韓發生大饑荒。

Ultimately, more than a million North Koreans died during the famine, and many only survived by eating grass, bugs and tree bark.

超過一百萬的北韓人民因為那場飢荒而死亡，而許多倖存者靠著吃草、抓蟲、嚼樹根才活了下來。

Power outages also became more and more frequent, so everything around me was completely dark at night except for the sea of lights in China, just across the river from my home.

沒電的情況也越來越嚴重，所以當夜色降臨時，我的世界天昏地暗，我唯一能看到的是中國的燈火照在海波上反射過來的光，中國距離我家僅有一河之隔。

I always wondered why they had lights but we didn't.

我總是在想，為什麼他們有光而我們卻沒有。

This is a satellite picture showing North Korea at night compared to neighbors.

這張是北韓夜晚的衛星空照圖，可以和鄰國們相比。

This is the Amrok River, which serves as a part of the border between North Korea and China.

這是鴨綠江，她就恰巧壓在北韓和中國的邊境線上。

As you can see, the river can be very narrow at certain points, allowing North Koreans to secretly cross.

如你所見，這條河川的某些河段十分狹窄，北韓人民可以偷偷跨境。

But many die.

然而，有很多人因此死了。

Sometimes, I saw dead bodies floating down the river.

有時候我會看到河面上漂著浮屍。

I can't reveal many details how I left North Korea, but I only can say that during the ugly years of the famine I was sent to China to live with distant relatives.

我不能透漏太多我是怎麼怎麼離開北韓的，我能說的就是在那可恨的飢荒歲月中，我被送到中國的遠房親戚那兒去了。

But I only thought that I would be separated from my family for a short time.

但那時我認為，我和我的家人過不久一定能再見面。

I could have never imagined that it would take 14 years to live together.

我從來沒想過這一別就是 14 個年頭。

In China, it was hard living as a young girl without my family.

在中國，沒有家人的陪伴下很難不馬上長大。

I had no idea what life was going to be like as North Korean refugees, but I soon learned it's not only extremely difficult, it's also very dangerous, since North Korean refugees are considered in China as illegal migrants.

我根本不知道身為北韓難民，人生會變成什麼樣子，但很快地我就明白這樣的生活不僅艱難困苦，更是危機四伏，因為中國將北韓難民視為非法移民。

So I was living in constant fear that my identity could be revealed, and I would be repatriated to a horrible fate back in North Korea.

所以我無時無刻都活在恐懼之中，我擔心我的身分會被發現，也擔心我會被遣返回北韓接受可怕的命運。

One day, my worst nightmare came true, when I was caught by the Chinese police and brought to the police station for interrogation.

有一天我的噩夢成真了，中國的警察抓了我，把我帶回警察局去偵訊。

Someone had accused me of being North Korean, so they tested my Chinese language abilities and asked me tons of questions.

原來有人向他們告發我是北韓人，於是他們考我中文，問我一大堆問題。

I was so scared, I thought my heart was going to explode.

我好害怕，我的心臟簡直要跳出來了。

If anything seemed unnatural, I could be imprisoned and repatriated.

如果哪裡表現的不自然，我很可能會面臨牢獄之災，甚至被遣返。

I thought my life was over, but I managed to control all the emotions inside me and answer the questions.

當時我覺得我人生簡直要畫上句點了，但我努力控制自己的情緒並回答那些問題。

After they finished questioning me, one official said to another, "This was a false report. She's not North Korean."

他們問完我之後，其中一個警察向另一個警察說：「這是誤報，她又不是北韓人。」

And they let me go. It was a miracle.

然後他們就這樣放我走了，這簡直是奇蹟。

Some North Koreans in China seek asylum in foreign embassies, but many can be caught by the Chinese police and repatriated.

一些在中國的北韓人民會向外國駐華使館尋求庇護，但還是有很多北韓人被中國警察抓走，然後被遣返。

These girls were so lucky.

這幾個女孩很幸運。

Even though they were caught, they were eventually released after heavy international pressure.

那時候雖然他們被逮捕了，中國後來還是因為面臨國際施加的壓力而釋放了他們。

These North Koreans were not so lucky.

這幾個北韓人民就沒有那麼幸運了。

Every year, countless North Koreans are caught in China and repatriated to North Korea, where they can be tortured, imprisoned or publicly executed.

每年中國政府在中國境內逮捕了無數的北韓人民，並將他們遣返回北韓，一個可能虐待他們、監禁他們，甚至將他們公開處刑的地方。

Even though I was really fortunate to get out, many other North Koreans have not been so lucky.

即便我非常幸運地逃離了那裡，還是有許多北韓人民不是那麼的走運。

It's tragic that North Koreans have to hide their identities and struggle so hard just to survive.

北韓人民需要隱姓埋名的生活這件事真的很可悲，他們光是活下去就要花好大的力氣。

Even after learning a new language and getting a job, their whole world can be turned upside down in an instant.

儘管如此，只要有機會學習新的語言然後找到工作，他們的世界很快就會截然不同。

That's why, after 10 years of hiding my identity, I decided to risk going to South Korea, and I started a new life yet again.

這也就是為什麼在我過了 10 年隱姓埋名的生活後，我決定冒險前往南韓，再一次展開我的新生活。

Settling down in South Korea was a lot more challenging than I had expected.

在南韓安頓下來比我想像中要難的多。

English was so important in South Korea, so I had to start learning my third language.

在南韓英文非常重要，所以我得開始學習我的第三語言。

Also, I realized there was a wide gap between North and South.

此外我了解到南韓和北韓間有著深不見底的鴻溝。

We are all Korean, but inside, we have become very different due to 67 years of division.

雖然我們都叫做韓國人，但是骨子裡的差異真的很大，畢竟我們分裂了 67 年啊！

I even went through an identity crisis.

我甚至有過認同危機。

Am I South Korean or North Korean?

我究竟是南韓人還是北韓人呢？

Where am I from? Who am I?

我是從哪裡來的？我究竟是誰？

Suddenly, there was no country I could proudly call my own.

一瞬間，讓我驕傲的國家煙消雲散了。

Even though adjusting to life in South Korea was not easy, but I made a plan.

雖然不是那麼容易適應在南韓的生活，但我有了計畫。

I started studying for the university entrance exam.

我開始準備起大學的入學考試。

Just as I was starting to get used to my new life, I received a shocking phone call.

但正當我逐漸適應新的生活的時候，我接到了一通令人錯愕的電話。

The North Korean authorities intercepted some money that I sent to my family, and, as a punishment, my family was going to be forcibly removed to a desolate location in the countryside.

北韓政府截獲到一些我寄回家的錢，他們懲罰我的家人，且即將把我的家人發配到窮鄉僻壤去。

They had to get out quickly, so I started planning how to help them escape.

他們一定得快點離開，於是我開始幫他們計畫要如何出境。

North Koreans have to travel incredible distances on the path to freedom.

北韓距離自由是不可思議地遙遠。

It's almost impossible to cross the border between North Korea and South Korea, so, ironically, I took a flight back to China and I headed toward the North Korean border.

南北韓間的國界基本上是不可能穿越的，所以我又搭飛機回到中國往中朝邊界前進。

Since my family couldn't speak Chinese, I had to guide them, somehow, through more than 2,000 miles in China and then into Southeast Asia.

因為我家人們不會說中文所以我得帶著他們，我們就這樣一路逃了 2000 哩，經過了中國來到東南亞。

The journey by bus took one week, and we were almost caught several times.

我們搭了一星期的巴士，有好幾次都差一點就被抓到了。

One time, our bus was stopped and boarded by a Chinese police officer.

有一次我們的巴士突然熄火，一名中國警察走了過來。

He took everyone's I.D. cards, and he started asking them questions.

他檢查每個人的身分證然後開始問大家問題。

Since my family couldn't understand Chinese, I thought my family was going to be arrested.

因為我的家人不會說中文，我以為他們就要被逮捕了。

As the Chinese officer approached my family, I impulsively stood up, and I told him that these are deaf and dumb people that I was chaperoning.

於是當中國警察走近我家人的時候，我立刻站了起來告訴他那些人又聾又啞，我是來陪他們搭巴士的。

He looked at me suspiciously, but luckily he believed me.

他用懷疑的眼神看了我一會兒，不過好險他相信我了。

We made it all the way to the border of Laos, but I had to spend almost all my money to bribe the border guards in Laos.

然後我們就這樣一路到了寮國的邊境，但為了賄賂寮國邊境的警察我幾乎花光了我所有的錢。

But even after we got past the border, my family was arrested and jailed for illegal border crossing.

然而進入寮國之後，我的家人還是被抓進去關了，理由是非法入境。

After I paid the fine and bribe, my family was released in one month, but soon after, my family was arrested and jailed again in the capital of Laos.

在我繳了罰款與再次賄賂的一個月後，他們終於被放出來了，不過沒多久他們又被逮捕了，然後被關在寮國的首都。

This was one of the lowest points in my life.

那絕對是我人生中最低潮的幾個日子之一。

I did everything to get my family to freedom, and we came so close, but my family was thrown in jail just a short distance from the South Korean embassy.

我費盡了所有心思要讓我的家人自由，當我們離自由如此接近的時候，他們又被抓進去牢裡，那裡距離南韓的使館只有幾步之遙。

I went back and forth between the immigration office and the police station, desperately trying to get my family out, but I didn't have enough money to pay a bribe or fine anymore.

於是我開始不斷地在入境局和警察局間奔走，拚了命地要把我的家人弄出來，但我沒有足夠的錢再去付罰款或是賄賂了。

I lost all hope.

我的希望徹底地粉碎。

At that moment, I heard one man's voice ask me, "What's wrong?"

就在那刻我聽到一個男人的聲音，他問我：「妳怎麼了？」

I was so surprised that a total stranger cared enough to ask.

我好驚訝，一個完全陌生的人關心地詢問我。

In my broken English, and with a dictionary, I explained the situation, and without hesitating, the man went to the ATM and he paid the rest of the money for my family and two other North Koreans to get out of jail.

我用我的破英文並翻著字典，向他解釋這一切，那個男人二話不說地走到提款機前領了錢，幫我把積欠的罰金和賄賂用的錢全部付清，讓我的家人和另外兩個北韓人能夠出獄。

I thanked him with all my heart, and I asked him, "Why are you helping me?"

我由衷地向他道謝然後問他：「你為什麼要幫助我？」

"I'm not helping you," he said.

他說 ：「我不是要幫你。」

"I'm helping the North Korean people."

「我幫的是北韓的人民。」

I realized that this was a symbolic moment in my life.

我知道這是我的人生中十分具象徵性意義的一刻。

The kind stranger symbolized new hope for me and the North Korean people when we needed it most, and he showed me the kindness of strangers and the support of the international community are truly the rays of hope we North Korean people need.

這個好心的陌生人對我而言象徵了新的希望，在北韓人民最需要希望的這一刻，他讓我體會到來自陌生人的善良還有國際社會的支持，這些生命之光都是我們北韓人民需要的。

Eventually, after our long journey, my family and I were reunited in South Korea, but getting to freedom is only half the battle.

經過了這些長途跋涉，我和我的家人終於在南韓團聚，在獲得自由後我們還有一段路要走。

Many North Koreans are separated from their families, and when they arrive in a new country, they start with little or no money.

許多北韓人民的家庭還是被拆散的，當他們到新的國家，他們一貧如洗甚至身無分文。

So we can benefit from the international community for education, English language training, job training, and more.

我們可以得到國際社會的援助，無論是教育、英語訓練、職業訓練還是其他的。

We can also act as a bridge between the people inside North Korea and the outside world, because many of us stay in contact with family members still inside, and we send information and money that is helping to change North Korea from inside.

我們也能扮演起北韓境內人民和外頭世界的橋樑，因為我們之中的許多人和還留在北韓的家人都還保持著連絡，我們把資訊和金錢送進去，從內部著手幫忙改變北韓。

I've been so lucky, received so much help and inspiration in my life, so I want to help give aspiring North Koreans a chance to prosper with international support.

我真的很幸運得到了很多幫助，這一路走來也接受了許多人的鼓勵，所以我想要燃起北韓人的熱情，讓他們在國際的幫助下有機會能成功。

I'm confident that you will see more and more North Koreans succeeding all over the world, including the TED stage.

我有信心你們將會看到越來越多的北韓人能夠在世界各地有很好的表現，包括在 TED 這個舞台上。

Thank you.

謝謝大家。