When I tell people I’m from Korea, they often think of vibrant K-pop bands, Seoul’s futuristic skyline, or spicy tteokbokki. But very few ever ask about the other Korea—the one hidden behind walls, wires, and silence. The one where children go to bed hungry, families are torn apart, and freedom is not even a dream. That Korea is North Korea, and it weighs heavily on my heart.
As a high school student with North Korean heritage living in the U.S., I feel a deep responsibility to speak up for the human rights of North Korean people. Growing up, I was blessed to live closely with my grandparents, who often shared stories about their lives before escaping to the South. They spoke about the hunger and the fear. And how fortunate they were to have found freedom. But their hearts were never whole. They left behind loved ones they would never see again. The sorrow they carried stayed with them forever. Through their vivid stories, I came to understand how miserable life under the North Korean regime is, a life filled with suffering, silence, and no freedom. And yet, today, we rarely talk about it.
That’s why I created this petition:
A Teen’s Plea: Don’t Let North Korea Be Forgotten
It’s not about politics.
It’s about people.
It’s about compassion.
And it’s about refusing to let the suffering of millions fade into silence.
Why This Petition Matters
North Koreans don’t need us to pity them. They need us to remember them.
To talk about them.
To refuse to let their oppression be buried beneath headlines or forgotten in the scroll of social media.
This is about defending the dignity of all people to live freely, speak openly, and dream boldly.
How You Can Help
Sign the petition. It takes less than a minute, but your voice matters. https://change.org/fight_for_freedom
Share it. Use your platform. No matter how big or small. Change starts with awareness.
Educate yourself. Learn about North Korean defectors. Read their memoirs. Watch documentaries.
Speak up. The more we talk about this, the harder it becomes to ignore.
I may be just a teenager with a blog, but I believe in the power of one voice to ripple into thousands. If you’re reading this, maybe the next voice is yours.
Let’s remember North Korea, not as a lost cause, but as a place worth hoping for. Let’s raise our voices until theirs can finally be heard.
With hope and conviction,
Clara Chung
Founder of My-Brain.org
<The family I lost in North Korea. And the family I gained | Joseph Kim>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLeeTVmVrtA
<My escape from North Korea | Hyeonseo Lee | TED – YouTube>
<What I learned about freedom after escaping North Korea | Yeonmi Park>
Teens Connect The World: Brain, Children and Love 
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