They Left North Korea,
But Their Voices Were Still Missing
For Cho Kyung-il, leaving North Korea was not only a journey across borders. It was a journey toward becoming an active citizen. After arriving in South Korea in 2002, he worked hard to build a new life. He pursued higher education, accumulated diverse professional experiences, and actively participated in Korean civic and political life as a social activist, political consultant, and parliamentary aide.
Yet as time passed, he encountered a difficult reality. Why were North Korean defectors often invited to share their personal stories, but rarely encouraged to share their opinions?Why were their experiences frequently interpreted by others instead of being expressed in their own voices?
"North Korean defectors could talk about what happened to them, but not always about what they thought. Society often wanted testimony, but not necessarily participation."
Settlement Does Not Automatically
Lead to Participation
Today, more than 34,000 North Korean defectors live in South Korea. Most support systems focus on settlement, employment, housing, and economic stability. While these are important, another challenge often remains overlooked.
Many North Korean defector youth still struggle to participate fully in public discourse.
Some hesitate to express their opinions because of prejudice and misunderstanding. Others feel uncomfortable discussing social or political issues because they fear criticism or exclusion.
As a result, many voices remain absent from conversations about democracy, society, and the future of Korea. Cho Kyung-il believed that this was not only a challenge for North Korean defectors. It was also a challenge for Korean democracy. A healthy democracy requires diverse voices to be heard.
Peace Agora
A Public Space Where Different Voices Meet
To address this challenge, Cho Kyung-il established Peace Agora. Peace Agora creates opportunities for North Korean defectors communities, and other underrepresented groups to speak, listen, and participate in public dialogue.
Its flagship initiative, the North Korean defectors Democratic Citizenship Forum,encourages participants to explore important topics such as democracy, civic engagement, reunification, political reform, social inclusion, and generational change. The forum is not designed as a one-way lecture. It is a public square where participants become speakers, discussants, organizers, and citizens.
"What we are building is not just another event. We are creating a space where people can understand their own experiences and connect them to society."
From Personal Experiences to Public Voices
At Peace Agora, participants do much more than share stories. They engage in dialogue. They exchange perspectives. They practice democratic participation through meaningful conversations.
For some participants, the forum is the first opportunity to publicly express their own opinions. For others, it is the first opportunity to hear different viewpoints and engage with people from different backgrounds.
These experiences build confidence, civic awareness, and leadership.The forum helps young people move beyond being observers of society and become active contributors to it.
Connecting Voices Beyond the Forum
Peace Agora's work continues long after a forum ends.Discussions are extended through YouTube content, publications, interviews, and digital platforms that allow broader audiences to engage with the ideas generated during the forum.
Cho Kyung-il dreams of a society where North Korean defectors no longer feel the need to hide their experiences, opinions, or aspirations.
"Democracy begins when people are able to speak for
themselves and be heard by others."
Every Voice Matters
For some participants, Peace Agora is the first place where North Korean defectors can openly express what they think. For others, it is the first opportunity to genuinely listen to someone whose life experiences are completely different from their own. These conversations may appear small.
Yet every meaningful social change begins when someone's voice is heard.
Please join Peace Agora in building a society where North Korean defectors can participate in public discourse, contribute as democratic citizens, and help shape a more inclusive future for everyone.
