This is a gripping memoir by North Korean defector Kang Chol-Hwan. He tells of being imprisoned in a concentration camp as a young boy because of "crimes" his grandfather committed and relates the details of his eventual escape to freedom in South Korea. Living conditions in North Korea's gulag, which include gross lack of sanitation, poor and inadequate food, and routine use of torture are described.

anyone who has the courage to speak out against the atrocities that continue on a daily basis in North Korea. And that should be ALL of us ... opinions on the best means of helping North Koreans naturally vary, but there is something amiss if our consciences are not disturbed by the fact that thousands of North Korea's innocent citizens languish in forced labour camps without any recourse to justice and without access to adequate food to sustain human life.

the fact that translation has rendered the language in this book rather awkward at times. This should not discourage the prospective reader, however. Overall, the writing is reasonably good.

create a new way to teach others about what North Korean people experience daily in concentration camps ... and I did. Details of my method, which I call a "Gulag Meal" can be viewed at http://gulagmeal.50webs.com. This educational model is very adaptable and can be used by a wide variety of community and church groups with an interest in human rights.

we all need to become more aware of the human rights situation in North Korea. This one book won't tell you everything you need to know about North Korea, as it is based on just one person's experiences, but it is a great jumping-off point for getting started on this difficult topic.

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Created Apr 02, 2006 at 7:28pm • Submit your own review...