ANCHOR: A book written by a Korean-American who taught English in Pyongyang four years ago is in the spotlight. Her book is attracting a lot of attention as she goes beyond describing her experiences and provides scathing criticism towards the North Korean regime.
Our Park Jong-hong has more on KBS’ interview with Suki Kim about her book and experience.
 
REPORT: Korean-American writer Suki Kim visited Korea to promote the Korean-language version of her book “Without You, There is No Us.”
 
During her six-month career as an English instructor at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology four years ago, she taught the children of North Korea’s high level officials.
 
Kim, whose parents were separated from their family left behind in the North after the Korean War, told KBS that the strictly controlled society was a huge shock.
 
[Interview: Suki Kim - Korean-American Writer (Korean)]
"It was a place where 270 20-year-old male students were gathered to study. They are considered the elites of the next generation and we all lived in dormitories and were not allowed to go outdoors.”
“No one was allowed to wear blue jeans as Kim Jong-il hated them as a symbol of America. I was strictly forbidden from comparing the place with the outside world... the topics of Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, Kim Il-sung and reunification were all forbidden, not to mention politics.”
"All of these things were controlled and so all the time spent there came with no inkling of freedom. Even inside my room, I frankly felt I was being watched by somebody. This is something unimaginable in a free society.”
 
While expressing her concerns about the students she taught in Pyongyang, she said the young college students were always careful not to deviate from the controlled system.
 
[Interview: Suki Kim - Korean-American Writer (Korean)]
"On birthdays, the kids would gather in their rooms and sing songs one at a time. When I asked them what songs they sang, they said they sang about the Dear Leader. But there was one time when someone said he sang a rock-and-roll song. Right then, all the students lowered their heads and looked grim and there was complete silence. I realized then that such things are taboo. And then one student quickly changed the subject.”
 
She said she never met anyone who would talk about the idea of reunification, saying they would never discuss such sensitive topics.
 
After revealing what she saw in North Korea, Kim said she would no longer be able to enter the reclusive North, which she called "the most horrific place." 
Park Jong-hong KBS World Radio News.