North Korea Human Rights Challenges: What Lawyers Can Do
Date: Jun 18, 2025 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Online
Member Price: $143.00
Non-Member Price: $179.00
Section Price: $0.00
Areas of Law: For All Attorneys, Individual Rights, International Law & Organizations
Earn up to 2.4 credits! (More Information)
Keynote
Moderator
- Hana Jeong Pak, Esq.
- Hill Wallack LLP
Presenters
- Jack Kim, Esq.
- Fragomen, Toronto
- Hyun-Seung (Arthur) Lee
- North Korea Escapee; Lead Strategist, Global Peace Foundation
- Jeong-Ho Roh
- Senior Research Scholar in the Faculty of Law; Lecturer in Law, Columbia Law School
- Kris Song
- Associate Director of Programs, Liberty in North Korea
Presented in cooperation with the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey (APALA-NJ) and the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY
According to Human Rights Watch, the Democratic Republic of North Korea (DPRK) is one of the most repressive countries in the world. A United Nations Commission of Inquiry report found that the government committed systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations that constitute crimes against humanity. Ruled by third-generation totalitarian leader Kim Jong Un, the government maintains fearful obedience by using threats of torture, executions, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, and forced labor. It systematically denies basic liberties, including freedom of expression, association, and religion. It does not tolerate pluralism, and it bans independent media, civil society organizations, and trade unions.
The program features Hyunseung (Arthur) Lee, a North Korean escapee with a unique and rare perspective. A former soldier in the North Korean People’s Army and a member of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Hyunseung Lee also served as a businessman and chaired the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League branch in Dalian, China. Forced to defect in late 2014 due to a series of purges by Kim Jong Un, he now shares his powerful story – from life inside North Korea and his personal journey to freedom, to the harsh reality of resettling in South Korea and ultimately transitioning to life in the United States.
Our expert panel of North Korea specialists will provide critical analysis of the history of the country's sociopolitical structure that still contributes to the human rights crisis and what is being done across various legal and advocacy mechanisms internationally and in the U.S./Canada to advocate for the rights of North Korean escapees. The discussion will also offer practical ways that concerned legal professionals can advocate for the rights of North Korean refugees.
Join us for this compelling program to deepen your understanding and learn how you can make a difference for the North Korean people.
Program Agenda:
- 12:00 | Introduction
- 12:02 | Introduction of speakers – Hana Jeong Pak, Esq.
- 12:05 | Historical context and background of North Korea
- The development of Juche ideology and its lasting impact on the North Korean sociopolitical structure and society – Professor Jeong Ho Roh
- 12:25 | Life in North Korea, journey to escape, and transition to life in the United States
- Life story of growing up in North Korea, the decision to defect, the harsh reality of living in South Korea and transitioning to life in the United States – Hyunseung Arthur Lee
- 12:50 | The obstacles and reality of refugee rescue and resettlement efforts
- The challenges of refugee rescue and resettlement efforts, dangers facing North Korean escapees leaving North Korea and China, obstacles organization such as Liberty in North Korea face – Kris Song
- 1:10 | Legal barriers faced by North Korean escapees today in the United States and Canada
- South Korea citizenship issue, current policy and attitudes towards asylum seekers and refugees, efforts made in the legal and policy space to empower North Korean escapees – Jack Kim, Esq.
- 1:30 | Q&A - All Panelists
- 2:00 | Adjourn
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