Why North Koreans were shocked for the first time in America!

[@RichDenman]

This man defected from north Korea to get out of a social engagement, legendary behavior.

[@mikemondano3624]

It would be, if that were true and that was what happened. But that wasn't the reason.

[@MrVvulf]

He's a social vegan - he avoids meet at all costs.

[@Beluga_Too]

@@mikemondano3624 whooooooosssssshhhhh

[@eypandabear7483]

@@mikemondano3624 I understood it as him planning to defect, and then it being his birthday and not wanting to meet the other guy provided the impetus to do it on that day. It's still funny.

[@acaring2440]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hanjis5894]

It's important to mention that because he lived in the capital city Pyeongyang and went to university there, this guy is already in the upper class of North Koreans. His family may not have connections or power, but he is still far more fortunate than the majority of the country. This is part of the reason he was ever able to study abroad and have a chance at defection.

[@richardmcgee8315]

Exactly right; I noticed that, too. If HE was happy to leave North Korea, imagine how happy the lower-class proletariat would be to leave.

[@Itsme.KatieG]

That’s what I was thinking when he described himself as average. He went to the second best school in the capital city and was able to study abroad. That’s not average.

[@JackDanielsDayLewis]

​@@richardmcgee8315 in a sense someone like him may want to leave more than someone on the lower end economically. At the bottom survival is the focus. And community/family/etc is a huge key to that. Those bonds also are huge for a happy life. Plus they are likely living with much lower expectations. Whereas in his class he got to see enough to know he was missing out AND that it was possible to try to get what he was missing. Along with likely having a smaller and less tightly bonded community social group.

[@GrammarSplaining]

@@Itsme.KatieG I wonder how much he even knows about how the rest of the country lives?

[@buffuzo4201]

Go home.

[@hermaeusmora424]

Damn, he must've really disliked the guy when the prospect of having to have lunch with him made him decide he'd rather flee XD

[@mikemondano3624]

You should see him eat.

[@screwylooygaming]

The guy was probably a handler of sorts, keeping an eye on him.

[@adamk.7177]

80's/90's kid detected

[@hermaeusmora424]

@@adamk.7177 what makes you think that?

[@em-loof-tonnac]

Maybe he feared retaliation or being sent back to NK unexpectedly and that made him extremely paranoid and fearful. He is smart for following his gut instinct. Because I doubt "The Dictators handlers" notify students ahead of time when they are being sent back to NK to be re-brainwashed.

[@HashMaster1776]

As an American it makes me happy to see more and more defectors, I hope they know the world doesn’t see them as the enemy, I hope their transition into a new culture, a freer culture and lifestyle comes to them with ease, I hope they continue to live long lives, and continue to live happy and free. I’m glad they made it out alive, and even happier they have each other.

[@samo980]

I know what you mean about the sky in the US. When I first came here from S. Korea, that's one of the things that struck me. A huge wide open sky, not a small bits & pieces of it in between high rises or mountains blocking the view, but just a wide big open sky as far as eyes can see. A friend from Korea saw pictures of sky I had sent her and she thought it almost looked scary seeing sky so open and big 😂

[@CPTM1]

You know, as a person who lives in a mainly green part of England and I would never have thought that some countries do not have some of the simple luxuries as seeing something as simple as the sky because of where they lived. But surely they have countrysides in South Korea, no?

[@samo980]

@@CPTM1​​⁠yes but to me, it still didn't compare to the sheer size of it in Texas . It could also be that it's very flat in Texas that the sky also looked so much bigger. It's hard to describe. The countryside in Korea is very different from the US but again, the US is such a big country that differs greatly from one place to another

[@Coffeepanda294]

Coming from mountainous Norway to wide-open Houston was uncanny.

[@samo980]

@@Coffeepanda294 and the horrible Houston weather 😂

[@TheyCallMeMrMaybe]

Probably the biggest accomplishment the US made was the establishment of its national parks. Preserving the natural beauty of some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the world.

[@sondrarothermel1421]

I really liked this interview. He's had so many twists and turns in his life. From a Russian major to communications to architecture???? From North Korea to France to South Korea???? Wow!

[@genespell4340]

Plus speaking four languages.

[@user-wi9hv2pb2q]

I'm sure he didn't choose his major in North Korea. But outside to see different buildings after that hideous soviet era block style, architecture must have been irresistible.

[@FinUgShiet]

@@user-wi9hv2pb2q You would call Mirae Scientists Street buildings "hideous soviet era block style"??? WHAT???

[@higgme1ster]

@@FinUgShiet Mirae Unha Tower, Pyongyang, North Korea The tallest building is the 53-storey blue Mirae Unha Tower. A year and a half after opening, Mirae Future Scientists street tower appears uninhabited A prestige project opened in November 2015, appears to be completely uninhabited and in a state of visible decay, photos and observations provided by regular visitors and residents of the city showed “The frame construction for a 53-storied skyscraper was finished in a little more than 60 days,” an October dispatch by the Korea Central News Agency said . “The simplest explanation is that construction was hurried to meet a politically sensitive deadline, so the outside was “completed” but the inside was not,”

[@tshandy1]

What a fascinating story. This man is so authentic, intelligent, and articulate. I really hope he is happy and successful in life.

[@shaneg9081]

On the one hand it is amazing hearing about the people that escape North Korea, on the other you have to wonder what was done to their family afterward.

[@yjchang4226]

In the past, families remaining in North Korea had to face really bad things. But now there are so many people escaping that I don't care if it's not a senior official. Even because of the money that escaped people send to their hometowns, managers acquiesce.

[@shaneg9081]

@yjchang4226 That's interesting. Out of sheer corruption and, let's be honest, desperation, DPRK officials have stopped punishing peoples families? I'm curious how you know that. I don't disbelieve you, but it is so hard to truly know anything about North Korea.

[@shaneg9081]

@@yjchang4226 I wish I could believe that.

[@Anomaly-uz9pr]

@@shaneg9081yea I don’t buy if they probably “interrogate” the families at least

[@IrukunTheTuna]

​@@shaneg9081You can't. An extremely recent documentary called Beyond Utopia, and the articles written about it as recently as the beginning of this year, very much prove otherwise.

[@astroworfcraig9164]

"Abs like chocolate." Best description ever.

[@RT-qd8yl]

His self esteem went through the roof that day 😄

[@jcudejko]

That's the first time I've heard it, and dude must be a LEGEND under that shirt wwww

[@imjopping]

@@jcudejko It's a very common way to describe abs in Korean, like a chocolate bar. Sometimes it's like dinner rolls, but usually chocolate. Sorta like how we say wash-board abs or 6-pack abs :)

[@octaviusmorlock]

"I looked like a dried squid." Now _there's_ a mental image. LOL

[@glenncordova4027]

He has a great imagination and a good sense of humor. 😂

[@q-man762]

Dried squid is like Korean jerky, had some in Seoul a long time ago, very fishy taste.

[@Subjectivity13]

8:25 Wow! Koreans use "arbeit," the German word for "work," to mean "part time job," just like in Japanese! That word really got around a lot over there, with that very unique meaning.

[@marcinna8553]

I noticed that as well. I assume came in to Korean from the Japanese colonial days. The word for "architecture" also sounded Japanese.

[@Subjectivity13]

@@marcinna8553 Yeah, I was worried it might have been brought over during that time. That was rough.

[@marcinna8553]

@@Subjectivity13 I have been watching film from this period in the Japan Archives. Interesting and dark: www.youtube.com/@NFAJ_PR

[@OppressedIn4K]

I’m assuming it got around because of WWII. The Japanese allied with Germany, adopted the word, occupied Korea and the word stuck there. I could be wrong but it makes sense.

[@marcinna8553]

@@OppressedIn4K I think it dates earlier than that. A lot of Japanese terms from science and economics date back to the late 1800s and are derived from German, English and French. Chemistry terms are mostly German, sociology mostly French, etc. And Japan occupation of Korea dates back to the early 1900s.

[@SheaSF]

I lived in Korea for a few years. I developed a deep love for the Korean people. These defection stories always get to me. I met people who had relatives living in the North, and listened to their desire to see reunification. That was 30 years ago and I'm sure most have passed on. I'm always happy to hear of people escaping the Kim Family dictatorship, but it saddens me deeply to think of all the people who will never escape the mind prison that is North Korea.

[@MrVvulf]

What boggles my mind is that 40% of US Citizens under 30 have a "favorable view" of communism/socialism.

[@TrollCapAmerica]

@@MrVvulf Their teachers have a favorable view of it and constantly see themselves as part of the political elite once they get rid of pesky elections and other parties. Of course your commie professor with the hammer and sickle flag in his office will end up in the same ditch as me while the Clintons and Bill Gates down stem cell Quesadilas to try and hold on to life as godkings another couple years

[@WildberryAB]

@@MrVvulf It's very distressing.

[@DanKaschel]

​@@MrVvulfIt's probably because they understand that North Korea's particular hellscape is the result of their form of government (i.e. totalitarianism).

[@ifliped9616]

@@MrVvulf what boggles my mind is that people like you have zero idea of what socialism is.

[@RT-qd8yl]

These people seem so kind and fun to be around. I'd love to meet and talk to a North Korean person someday.

[@ColinoDeani]

being threatened with death at the slightest immoral sign usually will do that to you...

[@J_C95]

@@ColinoDeani Lol I think he's just a chill guy

[@bkayser05]

Also he has skills in Korean, Russian, French, and English, that is an impressive skill set since each language is so different from one another.

[@siegridthomas9674]

He will be making a lot of money soon !!!!😊

[@barryfletcher7136]

Almost all restaurants in the USA will provide salt-free French fries/fried potatoes. You just have to ask for it.

[@RT-qd8yl]

A lot of them will just tell you it's salt free even though they just salt all of them right at the fryer, it all depends where you go and who's working

[@podunkis]

I'm an American. I don't have much of an issue with french fries since I don't eat them often, but pretty much every kind of prepared food is salty. "Healthy" microwave entrees, pasta sauce, deli meat, bread, condiments, most canned food, etc. Even things like Oreo cookies have a lot of salt. Restaurant entrees are often far worse. I have some leftover duck paella that was quite expensive, but it's a challenge to finish because it is so incredibly salty. When I cook, which is unfortunately somewhat rare, I try to use ingredients and canned food with no added salt. I often use some kind of hot sauce or salsa, and finding low sodium versions of such sauces/salsas is quite a challenge. It takes very little time to adjust to eating food with less salt, where it essentially just tastes normal.

[@der.Schtefan]

European here. You're delusional. On my travels to America, I almost had a kidney failure, I vomited every day, that's how much salt you use. No wonder you're drinking 4 gallons a day of water.

[@Nerd_of_Anarchy]

In order to get the freshest fries you ask for salt free. They make a new batch, serve you, and then salt the rest. Then, ask them for some salt packets if you want salt.

[@squizzyicetea]

If you want guaranteed fresh fries at a fast food place tell them you want no salt fries. Then just ask for a salt packet 😂❤

[@Col_Eddington]

I need to stop talking my free life for granted. He is a great at telling his story.

[@anonw3829]

I'm glad you tasted freedom. I hope someday everyone will join us!

[@bgone4265]

Ya, join us (USA) in freedom but not in person we are full ATM and soon to deport the illegal law breakers. Come here the right way, not by overstaying your visa or crossing the border illegally!

[@diane9247]

Freedom is very salty in the USA.😂

[@willvr4]

MOST countries are free. Stop drinking the Kool-Aid. Even South Korea is "free".

[@iponce2]

​@@diane9247we tend to over salt our food lol

[@glendam1974]

@@bgone4265 be nice

[@noelvalenzuela963]

Glad to hear your free and enjoyed the USA 🇺🇸 👍

[@shortaybrown]

He’s the last person they should let into the USA. His mind is mush. He couldn’t even escape North Korea properly when he was in Paris. He failed upward his whole life. He just took endless classes he never used and wasted resources. Why did they ever let him in America? And his architecture studying, Just WHY;;; he’s the least creative person in the history of the world. He should’ve cleaned windows in North Korea, or worked construction, it would’ve fit his personality better

[@iponce2]

​@@shortaybrownI'd rather have him than you

[@shortaybrown]

@@iponce2 -- you lose

[@sea_air_ahhh5776]

6:23 he says he had an American English teacher while living in France and she “didn’t seem interested in where I was from and didn’t really ask about North Korea.” As someone who taught North Korean students as well, I was advised not to ask about North Korea except very basic, surface-level things that are necessary for context within the lessons I was teaching. You can’t say or ask anything that could potentially get the student in trouble for saying too much, or getting yourself in trouble for prying. I’m sure his teacher was very interested but couldn’t act that way.

[@OP-1000]

I didn’t know North Koreans were allowed to study abroad.

[@DavidLS1]

I wonder if their families are punished when their children defect?

[@ayreface1]

Harshly

[@darkstepik]

yes north korea sends out select students to study abroad what theyr leadership wants and the reverse is also true , i met a austrian teacher in viena subway once which went on trips to north korea to teach music with violin if i remember correctly

[@OppressedIn4K]

Only the children of very powerful and high ranking families are allowed because the assumption is that they won’t defect once outside the country since their life in North Korea is better than most there. Plus, the kids know that if they defect, their family will spend the rest of their life in labor camps.

[@loganflatt]

Kim Jung Un himself went to boarding school in Switzerland.

[@Gilvad0]

Their relationship is adorable, I really enjoyed hearing about his escape and the time he spent in other countries.

[@GrammarSplaining]

1:10 "I somehow got the chance to study abroad." I'd like to know about that "somehow," and I'm sure many North Koreans would, too.

[@kieraethan]

Same here. Interestingly vague.

[@J_C95]

He's clearly very intelligent, he probably qualified through academics and is being humble. The lady interviewing him mentions multiple times how he was very good in academics, and they discuss how he's great in a bunch of languages.

[@J_C95]

What is with the weird passive aggressive tone also lol

[@machfront]

Should he ever decide to live full-time in the States, I’d be absolutely honored to have him as my American brother! Love and light to he and his!

[@creinicke1000]

An honest explanation of his life and decision process. So many NK are desperate and run knowing their family will suffer.. compounding the pain.. But his experiences were showing amother view.

[@DaFonz808]

This guy lived in the best part of luxury in Korea and decided to leave. That should tell you something.

[@genespell4340]

He was born in North Korea and he did not know anything about luxury until he finally got to South Korea. The people in North Korea have very hard lives. They live on a very low calorie diet because they can't grow enough food for their people.

[@evantesseract737]

North Korea is not South Korea 😂

[@loveandabcs]

@@genespell4340 But he lived in Pyongyang (the capital; the only real city), which is only for the elite.

[@cloudsn]

@@loveandabcs Yeah, but he said he was from a normal family without connections. So in Pyongyang, although it's more comfortable than the countryside, he'd still be an underling. Knowing he'd have to lick the boots of his fellow students studying in France when he got back to NK would be frustrating.

[@ArchangelExile]

Yeah, that even the best part of the DPRK is worse than the average of the rest of the civilized world.

[@goulash75]

There always seems to be the question of what they thought of America in these interviews (even when they've lived in other countries) but I'd really like to know what his first thoughts were of which ever country they first went to (France in this case) out of North Korea. And also, what he thought of South Korea when he first went there.

[@oneslikeme]

The US is really vilified in N. Korea, so I understand why they do it. But I agree, I would very much like to hear more thoughts about France and S. Korea.

[@megwenger8756]

And they all seem to want to go to the big commercialized places: California, LA,Las Vegas... We have such a vast and diversified people and landscape that I feel they were cheated some how in experiencing the real USA ( narrow view)

[@ArchangelExile]

Well, they're taught that their archnemesis is the US.

[@georgemartin1436]

She is very pretty; well done, Kim. Glad you both got out!

[@NsTheName]

You may not know, but Kim is his last name. His name is actually Jeongguk/Jungkook (you can spell it either way.) In Korea their surname comes before their given name 🙂

[@MrLanternland]

More than pretty she is very sweet. They seem like fine people.

[@gl15col]

Probably no better place to study architecture than France! I can imagine leaving that beauty and going back to that dilapidated college campus was a nasty shock.

[@ScottGSouth]

Many Parisian universities are ugly, especially the Sorbonne.

[@peccatumDei]

He is an exceptionally intelligent young man, and I wish the two of them all the best.

[@loveandabcs]

I'd give it a "thumbs up" if the Video Title were changed. The content is about a North Korean studying in France, eventually defecting to South Korea, and a side trip to the USA.

[@oneslikeme]

And he wasn't even shocked lol

[@user-hp5sy9ut9b]

Tbf, a North Korean talking about their time in france might be a tough sell to english language audiences

[@tomc3542]

I gave a definite thumbs up. I wasn't disappointed in any way. JungKook's narrative was engaging a was well worth hearing his conversation with Na Min He. The sound of his voice was pleasurable to hear, also. He had so many extraordinary experiences, and somehow compressed them into just a short story.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

If you had free access to the internet, I wonder how it felt finding out what the world is REALLY like in comparison to what the North Korean government had been telling you your whole life. I'm actually surprised to hear that North Korea even let you out of the country to study in France. I guess they use your friends and family as reasons to make you come back when you're done studying?

[@megwenger8756]

Same thought, but he only watched Korean (North?) shows (feeling big brother was watching?) Did he dare venture into unapproved sites by North Korea?

[@J_C95]

He probably had more of an idea what was going on outside being at an elite university in Pyongyang, I think they have at least some internet access there and he's connected to a bunch of people who spent time outside the country.

[@AndWhatIsThisNow]

"He was older so I had to listen to him." Me, an American: "That's insane." "I didn't want to meet this guy, so I left the country." Me, an introvert: "That's so relatable."

[@jcudejko]

What a CUTE pair!! 19:55 dude should be so proud of the work he put in to get that reaction from her

[@druzillakay945]

Glad you foubd your freedom my dude, regardless of who you are or where you are from or what you believe in, being free to choose for yourself is a human right.

[@chopsquotes9326]

How do us average humans know if we are truly free? For all we know we may not have true freedom our selves, we don’t know whats out there hidden from us.

[@chopsquotes9326]

They say if you enslave a set of people for 500 years, by the 200th year these people will think they have freedom. Simply because they can not perceive real freedom as it was taken away from them

[@druzillakay945]

@@chopsquotes9326 Oh, unanswerable philosopical questions? Shrodingers box style even? Very nice, howecer unlike those this question has been asked before and everyone has a different answer. Would you rather be aware of the truth and miserable or ignorant and happy?

[@druzillakay945]

@@chopsquotes9326 but to answer your question, everyone in every culture has the freedom of choice. That is the question you asked, the question you meant to ask is are the people brainwashed inyo thinking they are free and the answer is yes ans no. They are truly free but are brainwashed enough to just blindly follow like a heard of sheep. But just one bubble in their limited views and once again said sheep regardless of still being in the heard can choose again.

[@jamesreid8638]

Welcome to the, US, dear brother, and sister🙏🌼🙏 May the dreams you build together become the life you live happily ever after. 🗽

[@Katherine95419]

Lovely couple. May they experience freedom and happiness for their entire lives

[@childofares]

I too have gone to great lengths to avoid socializing but never more than 2 states and a name change. This guy is a hero.

[@guyguy2937]

Listening to this interview, I realize that we potentially come across people in our country every day that we could help to better acclimatize to our country (France) without knowing it. It's a shame because there are for example so many restaurants to try without it costing you 50 euros. 😅

[@Qthepug]

It takes time for foreigners to actually understand other countries. Especially when most tend to hang around only people from their own country. It’s especially hard to break past stereotypes.

[@J_C95]

The only solution there is to make friends with people in those scenarios and help them, otherwise it just takes lots of time

[@billlee2194]

Wonderful interview. I'm so happy for him. I pray the entire country will someday be free.

[@mbrow]

As an American, I always love stories of North Koreans being able to defect and go on to a life full of laughter and prosperity. We are in Southern California and are glad you got to experience the USA, including our beautiful state. Hope you got to go to Disneyland!

[@Radtrad1221]

Dude your state is messed up.

[@mbrow]

@@Radtrad1221 Some people love it. Some people don't. Got some messed up stuff. Got some unbeatably great stuff. That's life.

[@royschmidt675]

Excellent video ! Thank you for sharing ! Peace, Love, & Oneness❤️🌸🙏🦋🧚🏾‍♀️

[@The_SeoulJourner]

Very interesting interview.

[@dawnmoore9635]

What a wonderful story I'm so glad you are enjoying your life in South Korea and living with a lot of freedom

[@rb2287]

I’m born and raised in the United States and I agree: TOO MUCH SALT IN OUR FOOD!!!! I stopped cooking with salt years ago and the food actually tastes better!

[@stargazer7644]

We call that "bland".

[@testman9541]

Title should have been "France got me adicted to Freedom, I deserted North Korea" 🎉🎉🎉

[@PennArgoat]

French here: I don't know to which restaurant he went in Paris, but you can definitely find good steak for less than 50€! It's too bad he didn't experience other food too haha

[@jaygee5693]

He did say it was a "fancy" restaurant, so the prices would be fancy too.

[@matthewbromm7552]

very respectful of you thankyou mr kook

[@jillyssasorum5419]

Thanks for sharing your story! ❤

[@foxfireglo8290]

This interview was very good. Thank you!

[@Chocolatepain]

I don't get why they would allow study abroad. Wouldn't students see that everyone they're told is a lie?

[@stargazer7644]

It isn't all sunshine and rainbows. He didn't talk about the significant cost of what he did. He'll never see his family again. They may have had to endure hardships because of what he did.

[@legend9335]

Being British it amazed me how he could learn to speak French and English in a matter of months and of course Russian. I am loving the young ladies top.

[@lolmao500]

700 euros for the whole scholarship?? For a year?? Thats not even money for a MONTH of expenses...

[@ThongvanNonsithanh]

Nice story. Thank you for the video.

[@valkyrie1066]

Thank you, "jungkook". I understand. I could never get accustomed to living there. At some point; your decision is made. Best of luck wherever you decide to live!

[@nathanbrownmolotov8697]

A couple of awesome young people.

[@h8nhome150]

Thank You.

[@tye829]

This is awesome man. Seize the day!

[@jacobriis7859]

What a lovely couple and good interview. Thank you.

[@Northcountry1926]

Much Respect and Best Wishes from 🇨🇦

[@tkn7390]

What happened to his family back home though? :(

[@valgalder]

You don't want to know.

[@justa.american8303]

Congratulations on improving your life 🎉! I wish you well in the future.

[@sharonw2475]

Great story, best wishes for you in the future.

[@dondevice8182]

This was wonderful!

[@qworky902]

Lmao - 'sh*t, how do I get out of going out for dinner tonight? OH - I know! I can just defect!!'

[@Pun116]

People need to realize that this guy is an extreme outlier in North Korea. Most would never even sniff at an opportunity to study abroad in France.

[@fractode]

WELCOME ! 🇺🇸👍

[@Deepak-st9gd]

Very very interesting video👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@BookNerd4Music]

His wife is so funny "Your abs were like chocolate!"

[@For_What_It-s_Worth]

I visualize a Hershey bar, segmented by grooves into parallel rows of rectangles.

[@Airborne-80]

Excellent video 👊👊👊👊👊🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jsidorable]

Inspiring chat. You are a good interviewer.

[@Heartsforerin]

AYEEE ANOTHER JUNGKOOK

[@mitchellbrown1425]

so happy for that man to make the decision to give himself freedom. I hope you gets to live every dream he has in life.

[@JenkinsUSA]

Hello from American Jungkook! Thank you for sharing this incredible journey. As an American, I am curious, how does the NK depiction of America compare to the reality you have experienced? Thank you and best wishes with your architectural endeavors. Welcome to freedom ❤

[@ILoveLibertyJustice]

Thank you so very much for telling your story and you are welcome any time back to the USA. We will try to use less salt on our food when you are back in town.

[@b.p.stimemachines2327]

I’ve watched a few of your videos and you guys Koreans whatever side of the DMZ are extremely polite and respectful people and I am glad for all of you that have decided to emigrate from the north and I hope one day if you so choose that you can return to your home but under completely different political and economic circumstances. You deserve better and it is a shame that you had to leave because there is always something you leave behind. Good luck and god bless you based on your own understanding of god.

[@zAlaska]

French chocolate is seemingly irresistible when presented in a pleasing package. One of the essential ingredients of love.

[@megwenger8756]

Thak you for sharing! Just as it is difficult for you to have imagined what freedom felt like, it is difficult for us to imagine living under such oppression. Always good for us to have opeen dialogs and learn from one another.

[@andyharman7581]

I have a friend who went to North Korea many years ago. He has a website with around 40 pages describing his visit. He wanted to go again, but the guy processing the visa application told him it's not a good idea. Evidently he's on a list of banned people now. The two most interesting trips I took were to the Soviet Union in 1986 just after Chernobyl and to Romania under Ceausescu. Like different planets. Russia is still such a weird place. My last visit was in 2018.

[@kevinivers]

I adore her reactions.

[@thseed7]

I truly hope that North Korea gets its freedom someday and that more people find happiness and never have to suffer or endure hardship.

[@winstonsmith8441]

Very interesting story! Well told.

[@TheDog_Chef]

Our sky and clouds here in America are my favorite thing also.

[@joninosaka]

I love that he came to America and started eating and working out and got huge. Its the classic American story.

[@IamKimsational]

I really enjoyed this video. This gentleman has to be incredibly intelligent judging by his language skills and his ability to navigate everyday life in N. Korea, France and North America. The same could be said of South Korea because, though I know they speak the same language, the difference in dialect would be notable. The tremendous culture shock in all of those places had to be experienced to really understand it. Add to all of that that he first was majoring in Russian, it is quite impressive. I'm proud of him, and I'm very happy that his life has become more robust and full. I've always relished seeing someone being happy and enjoying their best life. Finally, to you, sir - 친구여, 오랫동안 행복하시길 바랍니다!

[@nytrodioxide]

He went to LA and then went on to say how much he liked the fresh air, clear skies and whatnot of America... I sure hope LA was not his only destination cause that is so inaccurate lmao

[@maj0rsquish]

Then there was a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge which is in San Francisco, hella north of LA.

[@nytrodioxide]

@@maj0rsquish The quality of San Francisco's air and skies isn't much far removed from LA

[@seanthe100]

That tells you just how privileged we are as Americans. For Americans LA has some of the worst air quality for the US but for Korea especially LA has very clean air. The US has some of the highest air quality in the world when you look up the metrics it's even higher Canada and almost every European country except a few.

[@kiddsupreme]

12:16 “So I bounced” 😂. That’s definitely one way to get out of hanging out with people you don’t f**k with

[@julietwochholz9755]

I love watching these interviews.

[@Pallehz]

I'm glad he got to experience American culture! I really wish he loved it as much as I do but we all have our special flavors! Good luck, sir!

[@mykelove1968]

He really hated that guy. He defected to avoid having a meal with that guy.

[@DavidLS1]

A nice steak dinner in America costs half that. 미국의 멋진 스테이크 저녁 식사 비용은 그 절반입니다.

[@romulus_]

a nice steak in a restaurant costs that much or more. the sky is the limit with great steaks -- can be hundreds of dollars.

[@AllUpOns]

@@romulus_ At that point, you're not paying for the steak. You're paying for the "exclusivity".

[@DavidLS1]

@@romulus_ I was thinking more along the lines of a Longhorn Steak House or a Sizzler.

[@stevecastro1325]

18:27 Come to America; we’ll pump you up and make you a Chad! Success story 100%.

[@hhckiss2817]

Kind of off topic but did he say its the US State Department that gave him free education, flights, housing and meals? Can American citizens get this too, please? We can get education loans from the government but we have to pay them back with high interest. Some can get scholarships but it's only for very select people and I've never heard of flights, housing and meals being covered, it doesn't cover everything, usually just classes. I was able to pay for mine but I see a lot of people around me struggling even though almost 1/3 of our salary goes to taxes. ☹️ Anyway, I love Jungkook, he and his wife are so sweet and I'm glad he's able to carve out the life he wants now.

[@SDZ420]

Nice Discussion!❤️♾

[@movinon1242]

Every living family member back in NK will have been punished upon his defection. There are multiple levels/classes/strata within NK society (At least 21 I believe). His immediate family would have been sent to the bottom level where they would have literally nothing. No home, no job, no food, no way to earn money. Every member for 3+ generations would stay at the bottom rung with zero chance of climbing out. After getting out of prison, of course, provided they survived. Cousins, second cousins, extended family, etc., would receive demotions of several levels/ strata; again, for multiple generations. He lived in Pyongyang and was able to study overseas and receive cash stipends. That means his family was in the top 2-3 levels out of the 21+ or so levels in NK society. He was so privileged, and obviously spoiled, that he had no idea that anyone in NK didn't live as well as he did. His family members who stayed, however, sure found out. That he is so flippant about what happened to dozens of his family members I find chilling. All to avoid having to eat a meal with a colleague he didn't like. Though I realize ultimately the fault lies with the NK government, I would be so guilt-wracked for the remainder of my life. But he seems so happy o.0

[@barrygeorge1350]

I have a great respect for Korean people after living there for a year. Love the food and I can’t find any good Korean food in the US.

[@surferpam1]

I'm shocked. Shocked.

[@hunterwilk]

Letting a NK student live in a democracy for three years, with small trips back home, is like the perfect recipe for creating a dissident. Huge misstep on NK's part; Hopefully there are tons of those mistakes. Glad he took the opportunity to join us, makes us all stronger. "I ate as much as I wanted"... 'murica

[@Jordan-rb28]

"His abs were like chocolate.. 🤤" was this part of the script lol

[@ahlivetuhsidamaro150]

Very brave of you!

[@diane9247]

"I looked like a dried squid." Lol!!!😂 Wow, what a journey he had.😮😊