Yeonmi Park: North Korea | Lex Fridman Podcast

[@lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Belcampo: belcampo.com/lex and use code LEX to get 20% off first order - Gala Games: gala.games/lex - BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off - Eight Sleep: www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings 3:58 - Growing up in North Korea 9:22 - Animal Farm 15:37 - Search for meaning 20:25 - Love 22:42 - Language 27:06 - Yeonmi's dad 29:07 - Escaping North Korea 34:24 - The world is ignoring the genocide in North Korea 46:26 - Evil 49:17 - Nuclear war 50:07 - Marxist origins of North Korea 55:20 - Famine 1:00:07 - Kim Jong-un is pure evil 1:06:43 - Freedom 1:09:55 - Michael Malice 1:13:35 - Diversity 1:20:55 - Political correctness 1:30:27 - Jordan Peterson 1:34:39 - Michael Malice book on North Korea 1:40:08 - Advice for young people 1:43:10 - Facing assassination 1:53:25 - Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse 1:55:57 - Meaning of life

[@MortenErCrazy]

Thank you so much for talking to Yeonmi, she's a real one

[@Grimm_Butterfly]

Conversations like this are so important for lex podcast. Real discussions. Ppl need to understand their family history.

[@coletrautner2192]

Beautiful podcast keep up the work Lex you’re the man

[@fibonaccifanzeroviews7839]

GREAT GUEST LEX !!!!! Her story/book is one that should be required reading for all. Ms. Park is a modern day hero. I appreciate her YT channel. ✌💫🍀

[@Debasishasen]

What's the books you mention?

[@YeonmiParkOfficial]

Thank you so much, Lex for having me and also everyone’s heartfelt support!

[@ggwp7745]

Thank you for sharing your story :)

[@VaibhavChimalgi]

You are very brave

[@yuvrajt]

You have our love and respect.

[@smritapokharel5983]

❤️

[@tookallyourmoney]

Was nice to hear from a different angle and not just the re telling of the same journey. Enlightens and intrigues more listeners 🙂

[@fbwthe6]

This is one of the most moving conversations I’ve ever heard.

[@wendyolson7110]

You should listen to her podcast with Jordan Peterson.

[@chrissydecker6793]

@@wendyolson7110 thank you for the recommendation. I love hearing stories like this. Keeps me humble

[@NaillLookingforaHammer]

@@wendyolson7110 That was unbelievable.

[@freethinker284]

Yeah because there is no way she is not motivated by financial gain for exaggerating.

[@acronis536]

since Lex is such a fan of suffering maybe he should live in north korea for a few years :D

[@ita_2467]

Lex surprises me with his willingness to be vulnerable, and it’s so incredibly valuable in a conversation like this. I don’t know if it was his influence, or if Yeonmi has seen the guns pointed at her and has just made up her mind to run directly at the enemy, but this was one of the most powerful conversations I’ve ever heard. She is moving, articulate, and intelligent - a gift. As an American, I am so grateful for her witness and her example of courage in the face of real danger.. I believe that if her voice saves North Korea, it will be because she first saved the United States from this lunacy. I have no gift to bring to the table, but I will remember to pray for you and to teach my children to think. God bless you both.

[@ameliavanderzee]

i love your response. thank you.

[@riazmkhan]

Beautifully articulated. Thank you.

[@JerryMetal]

May I ask what you mean by "it will be because she first saved the United States from this lunacy"

[@ericwiese7479]

Well put, thank you!

[@HopeForUs5]

@@JerryMetal I find it hard to believe you would ask that question if you listened to the entire show? She sees the progress towards Communism in America and the insanity of the current censorship of thought and speech.

[@Felixrobinson]

"freedom is not a gateway to happiness, it can make live much more complex, but its so fun, isnt it?" This really struck a cord with me and I'm grateful to be able to hear her story.

[@grisall]

Freedom to skrew up is part of being free

[@miked473]

Lex: “aren’t people inherently good though?” Yeonmi: “I love your optimism” ✌️❤️

[@ewadsworth]

Yo. It's deep

[@rexdrabble4988]

Naievity

[@multirichardb]

We are yes, absolutely inherently GOOD. Look above at my response. We are inherently 2 x 2=4.

[@compassioncampaigner728]

@@multirichardb That is a remarkable observation given the limitless cruelty humanity celebrates from this moment backwards in time to.... hmmmm.....Cain and Able? The orange colostomy bag and his 70 million followers honor inhumanity and see compassion as weakness.

[@redgey5163]

I love Lex, honest to God. But I can't help but feel a bit cynical (and perhaps envious) when people say this. Maybe he's just a "glass is half full" kind of guy. Fair enough.

[@RD-sz4ii]

“You don’t know oppression” Powerful If every person in the west could try to understand this perspective with empathy. Yes the west has issues, but we have brothers and sisters who are treated as if they are not even fellow humans.

[@ev0lution1]

+1

[@e1v1a19]

That’s true. But it’s also illustrative of how hypocritical American foreign policy is. It’s not just and true - it’s self interest. If the govt was more honest and didn’t waste the last 20 years in a sandy shithole, maybe people would still believe.

[@ev0lution1]

@@SoundsSilver Who jumps from factories in the west?

[@Americansikkunt]

@@ev0lution1 Suicide is an epidemic in the West

[@thomaslao3411]

oh shut up. people in the west know about empathy. point your finger else where.

[@osirisgolad]

1:11:22 "Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free." ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

[@deussivenatura5805]

It's all about luck.

[@trackrunner11]

That is so profound!

[@MaddyIntravia]

Yup. Everybody is not* created equally in reality. We humans are not made for a Utopia. It is NOT in our biological & psychological makeup. There will FOREVER be the obsession for being the most powerful, i.e. Kim Jong-Un literally allowing, making, his own people starve to death because he refuses food/help from the UN or any other country based on pure stubbornness + arrogance. The world will always need suffering to balance out the joy, I'm afraid. It is far beyond most of our psychees can even imagine and try to make sense of.

[@trackrunner11]

@@MaddyIntravia I agree but on the other hand "all man is equal in the eyes of God. He loves us all .As far as life is concerned.. we are born,we get slapped in the ass,and the rest is different for each individual.

[@MaddyIntravia]

@@trackrunner11 oh I absolutely understand that and I know any child of the Lord can repent & be forgiven. I mean, look how fearful the Kim's must be of religion since they will literally execute any of their people for having a Bible or practicing prayer at all 🤷🏻‍♀️ they knew how compelling believing in a Higher Power can be which would completely destroy their ability to brainwash these poor North Koreans into believing he IS their God 🙁 breaks my heart ❤

[@jakes2281]

I have been a student at Columbia University since 2019 and my experience has been a complicated mess to the point where I have been heavily considering leaving before finishing my degree for the last few months. Yeonmi Park is the first person to make me feel pride in my school since I have been there. Thank you for your passion, your love, and your voice.

[@billycost893]

You can do it! Don't give up, it will make your story that much cooler when you finish. Best of luck.

[@quinn4091]

As part of the alumni you can influence the proceedings in your university. Don't accept the indoctrination, warn potential students, put pressure everywhere you can

[@solarwind907]

Yeonmi Park blew me away. One of the most powerful interviews I have ever experienced in my life. Thank you Lex, for having her on your show.

[@robertfrick6916]

This interview was so powerful I could only listen in segments before having to stop, walk away, and breathe. It genuinely hurt my heart and soul. I cannot begin to understand the depths of pain and suffering Miss Park experienced and that continues to plague millions of innocents in N. Korea and China. Thank you, Lex, for bringing this horror to our attention.

[@tokumei6450]

Hello, you should watch her podcast with Jordan Peterson. She described her experience more there.

[@dupersdelite]

She's lying. Stop being so easily manipulated. Study the evil of history more often to strengthen your tolerance. Atrocities are bad enough, but propaganda always opens the door for the next atrocity, genocide, democide.

[@MNewsTime]

Snow flake

[@ΒύρωναςΛαδιάς]

@@dupersdelite how is she lying

[@dupersdelite]

@@ΒύρωναςΛαδιάς Dude you have Google

[@Jeff-tt7wj]

Man…when she talked about missing her dad, and how she wished for a son so in some way she could view it as taking care of her dad and showing him a better life. So profound…brought tears to my eyes.

[@MonkeyDIvan]

That makes no sense. You cannot show a better life to a being that does not yet exist. One should prioritize the living, not the non-existant.

[@hectorantoniodejesusibarra7431]

@@MonkeyDIvan bro you're are what shampoo 🧴 have instructions

[@KRIS-sh8wp]

@@MonkeyDIvan Just because her views & beliefs may not align with yours, that doesn't make hers wrong or right. Who are we to dictate how another person should honor & revere the life & loss of their loved one? Free your mind & don't be so critical & judgemental of others. Be Blessed ~ Godspeed 🙏🏽

[@OutlandishOW]

@@MonkeyDIvan you must struggle with reading comprehension. Key phrase you missed: “so in some way she could view it as…” and you still decided to post an embarrassing comment taking the statement out of context. Maybe you think she’s silly. Maybe your feeble brain can’t even come close to understanding what she’s been through. Who’s to say?

[@Spicy_Spores]

@@MonkeyDIvan Totally agree, 100%. Focus on taking care of those actively suffering now instead of creating more is the ideal mindset. But also good for her if that is a good coping mechanism for her. But as long as she realizes her son isn't her father and /having a child is not a way to deal with trauma/. Her son is a completely different, unique human being, and too many parents don't give a shit about that.

[@captainhoarse]

Gotta say Mr. Fridman, I'm thoroughly enjoying the conversations I've seen so far. Your questions are intellectually well thought out with an obvious sense of earnestness and compassion.

[@kelligillespie1995]

I am American. I care. I care very much. Im so sad to hear all you are saying. My 💙 breaks for you. For all the poor people who are still suffering in N. Korea. God bless you both. I pray that God will end all the suffering in the world. We are all equal. We are all human beings. Everyone should be able to go and live where they want.

[@Meatfractals]

Intro was intense Lex. Powerful stuff.

[@JS-uz5tl]

I have not yet listened to this podcast, but I am deeply intrigued every time this lady tells her story; her story is powerful. Her wisdom is gold, so brutally earned.

[@hipnhappenin]

18:00 Jesus Christ. Lex's question and Yeonmi's response... I'm crying. The fact that if given a choice she wouldn't delete these horrific, painful memories because she is a "witness" and she feels a responsibility to remember and speak on these atrocities....

[@firstnamelastname8790]

Get off the internet

[@vedantdubey2316]

it was not even that astounding..jesus christ!!!

[@vedantdubey2316]

@G G i have heard many worse real stories.

[@vt750dc]

@@vedantdubey2316 was it before you started spending your time shouting people down in youtube comments sections?

[@blendajeti6516]

@@vedantdubey2316 i feel sorry for you. that you can't put yourself in her position and her thinking for even one second. the rest of us can, thankfully.

[@melonbarmonster]

She educated herself living in South Korea while working the most menial jobs as a cashier at a 711 type of store while reading and studying on her own at night. She read through all the Korean and international classic literature in total rapture and enthrallment. She got into university and graduated while learning English and she then applied and got into Columbia and wrote her book and basically created her career. She's beyond brilliant. From a Korean cultural perspective her academic achievement allows her to wield a level of respect that Koreans worship but there's a shade of brokenness and shame that shows through. Her insane achievements and her intense makeup and fashion are her armor. I wish her happiness and peace in all she does.

[@lotusstar347]

I love that you get this girl.

[@Skrambo92]

👏👏👏👏

[@imminenthope8970]

No. She is funded by powerful rich people in America with an agenda. She is not doing this on her own. What she did before, yes but not now.

[@clivemilner]

@@imminenthope8970, Imminent Dope give her a break. The lady has suffered so much with millions of other North Koreans.

[@morninglift1253]

She's a proven liar. As a Korean, I am disgusted by her actions. She's actually pretty loaded right now because conservatives pay her big money to say things that they want to hear. There are hundreds of North Korean defectors every year. Why do you think you don't hear stories from them? Why aren't they celebrities like her? She's no different than Elie Wiesel who wrote Night as an autobiographical experience at Auschwitz. But, people later found out that the story was completely made up. First, he denied it, Then, he said he simply changed certain details. Finally, it was proved that it was completely made up. It's really disgusting what people will do to make a buck.

[@00_Andre_00]

I may have only seen this 7 months after it was uploaded, but one is never too late to watch this. Lex, you are a legend. Yeonmi, there are simply no words for your bravery. Massive respect to you both.

[@tishaakulich7569]

I am from Belarus and relate so much to what Yeonmi has to say. Dear Americans, it’s truly on you to appreciate freedoms you have & help the rest of the world

[@antoine.-]

Belarus is definitely a priority to help and set free

[@jh87ep3]

@john 7 then go live in North Korea

[@jh87ep3]

@john 7 What blame? What's going on in North Korea and US foreign policy are two completely different things.

[@TheDionysianFields]

@john 7 Dude, you're trolling every thread on this video. How much free time to do you have?

[@cashkitty3472]

Well you need to help to. This isn't on America to solve and in not American but they aren't responsible for the world

[@Alan-er9xi]

For me, this was a very powerful conversation. She's a very strong and courageous individual.

[@debbiedogs1]

She is a US psyop.

[@ericlawrence9060]

Goddam YES! I learned allot.

[@wardog0327]

@@debbiedogs1 Prove it

[@zzshake]

@@debbiedogs1 stfu

[@davidfirdavidfir3778]

@@wardog0327 she changes her story all tbe time and says tbe most ridiculous things.. One has to be completely naive to believe her . She has been exposed

[@andyrevo19]

Yeonmi should meet with a director and screenwriter and make a movie about her experience. . .it may be controversial but man .. Yeonmi's journey from NK to the U.S really is a inspirational story.

[@moonchild1432]

she talks abt this in a recent podcast w andrew schulz - how they did work on a movie script but they literally rewrote her story in a way that makes china looks good and when she questioned why it was changed they told her this is the only way they can produce a movie abt her

[@healypa]

Then Hollywood will warp it. Go independent directors, producers etc

[@darkren88]

​@@healypa the question is will someone gambles on it? hopefully there is. this is a great story to tell across generations

[@kaiutube]

Movies are good yes, But books last longer, not everybody in the world can watch movies. Books can be sent to north korea etc

[@kaiutube]

i just realised that many people wouldnt be able to read the books though

[@ClipCoyote]

I avoided watching this because I knew it would be painful just to hear. At several points I could feel myself tearing up. I'm 6'6, she's 80 pounds; and I am in awe of her strength.

[@muffindog3113]

Watch her interview with Jordan.

[@ashok.nurture]

Yeonmi's responses are so profound.. every sentence so deep. A brave heart and a wise monk at the same time. Keep going, Park. Best part of Lex is, he speaks his mind out, without spoiling the integrity of the conversation.. Keep going, Lex

[@parsanorm]

I've seen many talks with Yeonmi Park and almost didn't watch this one thinking I know her story. I have to say Lex, you are such a loving and intelligent force of humanity. You get people to relax and to speak freely in a way that is most relatable. And you get to the very essence of human connection. Anyone could read her book and listen to her story, the way you talk with your guests lets us feel the way they feel. I'm so glad I didn't skip this one. The two of you took us on a journey of intelligence and emotion.

[@marigam]

She is just so strong and amazing. She makes me believe I can live through anything. She’s lived through so much and is still so whole. It’s so inspiring.

[@markflynn2669]

She could be talking shit. Probably is.

[@granitlika9308]

@@markflynn2669 you are correct mate , north korea probably doesnt exist , its a hologram and every defector is a paid actor , PROBABLY

[@doyle1020]

When Yeonmi asks "why is there so much anti-human sentiment in this world?" ... I believe that's a question many of us are asking lately. We must get to the bottom of why this sentiment exists, understand who is perpetuating it and how we can combat it individually and collectively.

[@jiggy5144]

The devil is the perpetrator

[@davidicke4451]

@@jiggy5144 and the devil is influencing the current globalist power structures that run the world

[@aerobique]

in plain sight "the market" feudalist neuroses/ideology - competition *is* conflict you're welcome

[@salishseas]

The answer is greed.

[@aerobique]

@@salishseas lame. behavioual causality... anyone? nobody....? so, ...are you greedy? is your mama greedy? i am not greedy and greed is a symptom, more so, greed is kind of survival strategy in a market-based world, to compete and become ""successful"" working *against* everyone else, against your people. Cultural/structural/systemic "rules" we blindly accept, we forgot these are not natural laws, but power abuse mechanisms of the last few hundred years, old grown children, existential fear, structural terror. Not natural law. Yes, everything's irritating and "evil" and.. wrong. - bc all human beans, we, are simply are very, very social, cooperative, thoughtful and caring , even funny or whatever, species.... with unimaginable potential to solve shit. it's about time to realize what is going on, who we actually are, where we went wrong, to learn to grow up into this 21st century. it's here, now is this time. x

[@jeno427]

The part about controlling your words and through them your thoughts made me realize why Jordan Peterson was so upset about the compelled speech law in Canada.

[@Lordssodier]

The part that fears me the most is that after the transition people will try to read old books and don't understand a thing because they will not understand the difference between a single person and many, just to mention one thing. Just like what Miss Park mentioned about not knowing what love and freedom is, people at the top of this evil movements are trying to twist every concept of the free individual society so that in a few generations people don't know anything other than following the rules of the "supreme leader", just like what happened at North Korea.

[@canadianeh4792]

Was it just me that heard that and thought, "hey, there's a book about that! Controlling words controlling minds available now to order" Michael Knowles' constant, shameless plugs worked spectacularly.

[@SportsTalk_J]

Canada is headed for serious trouble

[@SnakeWasRight]

@@Underground.Rabbit hey, we've got a north Korean schill here!

[@rh4993]

@@SnakeWasRight, Park does seem a bit dishonest tbh. There are some videos on KZbin that question the authenticity of a lot of what she says and some of the videos might be North Korean propaganda but they're convincing and provide evidence regardless. In case there's doubt about me, Kim Jong Un is a fat man-child and North Korea is a shit country. Park is probably only dishonest about certain things because she's told to be by the managers who saw dollar signs when they originally scooped her up to make her a celebrity activist but money and the comfort it brings is still definitely an influence for her. I'm sure she also genuinely cares about helping other North Korean defectors though.

[@jcs192]

Wow. I’m 30 minutes in and am blown away. Lex - please don’t ever stop this podcast. You’ve opened my eyes to so many things.

[@bgarbled]

This interview is one for the history books. Such great questions, as always, Lex. What a remarkable, strong, incredibly brave and beautiful woman. Great job.

[@tbo2120]

‘I don’t want someone to do something because they’re guilty, I want them to do something because they’re grateful’ And THIS, is the problem with America today. Thank you. What a gem 💎

[@Rosemari753]

Props to the interviewer for getting so deep with Yeonmi. I've heard nearly ever interview she has ever done but I learned some new things and got insights from this that I never had before. Well done and thank you.

[@mikeh7515]

Mesmerized by the intro. Thank you, Lex, for all that you do.

[@funkyhairman]

I have seen so many of these Lex podcasts I love them all and this one was such a gem.

[@EverdomeYT]

Amazing! Thank you for doing this.

[@qualifying2359]

The intro is even more amazing. The embargo the US has over Korea was the main reason why the famine happened.

[@AlaskaFinal]

The main reason was flooding that impacted more than 30% of the country. Along with destroying crops, their hydro electric dams were damaged, which provided 70% of the power in the country. They didn't have robust distribution systems between provinces, and the Regime itself refused to import food to alleviate the shortage. They had opened a free trade zone but in a very remote area of the country, so no appreciable business or food stock was ever brought there. mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/92548/

[@qualifying2359]

@@AlaskaFinal yes and the trade embargo that caused food shortages and no international chain of supply for it to happen in the first place lol @t in the 60’s N Korea had the 2nd biggest economy in Asia. Indignât lex forgot to mention why how North Korea was a playground for US bio weapons too back in the day, but guess they being evil is a faster explanation. www.jstor.org/stable/43908677?seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents

[@qualifying2359]

@@cryptocaesar8972 >:0 that evil dictator wanted to not prosper!!!’ Yes, I guess that’s why saddam got lynched too after complying with sanctions that left his military an empty husk and allowed for an breezy invasion.

[@0223eoin]

@@eliakazan637 i have read many comments on this thread and in other videos about her, and you have copied and pasted the same text. Get out of here you Bot.

[@zofiamazur8125]

I am from Poland so I am hunted by the stories of my grandparents and my parents as well. They overcame difficulties because of love. That's why our only protection from evil is learn how to love. Otherwise we will eat each other, history proved it many times.

[@noahk5959]

Cześć

[@leothompson6397]

You can be violent and still loving. It's in some cases the only option in order to defend and grant justice. It's only when we use violence as a tool for progress when we become blinded by material things and hatred.

[@ThePorschefan]

I live in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México and my kids will be haunted by my stories of this narco city

[@YanusDV]

@@ThePorschefan Fuerza hermano. Te deseo todo lo mejor, y que tiempos mejores lleguen a tu tierra

[@MakeBeautifulChoices]

Lex, thank you for interviewing her and for helping raise awareness about what you rightly call unimaginable cruelty. I watched Peterson's interview with Yeonmi and remember bawling my eyes out. The worst part was her brief comment about meeting other survivors and realizing *she was lucky.* Her story is beyond heartbreaking and extremely difficult to hear. But we have to summon the courage and the fortitude to do something about this.

[@MakeBeautifulChoices]

@you- tube this is a perfect example of something to keep to yourself, and something not even worth thinking to begin with. THIS was the reply you thought my comment most needed?

[@kirandas2558]

@@MakeBeautifulChoices he is disappointed with the free world. I think.

[@nannue]

One year later, I finally m ready to listen and this podcast is extremely hard to swallow. I m sure in time, I will reach the end eventually. Thank you Alex and Yeonmi Park. May you overcome and succeed in time.

[@lillyanp4]

Damn!!! This conversation, I think could be one the best conversations I’ve EVER heard. Life changing. I feel so uneducated about the world. This podcast is TRULY eye opening. Thanks Lex

[@cesarpalacios2475]

Check out the one with Jimmy park yeah and with miss park and Jordan Peterson

[@lillyanp4]

@@cesarpalacios2475 I will!! Thank you so much.🙏🏻✌🏻

[@benlewis5312]

​@@lillyanp4 The conversation between Park and Peterson is what brought me here. I thought it was even better than this one, but not by much. Lex is awesome

[@chattsignal]

Listen to Yeonmi’s interviews wherever you can find them! She will make you appreciate life so much more! Also, her book, In Order to Live, is a jaw dropping heart wrenching story of her life and escape. I can’t think of a more impactful book. Congratulations on finding her!

[@Alberthoward3right9up]

@@chattsignal you do realise her stories seem fabricated. Check out the other videos where she was a tv star in South Korea and her mum was a government employee and supposedly the Paris Hilton of North Korea

[@jjb3406]

The intro gave me goosebumps ! Look forward to listening to this

[@xFREERAVENx]

34:24 The horror is not the crime, the horror is everyone else looking away.

[@compassioncampaigner728]

A slight twist of C3PO's words........."Oh, we excel at that."

[@harris4041]

The evil lives on the cowardice of the good

[@gts013]

It's both

[@DHorse]

No. But the later is the greater evil.

[@xFREERAVENx]

@@jasonsharpe9963 Oh ok Jason. Keep on telling yourself that.

[@watermelongangster]

This is honestly one of the most important videos on this channel, we should always be aware of the horrors that could be upon us if the power over the people ends up in the wrong hands

[@gomiladroogies5951]

lmao

[@usmc72409]

It must have been mesmerizing being one of the people by her side who helped teach her the meaning of these words and watching her moments of discovering our way of life. Beautiful moments. Thank you for sharing your story. Some stories have such triumph and wonderful victories. You deserve nothing but peace and freedom from here on out.

[@pauloalmeida3728]

I got schooled by this conversation. Yeonmi Park and Lex gave me a lesson in life and iam older than both. Thanks for this video.

[@yodittx]

Thank you so much for having her on your podcast to share her story, insight, and bravery. This conversation was very eye opening and led me to have a shift in my perspective. Also thank you for the honesty and transparency that you contribute every episode, it really elevates the conversation.

[@nworbydnar]

This is, to me, the best interview you have ever done. Bringing up Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning was perfect. This women is so brave. I hope she can find happiness. With love.

[@andygirone7442]

I'm beyond excited for this. Lex will ask her questions others have not.

[@earth355]

And her number?

[@sam_s_]

"Will you marry me?"

[@chubsley2000]

One of the insane things is that she mentions having to eat grass because there was nothing else to eat

[@sam_s_]

@@abdullahireland1172 🤣

[@chubsley2000]

@@abdullahireland1172 lol what?

[@dcooper6142]

She has such a sharp and beautiful mind. I often ponder between how different she would be if she didn’t have all of her life experiences growing up versus how all those life experiences shaped the person she is today. I am happy to know that we will have her here for many years to come!

[@johnnyroycerichardsoniii3273]

Absolute champion of a lady and one of my living “heroes”

[@hugodiazroa]

Why quotation marks?

[@pltechs]

Lex, I’ve discovered your channel only a couple weeks back and have been binge-watching it ever since. You’re introducing me to so many interesting, insightful, genuine, deep, different, clever perspectives and I applause and thank you for that. These conversations are a true trove of hope and inspiration.

[@DonnieBrook69]

Lex, I discovered your podcast last week and I'm so thankful that I did. Thank you for sharing this remarkable human hero with us!

[@joelfooxiangjie]

1:08:20 - "It's not that easy to be free. Thinking for yourself, constantly"

[@aufwiedersehen483]

This is how i came to understand why the mass majority of people are followers. It is hard work and can make you feel alone in a weird way.

[@2brainsdividedby498]

I agree thinking for yourself is connected to loneliness because it is just you thinking in your own head which is tiresome and lonely.

[@theresazg5722]

She was on Timcast IRL last week. She said that it was physically painful for her. If NK would have given her a potato, she would have gone back.

[@2brainsdividedby498]

@@theresazg5722 what was physically painful?

[@theresazg5722]

@@2brainsdividedby498 sorry I didn’t express that well. Being free…all that it entails…was painful and overwhelming. Making choices. Expressing opinions. She didn’t even know she had a favorite color. She said it hurt her brain.

[@C_R_O_M________]

She is, easily, one of my favorite persons on the planet!

[@amnaklacar5891]

That intro Lex you didn't have to make me cry like that. Love the interview.

[@away69]

This one was heavy, I've had the impression she was about to break into tears quite a few times buh held strong. Keep those memories alive so we don't make mistakes again.

[@emmanuelboakye1124]

If this stuff doesnt bring you to tears then i dont know what will.

[@justsandy4381]

He seemed the same at several points

[@MK4lyfe]

This is such an amazing conversation. She is so well spoken and amazed how much she knows of our world views! Great podcast!

[@mycofyto]

Couldn’t agree more. This interview is amazing!

[@EllisDee88]

right its almost like she is playing us all like the ccp...

[@l-train7876]

She has an incredible vocabulary

[@user-rs4tm1dy8p]

“It is when people underestimate evil - that’s what scares me.” Absolutely. Most Americans don’t understand the evil that humans are capable of.

[@nordwest23]

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

[@nordwest23]

Exactly

[@kyletaitt3526]

This was incredible such a powerful and inspirational interview, Lex. I am grateful for the hard work both of you do to spread love and compassion ❤

[@morninglift1253]

I hope you realize that much of her story is made up.

[@jadanirvanna]

one of my favourites from this channel. the double-edged sword of suffering and joy was touched upon beautifully

[@josiahwyncott7519]

On the dictator and reading Animal Farm: "but when I was ending the last chapter... everyone was responsible for creating this dystopia..." And that is one of the great and horrible truths of life we have to recognize and live with. Everyone shares the guilt.

[@warbler1984]

At the same time its tough to be the first to stand up. Like in the secret speech when Kruschev detailed Stalin's atrocities and someone in the crowd shouted "what did you do to stop him" or something along those lines. Kruschev looked up and shouted "who said that"....no one says anything and Kruschev says "exactly, that's where I was" - or so its rumoured

[@jeffw6692]

Not everyone. There’s many people that have been screaming about this “from the rooftops”, but we’re discredited and ostracized from “civil society” and labeled as “conspiracy theorists”. It was the government that created that term, they did it so they could discredit anyone shining a light onto corruption.

[@situationnormal6729]

@@jeffw6692 I keep the CIA memo on my phone so that it's always on hand to show people what they are supporting by using the term disparagingly. People conspire & I've got some theories. I refuse to be a coincidence theorist. Doubt nothing, question everything.

[@humanbean1424]

@@eliakazan637 Ok, great. But how does Kevin Lee fit into all of this?

[@0223eoin]

@@eliakazan637 the commenter didn’t even mention her. He talked about a book that shows the pitfalls of Communism…. You’re clearly a communist so nobody here cares from your dumb copy and pasted comments. Bot

[@arno94s58]

The pain you feel in her voice when she talks about her experiences is so heartbreaking. It's so unimaginable what kind of suffering she had to go through I hope all people in North Korea will someday have the freedom and the quality of life we have here in the Western World.

[@muslimmetalman]

Equality?

[@dupersdelite]

Stop being so easily manipulated. Study the evil of history more often to strengthen your tolerance. Atrocities are bad enough, but propaganda always opens the door for the next atrocity, genocide, democide. Know that humanity is an assembly line of programmable bio-robots. Snap out of it..

[@MassiveWarfarePlayer]

this is one of the most powerful interviews yet

[@markd2797]

Yeonmi Park has been on fire lately, being on all the famous channels and podcasts. I hope everyone hears her story in order to learn and prevent past generations’ mistakes. Brilliant how you got her on, Lex. Also, I’m expecting this to get emotional as North Korea is no different than the Soviet Union.

[@seoultolondonvlogs7229]

I was deeply moved and inspired by this conversation. As a fellow Korean from the south the story feels somehow more personal. I'm awed by how smart she is - how well she tells her story and expresses herself in a language that is not native to her, not to mention the clarity of thought. She is also so beautiful. It's going to sit with me for a while to process this I think. On a larger sense, it makes me think about the freedom we take for granted, but on a more practical level, I do believe the South Koreans must play a bigger role in this effort. Makes me look back how many of us Seoulites care, or even, are aware of the North Korean defectors in our society. Thank you Yeonmi and Lex Fridman for this podcast.

[@he_is_a_GOOBER_dont_disrespect]

I think one of the problems is that China is a protector of North Korea right? So how can we start to affect any change in a country so close to China. When that would probably start a world nuclear war. We live in an insane time

[@killians4927]

Such an incredible woman. I really hope her message gets to the people that need it most and we can come together to correct the course of our futures, for everyone's sake.

[@graemejack9040]

After watching this and her interview with Jordan Peterson I think I can honestly say Yeon mi is quite possibly thee most extraordinary human being I've ever encountered so far. To have gone through everything she has gone through and yet still have empathy towards those who have harmed her is unbelievable. She is a beacon of hope for humanity.

[@laqueenawilliams4762]

She a lier.

[@duskripper6650]

​@@laqueenawilliams4762 can't even spell liar right 🤦

[@crayfish6735]

yeah sadly its been proven that a lot of what she says is a lie, she decided to to make herself more famous to sell more books :((((

[@mistybrass3719]

How? How has she been proven a liar? She has explained the inconsistency in her age. NK has a different way of determining age. Because she used the word "mountain" and there were only hills? Did you know people who have never seen an actual mountain will often refer to a hill as a mountain? I've experienced this myself here in the US. I grew up surrounded by snow capped mountains, and then moved down south where there are no mountains. People call hills "mountains" here all the time and I tease them for it. Because her mother said something? Did it not occur to you that her mother may be too scared to admit it's all true? Yeonmi herself said she is on Kim Jung Un's death list. Did you know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of NKorean escapees with remarkably similar stories? She has indepth knowledge of what they teach in schools. She gives names, dates, and actual places. Does it not strike you as odd that the only ones calling her a liar are the ones who are silent about the horrors happening in NK? Is it not possible these nay-sayers are just a bunch of NKorean propagandists? You say she's been proven a liar, and I ask, How? Why? To what end? There are sooooo many others with similar stories. Money? Do you even know how she lives or what she makes? Do you know her personally?

[@tegridyfarmer2581]

@@mistybrass3719 She spoke out against the left so she must be canceled even if she escaped north korea. Nothing else to say those people would cancel Jesus if he speaks out against the left.

[@Cableread1213]

The fact that this woman is so articulate in a 2nd language, so insightful on the plights of humanity and is not completely consumed by her past, we are witnessing a conversation with an exceptional human being. This is the best of who we are. One iota of her experiences transferred to me or anyone in the western world would spiral most of us. I don’t say this to denigrate us in the west, simply an observation on the lack of perspective not as individuals but as a whole. Fascinating, inspiring, troubling and humbling. Yeonmi is an exceptional human being, period. Honored to listen to this conversation.

[@spracketskooch]

The lack of gratitude in the west is almost inconceivable. Even in myself I see it, if the internet is slow to load I'll get angry and have to remind myself what a miracle it is I even have food and water, let alone electricity and the internet.

[@Cableread1213]

@@spracketskooch so true. The older I get the more grateful I am about larger things like family, having a good career, my health but not about simple, everyday luxuries and conveniences. That’s where I fall short. We’re lucky as hell to only have to worry about first world problems. Just have to do our best to stay humble and treat our fellow brothers and sisters and our community with respect and continue to be grateful.

[@jakw97]

Imagine if this was tv, and not Fallon or Love Island

[@leafdesi5967]

The world would be so much better. I wasted my teens looking for folks like Lex.

[@user-vp7yg8qb8g]

You're assuming brainless npc's don't exist.

[@morsecode9223]

@@leafdesi5967 same

[@MilahanPhilosophersCorner]

Exactly 💯

[@hunterroam3496]

This is also tv.

[@koly672]

Lex thank you you’re helping a lot of people and I look up to you

[@oliviahaus3620]

i stumbled upon her book in a huge book store, covered in dust on a top shelf. i finished a couple days ago and really was an incredible one. this just happened to pop up on my feed, thank you!

[@elizabethhill3959]

This conversation is so beautiful. Her story is not just a story, it is an important lesson. Thank you for sharing

[@ianbarry6193]

@Vasileios Voutsinos continue please

[@OutOfNamesToChoose]

@@ianbarry6193 Don't bother. Probably another Chinese wumao.

[@wardog0327]

@Vasileios Voutsinos Still waiting for you to show proof.

[@ZRogers91]

“You are not oppressed. You don’t even know the definition of oppression.” Put that on a T-shirt immediately holy shit

[@ryanjohnson2844]

I don’t think it means what you think it means

[@scrub3359]

Sounds like oppression Olympics, they got the gold, but that doesn't mean everyone else's suffering doesn't exist

[@ERROR204.]

Yeah I think you misinterpreted what she said...

[@motionsmoments6254]

@@scrub3359 suffering and suffering due to oppression aren't same.

[@praz7]

@@scrub3359 they're small enough to not panic

[@Grimm_Butterfly]

He carries his hatred well. I still saw his compassion first.

[@deani2431]

Yeonmi reminds me of a monarch butterfly. Beautiful, intuitive, grounded, searching, seeking, and always looking to go home. What a beacon for the potential we humans can aspire to. Us mortals can only hope to follow in her light.

[@spracketskooch]

Damn Lex, I could see the deep fury driven by an even deeper compassion in your eyes during the intro. Thank you for talking to Yeonmi, giving her a platform, her story _needs_ to be heard by everyone. Also, my gratitude for Yeonmi and her work is inexpressible in words -- I think I'm going to have to write a song.

[@nojuan7650]

Bittersweet interview. Insightful, thoughtful, beautiful and terrifying all at the same time. A reminder to be thankful for some many things we take for granted.

[@amieanderson9827]

Thank you, for letting the ones of us who didnt know about this. I always say its a crazy world full of selfish people. How millions can be spent on a movie film when there are children starving and people have no water all ovee the world just shows the selfish the world is as a whole.

[@aarondennis2285]

Watching this on July 4th brings a perspective that makes my brain explode! Thank you to both of you for having this conversation!

[@tye829]

Read about her and it seems there are some reports out there about “inconsistencies” with her story, so I looked into them… Here are a few of the big ones: 1. She said a friend’s mother was executed for watching a James Bond film, other times describes it as a Hollywood film, other times as a South Korean DVD. The problem with this story, besides the “inconsistency” is that other defectors say you would not be executed for such a thing, even in North Korea, and that executions, when they did happen, were few in number, for more serious things, and done on the outskirts of the city, not in a stadium as she said. 2. She played a version of herself in a pseudo-reality show in South Korea, wherein she is described as the “Paris Hilton” of North Korea, whose family was somewhat well off in North Korea and had things like designer purses-obviously this is in stark contrast to the way she describes her life there elsewhere. 3. She said she was near starving in the wild with her sister for a period of a few years, resorting to eating grass and dragonflies to survive. Other times, she has said she and her sister learned to cook during this time to survive, and another time that her sister went to live with an uncle while she lived with an aunt. Okay, so to play devil’s advocate, none of these truly seem like lies or inconsistencies to me. 1. The movie she speaks of could be described as a James Bond movie or a Hollywood movie or a South Korean dvd. They aren’t mutually exclusive. I am assuming it was a dubbed/subbed Korean language James Bond film, smuggled into the country, and “South Korean” in the sense that it subtitled for a South Korean audience/literally a dvd from South Korea, of a James Bond film. As to whether the film was “Hollywood” vs. British, this is a small easily explainable discrepancy-many Asian people, and some westerners too, will refer to any big budget western film as “Hollywood” regardless of where it was produced. Having lived in Beijing, I can tell you that Harry Potter is called a “Hollywood” film, even though it technically isn’t. Also, it’s my understanding she was a child when this execution happened, which she has said. It could easily be the case the mother was executed for subversion and a number of things, one small part of which was watching banned western films. When I was young I remember asking my father why Bill Clinton was being impeached, and him telling me, “Because he is a bad husband.” For years, I thought this was the reason. And while true in a childhood sense, it’s more of a turn of phrase than the actual technical reason. 2. The tv series she was part of is just that-a tv series. She didn’t even use her own name. Whether the series is presented as reality or not doesn’t make a difference to me. As a young pretty girl she could easily have been playing the “Korean Paris Hilton” role and we shouldn’t take what was said on a tv show too literally. 3. It’s my understanding that the period she described was several years… a lot can happen over the course of three years. She may have been starving and eating grass at one point-but not literally every single meal for three years… it’s pretty unfair to say “she lied” because she has described different meals over the course of several years. Same with her sister and her being apart. Finally, she chalks this up to poor English at the time and imperfect childhood memories. Are parts of her story untrue? Did she embellish things? I don’t know. But looking into these “discrepancies” hasn’t led to any earth shattering revelations. In fact, they aren’t really discrepancies at all.

[@carolmcln5028]

Considering she’s not trying to make herself famous or make herself rich from all this, but merely expose how awful life is in North Korea, I’ll give her a pass on those discrepancies (no doubt brought up by communist apologists). I agree with your devil’s advocate arguments. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@paulkulha5668]

I believe she’s obviously seen some bad stuff, but its pretty easy to tell she exaggerates the story. Sure it must have sucked at times but she knows & kind of pushes it, she also knows she’s beautiful and a lot of us are watching just for that. She knows all of this, more power to her I guess. But the way she makes her voice whine so often, knowing she’s told the story hundreds if not thousands of times, gives her away a little in my opinion. Again sure some things must have sucked, but she makes nearly every sentence sound either seductive or on the verge of tears. I’ve watched a dozen videos of her, She gets super pretty and tries to sound cute and sad at the same time, she knows the best two ways to “attract” an audience. Happy she made it out but I know what she’s trying to do; she turns her story into an act, weather it’s true or not… if you talk to many women such as myself you tend to catch onto these things quite easily… she seductively exaggerates her expressions

[@redlipstickmafia]

She's a liar. I've looked into it. This is how US empire propagandizes people into buying the narrative that US is the good guy savior of the world, so that they can actually start empire wars all over the world for the corporate state.

[@captlanc]

​​@Paul Kulha Neh, I think you're just obsessed with her and projecting whatever it is onto her. This is a weird comment to make, to think you know somebody on that level of intimacy because you've watched her interviews. And not even taking cultural difference into account too. What a shallow, stupid take on the woman.

[@allieoop2908]

Thanks for taking the time to do a bit of research.

[@VaughnAdventures]

This is bound to be an incredible podcast.

[@SpaceGhostPercc]

No you're bound to be an incredible podcast.

[@danbrownlie]

She is not a reliable source: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpmzhISupZxjZ9E

[@PeterKato83]

@@danbrownlie Does she discredit your beloved communism that has never actually worked better than capitalism?

[@chubsley2000]

@@danbrownlie head to north korea to check yourself and get back to us

[@danbrownlie]

@@chubsley2000 I didn’t say anything about North Korea, I said she is an unreliable source. It is proven unreliable because her story keeps on changing dramatically, and inconsistently. Perhaps watch the video I linked.

[@raccoonduck5406]

Really an eye-opening learning experience, thank you Lex and Yeonmi. I feel so guilty and helpless that I’m living this comfortable life while being ignorant (part intentional part unintentional) about the sufferings going on in this world. I’m asking what I can do right now to make a difference, but I feel so powerless. What I can think of right now is to be grateful for everything I have, and keep striving to better myself so I can one day be in position and competence to do the right things. Also visiting this podcast again to not forget.

[@rupeshdas1]

she said don’t feel guilty 🤗

[@trufflekeys]

You can donate money to charities and groups who help smuggle people out of NK and into asylum countries! For example, Liberty in North Korea

[@MundoMundanoTV]

you feel guilty for living good? tf is wrong with the world.

[@lola808]

I'm ashamed that alot times I feel like my life is so bad. When there are people out in the world who have it way worse. Especially the people in North Korea my heart aches for them. Thank you Lex and Yeonmi for this interview. It sheds a light on how lucky we are to have freedom. But yet some of us still complain.

[@northdot9]

Do you donate to global organization that help those in need? If I may suggest some I like: UNHCR, UNWFP , Doctors Without Borders (Médecins sans frontières) , Amnesty International

[@jocqueoneal6517]

I feel the same way but oppression should not be compared, suffering should not be compared both should be empathized,opposed,and ultimately eradicated my heart goes out to anyone who feels oppressed no matter the circumstances that predicate and cause it

[@daraa151]

Maybe your life is bad.

[@lola808]

@@daraa151 My life is just fine.

[@daraa151]

@@lola808 You just said “you feel like your life is so bad”, so I am saying maybe your life is bad!

[@jimcassidy7410]

Such a beautiful person. Thank u for sharing. I don’t know how she continues to be so optimistic. Yeonmi, ur bravery helps many people. And very much across time. This video will persist n be recognized as very special for a long time. It will we very special and help many people for long after we are here.

[@jimfarey]

Absolutely fantastic. Living for love and hope, denouncing transient western self obsession and small mindedness, and shining a strong light on North Korea, what's happening and maybe what we can or should do about it. Keep on keeping on, both.

[@kinnaribhalerao8112]

The intro is so powerful!

[@hanansyed720]

Such a powerful conversation. Rich in emotion. Filled with truths.

[@oneone8318]

Or lies?

[@vvinterghost]

Filled with lies and propaganda... kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZy1qp-DfLGDg7c

[@BuyWonderBread]

thanks for offering your podcasts on multiple platforms with limitted advertising. It's unusual to offer so much for so little in this time. Appreciation m8

[@juancarlosfiorenzano6864]

This is an awesome episode, thanks Lex for this interview I feel super identified with Ms.Yeonmi answered I am from Cuba and we live under a dictatorship as well, coming to the US was the best decision that I took in my life, I learned what freedom means.

[@bronwyngavin6076]

You were very brave to make that decision.

[@shoneyluvsAmerica]

Glad you made it here safely! I hope life is being good to you now.

[@taxsaversteve]

and we all would love to hear your story as well. We need to hear it.

[@jeffvause]

What an amazing country we have, that two people whom English is their second language can use those words to have such a powerful conversation.

[@Queltzer]

Very profound point, reminds me of Jocko Willink, a SEAL commander, talking to Jordan Peterson about why he majored in English when the army required him to be educated to progress further. Reading and writing skills are our key to understanding each other and coming across productively in a way that's positive for each other... this was only illustrated further by Yeonmi on this and JBP's podcast going into depth about how total newspeak can eliminate concepts.

[@jeffvause]

@@Queltzer Extremely well stated

[@EllisDee88]

schill is real

[@jeffvause]

@@EllisDee88 you mean shill?

[@lastdayz7896]

I was down but north Korea makes me optimistic about life.

[@rigoeats3654]

I cried about 4 times listening to her talk with Jordan Peterson. I guess il cry some more.

[@gcard2112]

What an amazing woman. I’ve heard her speak about many topics, but I had no idea how deep and thoughtful she is

[@okayyeahhhhhhhhh]

yeonmi park is a angel, we must protect her at all cost. thank you for this talk, probably is my favorite one now

[@Flying_Lexus]

This is so moving. I'm literally crying watching this.

[@J4ME5_]

Same

[@Cochmazh]

The person who doesnt cry listening to this is not human. :) she is such a wonderful humanbeing.

[@travismcclymans5487]

Jesus Christ..that's Jason Bourne

[@Flying_Lexus]

@@Cochmazh I so agree.

[@lawrenceleong8747]

What great episode Lex. This one is especially hard hitting. Thanks for having Yeonmi on.

[@amitnagpal1985]

I’ve listened to Rogan’s podcast with Yeonmi, then yours and now I’m going to listen to Peterson’s. Yeonmi has inspired me. She is uncommonly intelligent with fierce individualism. More power to her.

[@markreza8160]

Wow. This podcast was so deep and sad. Don't take anything for granted...

[@dtc8249]

Don't take anything for granted, including your own suffering. It's heavy as hell.

[@gusgalvanini]

Wow, what a ride this interview was, she is so smart, the wisdom behind this lady's eyes is inspiring. So much suffering. We are so spoiled in America. People who complain don't know how good We have it! God bless this woman, continue to impart this knowledge & wisdom.

[@tonygambale9786]

Truly a special person. You make most of our "problems" seem inconsequential. Much love and admiration. 💙

[@davidgeorge9292]

Such an amazing interview, Lex.

[@AnnaBananaRepublic]

Thank you for interviewing Yeonmi. You are both such amazing people.

[@masashi00]

So many questions is have abt Mrs Park. Why does see say completely different things to western journalists then to asian. Many Korean interviews even with her mother and her mom disagrees with her.

[@Grimm_Butterfly]

@@masashi00 specifically we know eye witness accounts can sometimes get messed up how different are the accounts and what are they conflicting about.

[@C_R_O_M________]

@@masashi00 show me a proof of what you say. Are you sure it’s not a matter of YOUR interpretation or the translation under those interviews or many many other possible factors? Do you consider mere chance the fact that every single communist country has its citizens caged-in and threatened physically and psychologically if they attempted to leave? Do you think that the machine guns at the Berlin wall were toy guns?

[@C_R_O_M________]

@@Grimm_Butterfly don’t assume that what Joe says above is accurate. He might be talking from his behind.

[@masashi00]

@@C_R_O_M________ your right. Anything is possible. Unless we have been in this situation we can never truly understand. There are multiple articles on diplomat.com from 2014. She was very popular during this time in asia. Celebrity defectors is the term for these. But it's a very hard life for north koreans in South Korea. They are treated very badly. Was emotional to witness.

[@andrewsmith2080]

I love this interview. There is no compromising with evil. Her statement regarding how strange activist are loving animals, but have no empathy for people in totalitarian nations. This is a classic.

[@mancusjam]

Every US student should be encouraged to watch this video.

[@mancusjam]

​@john 7 Moral equivalence much? So that justifies the Kim family's reign of terror?

[@mancusjam]

@john 7 You're arguing in bad faith in a non-sequitur fashion. We can debate the pitfalls of US Foreign policy, of which there are many, but to compare the US to NK is a waste of time.

[@mancusjam]

@john 7 but i agree the institutional media is probably the worst feature of the US at the moment.

[@juliaj7939]

@john 7 Trump never did.

[@andreviniciusbezerradasilv9335]

@john 7 Democrats love war is that enough for u ?