Doo Hyun (2:16)

He stopped just inches away and began to urinate. I crawled, shaking, but I was still alive.

Holly Worthington (2:34)

And now for part two of Escape from North Korea.

Emily Jones (2:45)

Do Hyun crawled out of the tall grass and stared across the vast ocean like river, its surface churning under the cold darkness. His broker had a paddleboat that made no sound. Doo Hyun, along with a few other defectors, jumped into the boat and pressed themselves flat, willing themselves to be as invisible as possible. The broker paddled in silence. Minutes stretched on like hours, each one heavy with the fear of being caught. Doo Hyeon didn't dare lift his head to gauge how far the shore still lay ahead. At last he heard the waves lapping on the Chinese bank. They had made it, at least to China. Tu Hyun could hardly believe it. He drew a deep, trembling breath, letting a momentary relief wash over him. But Tuhyon was far from safe. This was only one of many hurdles to overcome. In fact, Doo Hyun still had nearly 33,000 miles ahead of him. In order to reach South Korea, crossing China meant being exposed to a nation of over a billion eyes. Where being suspected or reported could mean disaster. The risk felt almost impenetrable. But there was no other option. They would go from city to city in China, traveling by night and crossing hundreds of miles to get from one broker to the next.

Doo Hyun (4:14)

We have many brokers because China is so big. Not only want people take us from beginning to end.

Emily Jones (4:23)

The brokers never met one another. They didn't actually get close to Doo Hyun in his group. They would just meet at certain locations, stand about 50 meters away from Do Hyun's group, and then quickly yell to them, suggesting which way to go. Eventually, the group made it to the jungles of Laos. Like scampering mice, they scurried along quietly, fearfully. They rarely slept, and when they did, it was often on the bed of the jungle floor.

Doo Hyun (4:52)

I spent months traveling across China and Southeast Asia, through jungles, cross rivers, always hiding, always afraid.

Emily Jones (5:06)

When they finally reached Thailand, Tu Hyun felt a sense of relief. But again, he and his group were far from freedom. The streets of Thailand were crowded, the air thick, and every glance seemed to carry a hidden threat. As they moved forward, a police station came into view, and the world suddenly shifted. Doo Hyun felt his heart open. Race. In an instant, uniformed officers appeared to Hyun silently rehearsed the words he had drilled over and over. He spoke to them with a trembling voice, drowned by harsh commands all around him. As he and his group were arrested, each refugee was herded, searched, and locked behind heavy doors. Time stretched. Yet as Dohyeon sat in his holding cell, he remained confident and resolute. This was exactly how it was supposed to happen in Thailand. North Korean refugees wanted to be arrested because then the Thailand officials would contact the National Intelligence Service in South Korea. The South Korean CIA would come and accompany the defectors to South Korea, detained them, and if they were fortunate, finally released them into the public. As strange as it sounds, getting arrested was the only way to freedom. Do Hyun was grateful to take this next step.

Doo Hyun (6:42)

Finally, I reached South Korea. The moment my feet touched the ground, I collapsed to my knees and wept. I was free. The sky looked brighter. Freedom had a feeling, and I would never forget it.

Emily Jones (7:05)

But Do Hyeon's taste of freedom was short lived, as he and the others were taken immediately to the North Korean Refugee Protection center, or Hanon Here, they would be detained and interrogated until the South Korean government was confident the defectors weren't North Korean spies. Do Hyun's fleeting illusion of protection was shattered as he soon realized he was being treated like a prisoner. The South Korean guards were cold and harsh, their presence a constant reminder that Dohyon was at the mercy of a government that didn't trust him, but or necessarily want him. Hours turned into days. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. After almost two months in the detention center's miserable conditions, with no clear release date in sight, Doo Hyun and several others became gravely ill and fevered. Do hyun's fever reached 40 degrees Celsius, which equates to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Doo Hyun (8:09)

I was with like 20 people, one single room, one mattress, and one bathroom. They didn't allow me to visit any hospital or go outside. So one of my roommate. He died. He didn't get the chance to visit hospital, so he died there.

Emily Jones (8:31)

It was a punch in the gut to Do Hyun. To witness his North Korean roommate take his last breath before ever tasting real freedom. The air inside sweltered at nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit. And for days, Doo Hyun's own body continued to rage with fever. A heavy feeling of death loomed over him.

Doo Hyun (8:53)

I realized I was dying. I'm dying.

Emily Jones (8:57)

Doo Hyun had come so far, only to now die in a detainment center. As night fell, he begged the officers to help him. He had already asked to be taken to the hospital multiple times, but the officers wouldn't respond to his pleas. Tonight was no different. Darkness swallowed up Do Hyun's hope. He had nowhere to turn, no one to save him. Ji Eun would never know what became of her husband. That thought hurt Tuhyon far more than the sickness plaguing his body. And then, in this darkest of moments, something strange happened. A single word came to Tu Hyun's mind. A word he had once heard long ago.

Doo Hyun (9:44)

And suddenly, the word came into my head. The word is God. To God, my neighbor. They were shouting and singing.

Emily Jones (9:58)

The memory of his neighbors flooded Tu Hyun's mind. Fathers, mothers, children being taken from their homes. And yet they had seemed at peace, even in the face of imprisonment or death. Doo Hyun had felt something then, and he felt it even stronger now. Who was this, this God? Do Hyun didn't understand. He'd never been taught to pray. He'd never even heard of prayer. But somewhere deep inside Doo Hyun, his soul knew what to do.

Doo Hyun (10:31)

Just naturally, the word came to my mind. And then I started to Pray God, please help me. Please save me. If you are true, you are alive, please help me. I cannot die right now. If I died, who is going to tell my wife what happened to me? And then, without knowing what happened to me, she is going to wait her whole life. That's the greatest torture for her. So please save me. Please help me.

Emily Jones (11:08)

In the midst of Doo Hyun's absolute desperation, he felt a power and peace fall upon him as he prayed through the night. The next morning, a change happened. Something Doo Hyun knew was nothing short of a miracle. After days of ignoring Doo Hyun's cries for help, the officers suddenly changed their demeanor completely.

Doo Hyun (11:30)

I fought for days. Please bring me to the hospital. I'm dying. They never listened to me. Just let me die. But after I started to pray, the door opened. And then they asked me. What you want to do? What you want from us? I couldn't believe that. How people can turn like so nicely. Just one night. They were so hostile to me. But just one night. And then next day came to me. What do you want to do? I don't want much. Just bring me to the hospital.

Emily Jones (12:09)

The officers whose hearts had been softened, took Doo Hyun to the hospital. There, he finally received the help he needed. And according to the doctor, just in the nick of time.

Doo Hyun (12:21)

And then Yaddo doctor said, if you lay just one more day, you died. I'm sure. There when I was giving up my life, there was nothing I could do. And then I started to pray. And then somehow every environment changed to me. With that incident, I believed the God. He knows me. He is real. He protected me. He saved me.

Emily Jones (12:51)

With his newfound belief in God, Doo Hyun's health returned and within a month, he was released from the hospital. Tu Hyun was a free man at last. He savored every moment of his freedom. The very air he breathed felt different and new. It was exhilarating. Except. Except he desperately missed his wife, Jiyeon. He worried every day for her safety. Freedom tasted so sweet, and yet it meant so little without her.

WSECU Announcer (13:26)

WSECU isn't just one of Washington's best credit unions. We're a Forbes Best in State five years running.

Doo Hyun (13:33)

Why?

WSECU Announcer (13:33)

Because we put you first. Lower fees, early paydays, financial guidance and service second to none. As a member owned cooperative, we love Washington as much as you do. From the Olympic mountains to the rolling Palouse. Join us and discover how much we care about your financial well being. Because what we really do best is invest in you. Visit wsecu.org today to learn more. Washington, let's Credit Union,

Doo Hyun (13:58)

Safeway and Albertsons

Emily Jones (13:59)

have made saving easier than ever with great savings on family favorites this week. 16 ounce sweet strawberries are two for $5 member price. And don't miss the incredible deal on signature select boneless skinless chicken breasts. Value packs for $2.97 per pound limit one plus extra large avocados or mangoes

Doo Hyun (14:15)

are four for $5 member price.

Emily Jones (14:17)

Fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in.

Doo Hyun (14:20)

These deals won't last. Visit Safeway or albertsons.com for more deals

Emily Jones (14:24)

and ways to save.

Doo Hyun (14:28)

Arriving in South Korea felt like landing on another planet. I went from darkness to neon light. Everything was unfamiliar. Food, techno, technology, freedom. I remember walking into a grocery store and seeing aisles after aisle filled with food. It felt surreal. I had electricity at the flip of a switch, running water 24, 7. And for the first time, I could speak without fear of prisoner. But none of it mattered. Without my wife Cheon, my mission was clear. I had to bring her to freedom.

Emily Jones (15:17)

From the moment Do Hyeon was released into South Korea, he went straight to work 12 hour shifts day after day, saving every spare won for Jiyeon's escape. Ten long months passed. Months without seeing her. Without hearing her voice. Voice. And then at last, he had saved enough money to secure her escape. He reached out to a broker who devised a plan to smuggle Jihyun out of North Korea. One day the broker contacted her, instructing her to follow him and pressing a cell phone into her hands. The voice on the other end stopped her cold. For well over a year, Jiyeon had lived believing Doo Hyun was gone forever. And here he was, his familiar voice in her ear. And a flood of emotions rushed through her. They spoke from a mountaintop via Chinese cell phones. They had to get as far away from signal detectors as possible to avoid being traced. The broker warned them they only had a few minutes.

Doo Hyun (16:23)

At first we couldn't speak. We just cried. Then I asked, you are coming, right? And she said yes to Hyun.

Emily Jones (16:37)

Let out a long breath he didn't realize he'd been holding for nearly 18 months, grateful for that single word yes. Then he made two requests.

Doo Hyun (16:48)

Jihyun, we don't have much time. Just. I want to ask you two things. One thing. Please pray to God. She asked me, who is God? What is prayer?

Emily Jones (17:03)

This made no sense to Jiyun. She asked Doo Hyun why he was saying such strange things when there was so little time in this very dangerous moment.

Doo Hyun (17:12)

But how can someone explain the concept of God, religion or pray in a minute? So what? I said, please trust me. God lives up in the sky. Whatever you want, ask him. Just trust me and follow me.

Emily Jones (17:39)

Without knowing the why or understanding who she was even speaking speaking to, Jiyeon trusted her husband and offered up her very first prayer. Then Doo Hyun asked Jiyeon for one more thing. He asked her to promise she wouldn't end her life if she was captured. He knew she'd be given poison just as he had, and he also knew the risks. He had paid the broker, but was aware the brokers could also be bought off by human traffickers if offered a higher price. He assured her he would find her no matter what happened.

Doo Hyun (18:14)

Wherever you are, I will go and save you. Please don't end your life.

Emily Jones (18:21)

Even filled with absolute terror, Jiyeon promised her husband she wouldn't take the poison no matter how bad things got. Then the call ended. Doo Hyun stared down at the phone in his hand. He had done all he could do. Now it was Ji Eun's turn to make the treacherous trip to South Korea. Doohyon realized it would take months, and it would be full of moments of panic, hunger, fear, and struggle that Do Hyun knew himself all too well.

Doo Hyun (18:53)

I prayed with all my strength, all my heart. I was just praying, praying, praying, praying every day. Not just like whispering, just loudly pray every day.

Emily Jones (19:10)

On December 27, 2011, in the dead of winter, Jiyun carefully made her way across the frozen Yalu river on foot, moving silently through the night. For months, she navigated the bustling cities of China and the dense, tangled jungles of Laos. At last, she reached Thailand and surrendered herself to the authorities. And finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jiyeon arrived safely in South Korea, where she was detained for only a few days. Over the past year, Doo Hyun had earned the trust of the South Korean government. And because of that, his wife was treated far better than he had been. When she was finally released from the detainment center, he saw her again, his brave young wife. After what felt like an eternity apart,

Doo Hyun (20:04)

when we saw each other again, we broke down in tears.

Emily Jones (20:10)

It was a joyous reunion beyond anything words can describe. At the same time, Ji Yeon had unfinished business with her runaway husband.

Doo Hyun (20:20)

And then she punched me and called me a liar. I deserved it. My two weeks business trip had turned into two years. We held each other, saying nothing, but we both knew we had married. We were finally free together.

Emily Jones (20:49)

Finally free together. Neither of them could believe it. Freedom was something Doo Hyun and Jihyun had hoped for, dreamed of, and even prayed for. It was the very Thing Doo Hyun's father had died for. And here it was theirs for the taking. And they knew they would savor every single moment of it. With God's help, Doohyun and Jihyun were not only reunited, but now have seen their whole lives transformed. Today they enjoy a life full of abundance and peace. But they will never forget where they came from.

Doo Hyun (21:26)

Today we live in America, a life that still feels like a beautiful dream. We have two beautiful sons who know nothing of hunger except asking for a snack before dinner. They will never bow to a dictator's portrait or fear the secret police.

Emily Jones (21:52)

Though Doo Hyun and Jihoon have grown accustomed to their new life, they still cherish simple blessings every day. The laughter of their children, the smell of breakfast, and the light of freedom.

Doo Hyun (22:05)

Back then, the regime decided every part of my future. Now my family and I choose our own path. We go fishing, camping, hiking. Freedoms that once felt impossible. And sometimes when I watch my sons playing, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and grief, knowing how different their lives might have been. I often think of my father who died in a North Korean prison for speaking the truth. He dreamed of this life for his children. And I know millions of still trapped in North Korea deserve that same chance. I honor his memory. I make sure his voice and the voices of many others are finally heard.

Emily Jones (23:09)

And yes, God is still very much a part of their lives. Nowadays, Doohyun and Jiyeon proudly proclaim Christianity and call their experience a miracle.

Doo Hyun (23:21)

It's absolutely miracles because a lot of North Korean people attempt to escape their country. Some made it like us, but many of them were captured and sent back to North Korea. Or even some people were shot and killed on the river. Freedom is a gift. And it comes with a responsibility to carry the voice of those who still cannot speak.

Emily Jones (23:56)

Freedom is a gift. A gift from God. And we join our voices with Tuhyuns and Jihyuns in speaking for those who are still living without that gift. We pray those who have died for it will not have died. Died in vain.

Holly Worthington (24:19)

I feel like I don't even have words that are adequate to talk about the story right now.

Emily Jones (24:24)

Yeah, I don't either. I know this story feels bigger than us, feels bigger than even Ton and Jiun.

Holly Worthington (24:30)

It's just. It really does.

Emily Jones (24:32)

Really powerful.

Holly Worthington (24:33)

And I can't imagine what the people who are still living in North Korea are going through. But I do believe that God helped Do Hyun and Jiyoon to escape from North Korea for a reason.

Emily Jones (24:44)

Yeah, absolutely. I feel like I wouldn't blame them if they were afraid to speak out about this. I mean, I would probably be very scared to speak about it, but they are so brave. And I think they truly feel called to be the voice for these people. Millions of people in North Korea. In fact, Doohyun and Jiyeon have done a ton of work with the Committee of Human Rights, North Korea, or hrnk.

Holly Worthington (25:08)

And.

Emily Jones (25:09)

And here's Do Hyun talking about his work with this group.

Doo Hyun (25:13)

HRNK investigates abuses, amplifies the voices of victims, and holds the regime accountable on the global stage. Our mission is clear. Don't let the world forget North Korea's people. Raise awareness, demand action, push for justice. This is not just about nuclear weapons or one dictator. It's about 25 million lives. Your voice matters. Put human rights up front. Tell their stories. My wife and I don't seek pity. We seek action and change. My father died alone in a North Korean prison cell, believing the world would never hear his voice. By talking here today, I honor his memory.

Holly Worthington (26:19)

It makes me so emotional to think about how to. Hyeon's father thought that his voice went nowhere when he died.

Emily Jones (26:29)

Yeah, I know.

Holly Worthington (26:30)

And here to Hyun and Jiyoon. They speak in front of audiences. They've written a book, and we have the privilege of sharing their story on the Miracle Files. How amazing is that? Absolutely.

Emily Jones (26:42)

Think about how many people have heard about his father's letter and have been able to hear his words. It's just absolutely incredible.

Holly Worthington (26:49)

And his voice will continue to spread. I know it will.

Emily Jones (26:53)

Yeah. And if you want to hear more about Doo Hyun's story, you can purchase his book, A Necessary Lie, on Amazon. And if you want to support the Committee for Human Rights, North Korea, you can visit HRNK.org and you can also donate to knownbynamefoundation.org if you want to help turn to Hyun's story into a movie. But I just really feel like this is a story everyone should hear.

Holly Worthington (27:19)

Yes, I agree. It's incredible. And I think it is so amazing. My favorite part of the story is that Tu Hyun had never heard of the concept of God, never had it explained to him, never heard about prayer even. And suddenly he felt compelled at the lowest moment in his life to pray.

Emily Jones (27:40)

Yeah. And the way that God answered his prayer in such a personal way, God knows each of us. And he knew in that moment that God was real and that God loved him. And I just think it was this beautiful seed that just sprouted into this amazing faith that changed not only his life, but Jiyoon's life forever.

Holly Worthington (28:01)

And on A lighter note. Can I just say, I would have punched too, Hyun too, if he was my husband. For leaving me for two years without knowing if he was alive or not.

Doo Hyun (28:10)

Oh my gosh.

Emily Jones (28:11)

I probably would have too. I mean, I know, like, he had no choice, like he had to do this, but it's. It would not be easy.

Holly Worthington (28:19)

Oh my gosh.

Emily Jones (28:20)

Tough situation.

Holly Worthington (28:21)

I know. I. I really don't blame him. But still, I mean, it was so real. I could feel you, Jiyoon. Like I knew what you were feeling in that moment.

Emily Jones (28:31)

But just so you guys know, she did forgive him eventually.

Holly Worthington (28:34)

Yes.

Emily Jones (28:36)

And we actually asked Jiyeon if there was anything she wanted to share on our podcast. And so here is a statement that she asked us to share with all of you about her thoughts on freedom. For me, freedom isn't simply crossing a border, but the right to speak the truth I couldn't speak. And the moment when I could choose a life I couldn't choose. Having passed through a world where I had to survive in silence. And I now stand in a place where I can tell my story. My journey hasn't been a record of harm, but a process of regaining dignity. Freedom isn't comfort, but a responsible awakening. It's not a place I've fled to, but a place where I return to myself. And the very act of documenting that return is, for me, another form of freedom.

Holly Worthington (29:24)

Wow. There's so much that we can learn from this couple. And it's so clear that God was in the details of this story. I mean, just the fact that Joo, Hyun and Jiyeon were able to escape from North Korea to begin with, that's miraculous. But also the timing, like, it became so much harder after they escaped to get out of North Korea. It's amazing that they got out when they did.

Emily Jones (29:48)

Well, yeah. I read that in 2019, there were 1,000 people who were able to escape North Korea. And just two years later, in 2021, that number shrunk down to 63 people.

Holly Worthington (30:01)

Oh my goodness.

Emily Jones (30:02)

And here's an explanation for why that is. According to crossing borders, nk.org, whose mission is to bring the compassion of Christ to North Korea, this sharp decline in successful defections is largely due to extremely strict controls, severe restrictions on movement internally, increased use of surveillance technology along an already heavily fortified border, and even shoot on site orders for anyone approaching the border with China, making escape far more perilous than before. So clearly there is still so much work to be done.

Holly Worthington (30:39)

Yeah. To Hyun and Jeon are just two of a small number of North Korean refugees who have been legally admitted into the US and the reason it's such a small number is because it is so hard to leave North Korea. Yeah, but I feel like God is using these individuals who have been able to get out to be a voice for those who haven't been able to

Emily Jones (31:04)

escape to make a difference.

Holly Worthington (31:05)

Yeah. Well we want to thank to Hyun and Jiyeon for sharing their story with us. Your incredible story and we definitely believe that you're being used as instruments in God's hands.

Emily Jones (31:16)

Absolutely. And if you were as inspired by their story as we were, please share this podcast with a friend. Help us spread this message with as many people as we can and we will see you guys next time.

Holly Worthington (31:29)

See you then. Thank you for joining us. If you have a miracle to share, contact us atthemiracles files.com or find us on social media. We release new episodes each Monday.

Emily Jones (31:41)

Yes, so don't forget Miracle Mondays. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube for amazing video content as well.

Holly Worthington (31:50)

Join us next time as we discover more of God's miracles. And don't forget to look for his light in your own lives.

WSECU Announcer (31:59)

WSECU isn't just one of Washington's best credit unions. We're a Forbes Best in State five years running.

Emily Jones (32:06)

Why?

WSECU Announcer (32:06)

Because we put you first. Lower fees, early paydays, financial guidance and service second to none. As a member owned cooperative, we love Washington as much as you do. From these Olympic mountains to the rolling Palouse. Join us and discover how much we care about your financial well being. Because what we really do best is invest in you. Visit wsecu.org today to learn more. Washington let's Credit Union.