Ms. Kim – Daughter of a Prisoner of War Forging Her Own Path

When Ms. Kim crossed the border out of North Korea, it was not just for her own sake, but to fulfil her father’s dying wish. A captured South Korean soldier, he had lived decades under surveillance and suspicion, and his low caste was then inherited by his children. His final request was simple: that his daughter escape and build a life where she could choose her own future.

In North Korea, Ms. Kim’s family was branded with a low songbun—a social class system that dictated her fate before she could dream. Education was seen as pointless for someone of her background. She was assigned to work as a seamstress, and told not to hope for more.

Now in the UK, Ms. Kim is a hairdresser and works with women in her local community. She dreams of continuing her training and expanding her qualifications to include barbering so she can expand her business and cater to clients of all types. She is also the proud mother of a young son, and wants to show him through her own determination that education and hard work can open doors that once seemed sealed shut.

With financial support, Ms. Kim can continue her studies and gain the skills she needs to provide stability for her family and inspire other North Korean escapees to pursue their goals. Investing in Ms. Kim is investing in a future where past limits no longer define a person’s worth.

You can donate to help Ms. Kim change her life via education here:

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