“Many people - when they think about North Korea and the dictatorship, ...” — Lee Hyeon-seo Quote

“Many people - when they think about North Korea and the dictatorship, or the military or nuclear weapons, nuclear missiles, those things - tend to forget ordinary citizens are living there.”

“In China, it was hard living as a young girl without my family. I had no idea what life was going to be like as a North Korean refugee. But I soon learned it's not only extremely difficult, it's also very dangerous, since North Korean refugees are considered in China as illegal migrants.”

“When I was growing up, my mum was doing illegal smuggling with China. Sometimes she would see a fortune teller for advice. One time I went with her: 'In your future, you'll be living in foreign country and eating the foreign country rice,' she said.”

“I worry about a democracy having nuclear weapons as much as a dictatorship having nuclear weapons.”

“I sing against emotional dictatorships, and against the imposition of one person over another, in the name of love.”

“It is vital to speak up in a democracy. Otherwise we are living in dictatorships.”