The Extraordinary Travel Festival (ETF) announced that North Korea (DPRK) defector Eunhee Park will be sharing her powerful story when she delivers the festival keynote this October in Bangkok, Thailand.
Park’s appearance at ETF which runs from 22nd to 25th October will certainly bring a powerful and deeply human dimension to the event.
While many ETF speakers explore the world by choice, her story reflects what it means when movement itself becomes an act of defiance.
This amazing journey from oppression to freedom is likewise recounted in Park’s book The Courage to Die.
Courage against all odds
Park’s story is not one of elective adventure compared to the tales shared by other speakers, but more of an escape characterised by extraordinary courage.
Born and raised in North Korea under one of the most restrictive regimes in the world, Park made the life-altering decision to defect, risking imprisonment, forced labour, and even execution.
Her journey to freedom required leaving behind family, home, and certainty for an unknown future beyond the regime’s tightly controlled borders.
ETF co-founder Ric Gazarian said of her experience: “Travel, at its core, is about freedom: freedom of movement, freedom of thought, freedom to choose your path. Eunhee’s story reminds us that for millions of people, that freedom does not exist. Her courage embodies resilience at the highest level, and we are honored to provide her a platform at ETF.”
