Everyday Life in North Korea: Souvenirs and Perspectives of a Migrant

You’re cordially invited to an in-person event co-organized by Asian Cultural Research Hub and Global Korea Research Hub:

Everyday Life in North Korea: Souvenirs and Perspectives of a Migrant

A Conversation with Kumhee Choi (Author and Guest Speaker)

1:30-2:30pm, 21 Oct (Wed)

Middle Theatrette, Babel Building

What is everyday life like in North Korea? What do people eat, wear, study and do in their daily lives? And what kinds of memories and objects do people carry with them when they leave? Kumhee Choi, author of Kumhee’s Journey: 7,000 km from Aoji to Seoul (2007), grew up in Aoji, a mining town in North Korea. After leaving North Korea, she eventually settled in South Korea and later moved to Australia. She is currently based on the Sunshine Coast.

In this special guest talk, Ms Choi will share personal stories, memories and souvenirs from her life in North Korea, giving students a glimpse into the everyday experiences of an ordinary North Korean family. Rather than focusing only on the political image of North Korea often presented in the media, she will talk about the people, places, objects and everyday moments that shaped her childhood and memories of home. Drawing on her own experiences of migration, Ms Choi will also reflect on what it means to leave one’s home country, build a new life, and look back on the place where one grew up from a new perspective.

This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from someone who grew up in North Korea and to discover the everyday side of North Korean life through her own stories and memories.

No prior registration required. Hope to see you there!