46:
319:. After spending another six months in prison, he was sent to a North Korean prison camp. The investigator who was in charge of him, knew who he was. The investigator said he knew his father. The investigator had attained his position only a month earlier because of Kim’s father. Thanks to the investigator, he was categorized as an ordinary person, not as Kim Cheol-woong. He was released three days later.
280:
citizenship card holder. Arriving at the river in the middle of the night, he was found by the undercover army. He remembered the 2000 dollars and gave it to them. In turn, they helped him cross the river and directed him to a small village. There, he informed the people he could play piano, but they
284:
In the spring of 2002, a fellow defector informed him of a church run by a Korean-Chinese pastor. The church had a piano. He joined the underground bible study group in an effort to play the piano. The church also provided food and shelter for the refugees. He couldn’t help from crying when he saw
256:
In
October 2001, as he was practicing the song, someone reported him to the State Security Department. Because of his parents status, all he had to do was to write a ten page self-criticism paper, but it still took a heavy toll on him. Unlike the North Koreans who left due to
209:
Kim Cheol-woong grew up in a prominent North Korean family. His father was the head of their provincial party, which is like a provincial governor, and his mother was a university leader. His grandmother founded the first and largest department store in
244:'s niece, who had attended school with him since he was eight. Kim had only thought of her as a friend, until he returned home from Russia. Planning on proposing to her, Kim practiced "'A' Comme Amour," a romantic number by pianist
264:
He took a leave from the symphony saying he had a relative pass away and he told his parents he was going to another city to perform. His mother had hid some
American money, about 2000 dollars, which he took when he left.
1043:
1338:
1277:
1048:
1348:
285:
the piano. The pianist wouldn’t let him touch it at first, not believing he knew something about the instrument. Others petitioned on his behalf and he was allowed to play.
624:
214:
and was the president of the department store until 1992. Kim started practicing piano when he was five years old. Kim’s musical skills were spotted at an early age.
1038:
1409:
1302:
300:. He had the missionaries from the church he attended make him a fake passport. However, he was caught by immigration authorities trying to get out at the
1063:
374:
1163:
1033:
218:
76:
1282:
1323:
1292:
424:
1053:
617:
1404:
248:. A song commonly played in elevators, restaurants, and hotel lounges around the world and especially popular in east Asian countries.
681:
326:. Kim bought another forged passport and this time the Chinese officials bought it. He arrived in South Korea in December 2002.
1399:
1153:
610:
1414:
1394:
1389:
151:
1287:
1261:
686:
1328:
1297:
649:
261:, Kim, who had enjoyed a life of privilege, fled because of his unhappiness about restriction on his life as an artist.
561:
281:
did not care, they needed someone to work. So he worked, cutting and harvesting rice and woodcutting at a lumber mill.
1251:
1058:
1246:
1148:
676:
1333:
848:
562:"A New Book, 'Escape From North Korea,' Sheds Light on 21st-Century Slavery—and a Modern Underground Railroad"
492:
385:
1105:
744:
1384:
1230:
1089:
641:
633:
297:
240:
Upon his return home, he was named lead pianist in the State
Symphony Orchestra. He also took a liking to
198:
103:
165:
1318:
1127:
1117:
308:. He miraculously escaped through the window after the police unbound him to let him use the restroom.
1379:
1168:
25:
1343:
258:
81:
221:. Over the next fourteen years, he suffered through rigorous training to perform tunes glorifying
1220:
245:
416:
338:. He later became known internationally as a concert pianist, and started his own orchestra in
709:
500:
420:
335:
950:
671:
661:
45:
924:
241:
276:. He headed toward the river and had no trouble at ID inspection points because he was a
1256:
1195:
986:
981:
965:
929:
909:
873:
838:
782:
724:
714:
409:
1373:
1225:
1205:
883:
863:
858:
812:
767:
719:
350:
346:
233:
was fascinating to the twenty-one year old who had not been exposed to music outside
996:
955:
868:
822:
817:
792:
787:
749:
734:
654:
304:
airport, spent 3 months in
Chinese prison, and put on a train to be sent back to
1353:
1210:
1200:
1190:
1158:
1001:
991:
934:
919:
904:
878:
843:
802:
797:
777:
772:
739:
666:
379:
339:
323:
305:
293:
269:
234:
222:
62:
20:
587:
1358:
1068:
1006:
960:
853:
807:
729:
460:
531:
504:
277:
211:
1215:
1122:
1084:
602:
316:
462:
The
Innerview Ep129 The brilliant and courageous pianist KIM Cheol-woong
411:
Escape from North Korea: The Untold Story of Asia's
Underground Railroad
1132:
1110:
899:
301:
194:
1044:
International
Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea
156:
230:
226:
119:
225:. After his graduation, he was sent to Tchaikovsky Conservatory in
312:
289:
273:
135:
606:
1339:
List of fact-finding reports on human rights in North Korea
1278:
Deportation of North
Koreans by the South Korean government
170:
345:
April 17, 2009, he performed in a benefit concert at
1311:
1270:
1239:
1181:
1141:
1098:
1077:
1049:
Network for North Korean
Democracy and Human Rights
1026:
1019:
974:
943:
892:
831:
758:
702:
695:
640:
493:"North Korean defector's flight to musical freedom"
164:
150:
134:
118:
113:
98:
90:
69:
55:
36:
408:
217:In 1981, at age eight, he was admitted into the
353:fulfilling a dream he has had since defecting.
1349:North–South differences in the Korean language
237:. He felt like he had discovered a new world.
1039:Database Center for North Korean Human Rights
618:
8:
368:
366:
322:Right after he was released, he went to the
188:
141:
125:
1303:Visa requirements for North Korean citizens
1064:People for Successful Corean Reunification
1023:
699:
625:
611:
603:
44:
33:
1034:Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
588:"Interrogated for playing the wrong tune"
532:"Interrogated for playing the wrong tune"
272:, he could get to the free world through
362:
219:Pyongyang University of Music and Dance
77:Pyongyang University of Music and Dance
1164:North Korean People's Liberation Front
1324:Balloon propaganda campaigns in Korea
1293:North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004
311:Two months later, he was detained in
7:
1054:North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity
556:
554:
552:
525:
523:
521:
486:
484:
482:
480:
478:
454:
452:
450:
448:
446:
444:
442:
440:
438:
436:
491:Sang-Hun, Choe (17 December 2008).
1410:North Korean expatriates in Russia
14:
1283:North Korea–South Korea relations
16:North Korean pianist (born 1974)
1154:Fighters for a Free North Korea
334:In 2004, Kim began teaching at
268:Kim was told if he crossed the
193:, born 1974) is a North Korean
142:
126:
1:
1262:Reconnaissance General Bureau
530:Lentati, Sara (8 July 2015).
459:ARIRANG TV (18 August 2014),
407:Kirkpatrick, Melanie (2013).
1298:South Korean nationality law
586:Sara Lentali (8 July 2015).
229:from 1995 to 1999 to study.
1288:North Korean Defectors' Day
1252:Human rights in North Korea
1059:North Korea Strategy Center
415:. Encounter Books. p.
171:
157:
59:1974 (age 49–50)
1431:
1405:Moscow Conservatory alumni
1247:Hamhung concentration camp
1149:Donkey Squads (Korean War)
315:as he tried to cross into
18:
1334:Korean Demilitarized Zone
296:would provide refuge for
189:
178:
109:
43:
1329:China–North Korea border
373:황성혜 (12 January 2006).
104:defection to South Korea
1106:Ministry of Unification
199:defected to South Korea
1400:North Korean defectors
1090:Liberty in North Korea
634:North Korean defectors
298:North Korean defectors
1415:21st-century pianists
1395:North Korean pianists
1390:South Korean pianists
1319:Anti-Korean sentiment
1240:North Korean response
1128:Heavenly Dream School
1118:Hangyeore High School
23:, the family name is
1169:White Shirts Society
330:Life after defection
152:Revised Romanization
1344:North Korean famine
893:Authors and artists
667:Former Soviet Union
375:"재즈에 미쳐 사선(死線)을 넘다"
82:Moscow Conservatory
1221:Norbert Vollertsen
1184:(Non-North Korean)
703:Former politicians
497:The New York Times
349:’s Zankel Hall in
246:Richard Clayderman
1367:
1366:
1177:
1176:
1015:
1014:
426:978-1-59403-646-0
336:Hansei University
182:
181:
166:McCune–Reischauer
1422:
1312:Related articles
1099:Resettlement aid
1024:
951:Choi Kwang-hyouk
700:
627:
620:
613:
604:
592:
591:
583:
577:
576:
574:
572:
558:
547:
546:
544:
542:
527:
516:
515:
513:
511:
488:
473:
472:
471:
469:
456:
431:
430:
414:
404:
398:
397:
395:
393:
384:. Archived from
370:
288:While living in
192:
191:
174:
160:
145:
144:
129:
128:
48:
34:
1430:
1429:
1425:
1424:
1423:
1421:
1420:
1419:
1370:
1369:
1368:
1363:
1307:
1266:
1235:
1183:
1173:
1137:
1094:
1073:
1011:
970:
939:
925:Masaji Ishikawa
915:Kim Cheol-woong
888:
827:
760:
754:
691:
636:
631:
601:
596:
595:
585:
584:
580:
570:
568:
566:Tablet Magazine
560:
559:
550:
540:
538:
529:
528:
519:
509:
507:
490:
489:
476:
467:
465:
458:
457:
434:
427:
406:
405:
401:
391:
389:
388:on 5 March 2016
382:Weekly Magazine
372:
371:
364:
359:
332:
254:
242:Jang Song-thaek
207:
185:Kim Cheol-woong
146:
130:
86:
70:Alma mater
65:
60:
51:
39:
38:Kim Cheol-woong
30:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1428:
1426:
1418:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1382:
1372:
1371:
1365:
1364:
1362:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1315:
1313:
1309:
1308:
1306:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1274:
1272:
1268:
1267:
1265:
1264:
1259:
1257:Kin punishment
1254:
1249:
1243:
1241:
1237:
1236:
1234:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1196:Choe Deok-geun
1193:
1187:
1185:
1179:
1178:
1175:
1174:
1172:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1145:
1143:
1139:
1138:
1136:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1114:
1113:
1102:
1100:
1096:
1095:
1093:
1092:
1087:
1081:
1079:
1075:
1074:
1072:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1030:
1028:
1021:
1017:
1016:
1013:
1012:
1010:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
987:Jang Yeong-jin
984:
982:Cho Myung-chul
978:
976:
972:
971:
969:
968:
966:Yun Myung-chan
963:
958:
953:
947:
945:
941:
940:
938:
937:
932:
930:Seong Hye-rang
927:
922:
917:
912:
910:Kang Chun-hyok
907:
902:
896:
894:
890:
889:
887:
886:
881:
876:
874:Shin Dong-hyuk
871:
866:
861:
856:
851:
846:
841:
839:Jeong Kwang-il
835:
833:
829:
828:
826:
825:
820:
815:
810:
805:
800:
795:
790:
785:
783:Jin Gyeong-suk
780:
775:
770:
764:
762:
756:
755:
753:
752:
747:
742:
737:
732:
727:
725:Kang Chol-hwan
722:
717:
715:Hwang Jang-yop
712:
710:Chŏng Sang-jin
706:
704:
697:
693:
692:
690:
689:
687:United Kingdom
684:
679:
674:
669:
664:
659:
658:
657:
646:
644:
638:
637:
632:
630:
629:
622:
615:
607:
600:
599:External links
597:
594:
593:
578:
548:
517:
474:
432:
425:
399:
361:
360:
358:
355:
331:
328:
253:
250:
206:
203:
180:
179:
176:
175:
168:
162:
161:
154:
148:
147:
140:
138:
132:
131:
124:
122:
116:
115:
111:
110:
107:
106:
100:
99:Known for
96:
95:
92:
88:
87:
85:
84:
79:
73:
71:
67:
66:
61:
57:
53:
52:
49:
41:
40:
37:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1427:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1385:Living people
1383:
1381:
1378:
1377:
1375:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1310:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1275:
1273:
1269:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1248:
1245:
1244:
1242:
1238:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1226:Kim Dong-shik
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1206:Hyeon Soo Lim
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1188:
1186:
1180:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1140:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1112:
1109:
1108:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1097:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1082:
1080:
1076:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1029:
1025:
1022:
1020:Organizations
1018:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
993:
990:
988:
985:
983:
980:
979:
977:
973:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
948:
946:
942:
936:
933:
931:
928:
926:
923:
921:
918:
916:
913:
911:
908:
906:
903:
901:
898:
897:
895:
891:
885:
884:Yoo Sang-joon
882:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
864:Park Sang-hak
862:
860:
859:Lee Hyeon-seo
857:
855:
852:
850:
849:Kim Seong-min
847:
845:
842:
840:
837:
836:
834:
830:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
813:Oh Chong-song
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
781:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
768:An Myeong-jin
766:
765:
763:
757:
751:
748:
746:
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
720:Jang Jin-sung
718:
716:
713:
711:
708:
707:
705:
701:
698:
694:
688:
685:
683:
680:
678:
675:
673:
672:United States
670:
668:
665:
663:
660:
656:
653:
652:
651:
648:
647:
645:
643:
639:
635:
628:
623:
621:
616:
614:
609:
608:
605:
598:
589:
582:
579:
567:
563:
557:
555:
553:
549:
537:
533:
526:
524:
522:
518:
506:
502:
498:
494:
487:
485:
483:
481:
479:
475:
464:
463:
455:
453:
451:
449:
447:
445:
443:
441:
439:
437:
433:
428:
422:
418:
413:
412:
403:
400:
387:
383:
381:
376:
369:
367:
363:
356:
354:
352:
351:New York City
348:
347:Carnegie Hall
343:
341:
337:
329:
327:
325:
320:
318:
314:
309:
307:
303:
299:
295:
292:, he learned
291:
286:
282:
279:
275:
271:
266:
262:
260:
251:
249:
247:
243:
238:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
215:
213:
204:
202:
200:
196:
186:
177:
173:
169:
167:
163:
159:
158:Gim Cheol-ung
155:
153:
149:
139:
137:
133:
123:
121:
117:
112:
108:
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
83:
80:
78:
75:
74:
72:
68:
64:
58:
54:
47:
42:
35:
32:
28:
27:
22:
997:Kyong Won-ha
956:Li Gyong-hui
914:
869:Phillip Buck
823:Zhu Xianjian
818:Son Jong-nam
793:Kim Hyon-hui
788:Joo Seong-ha
759:Former spies
750:Thae Yong-ho
745:Ryu Hyun-woo
735:Pak Sung-won
655:Abai Village
642:Destinations
581:
569:. Retrieved
565:
539:. Retrieved
535:
508:. Retrieved
496:
466:, retrieved
461:
410:
402:
390:. Retrieved
386:the original
378:
344:
333:
321:
310:
287:
283:
267:
263:
255:
239:
216:
208:
184:
183:
31:
24:
1380:1974 births
1354:Tumen River
1231:Robert Park
1211:Kenneth Bae
1201:Hannah Song
1191:Adrian Hong
1159:Free Joseon
1002:Ri Jong-yol
992:Jihyun Park
935:Yi Han-yong
920:Lee Soon-ok
905:Jaehoon Ahn
879:Yeonmi Park
844:Ji Seong-ho
803:Lee Sang-jo
798:Kim Shin-jo
778:Jeong Su-il
773:Jang Gil-su
761:or soldiers
740:Ryu Mi-yong
677:Philippines
650:South Korea
590:. BBC News.
571:21 November
541:21 November
510:21 November
468:21 November
392:17 November
380:Chosun Ilbo
340:South Korea
324:Tumen River
306:North Korea
294:South Korea
270:Tumen River
235:North Korea
223:Kim Jong-Il
172:Kim Chŏlung
114:Korean name
63:North Korea
50:Kim in 2008
21:Korean name
1374:Categories
1359:Yalu River
1078:Escape aid
1069:Rimjingang
1007:MoFa Seven
961:Mun Ki-nam
854:Lee Ae-ran
808:No Kum-sok
730:Oh Kil-nam
357:References
205:Early life
91:Occupation
1182:Activists
832:Activists
696:Defectors
505:0362-4331
278:Pyongyang
252:Defection
212:Pyongyang
1216:Mike Kim
1142:Militant
1123:HanVoice
1085:Durihana
1027:Advocacy
944:Athletes
682:Thailand
536:BBC News
317:Mongolia
19:In this
1133:Saejowi
1111:Hanawon
900:An Hyuk
302:Beijing
195:pianist
94:Pianist
1271:Policy
503:
423:
259:famine
231:Moscow
227:Moscow
120:Hangul
975:Other
662:China
313:China
290:China
274:China
136:Hanja
102:2001
573:2017
543:2017
512:2017
501:ISSN
470:2017
421:ISBN
394:2015
197:who
56:Born
190:김철웅
143:金哲雄
127:김철웅
26:Kim
1376::
564:.
551:^
534:.
520:^
499:.
495:.
477:^
435:^
419:.
417:61
377:.
365:^
342:.
201:.
626:e
619:t
612:v
575:.
545:.
514:.
429:.
396:.
187:(
29:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.