ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Joseph Kim - North Korean refugee
Joseph Kim escaped alone from North Korea at the age of 16, first to China and then to the United States.

Why you should listen

Joseph Kim is from the northern region of North Korea. Growing up during the great famine of the 1990s, at the age of 12 Joseph saw his father starve to death, his mother disappear and his sister flee to China to search for food. In 2006, when he was 16, he decided to make the dangerous escape alone out of North Korea to look for food -- and for his sister. While hiding in China, he met a Korean-Chinese grandmother who protected and fed him until he found help from Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), a NGO that provided more stabilized shelter and later helped him to escape to the United States.
 
Joseph arrived in the U.S. in 2007 as a refugee. He is now in college studying international business. He is still searching for his sister.

More profile about the speaker
Joseph Kim | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2013

Joseph Kim: The family I lost in North Korea. And the family I gained.

Joseph Kim: Familkeyga aan ku lumiyay South Korea iyo midka cusub aan helay.

Filmed:
2,657,148 views

Qaxooti hadda ku nool Mareynkanka, Joseph Kim oo ka sheekeynaya noloshiisa Waqooyiga Kuuriya inta lagu guda jiray sanadii abaarta. Wuxuu billaabay in uu abuurto nolol cusub. Lakin weli waxa uu raadinayaa familkiisa ay kala lumeen.
- North Korean refugee
Joseph Kim escaped alone from North Korea at the age of 16, first to China and then to the United States. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
I was born and raised in North Korea.
0
965
3503
Waxaan ku dhashay, kuna barbaaray Waqooyiga Kuuriya.
00:16
Although my family constantly struggled against poverty,
1
4468
4800
Inkastoo qoyskaygu ay la tacaalayeen faqrinimo.
00:21
I was always loved and cared for first,
2
9268
3528
Haddana waxaan ahaa midka loogu jeceylayahay, looguna xanaaneyn badan yahay.
00:24
because I was the only son
3
12796
2151
Maxaa yeelay waxaan ahaa wiilka kaliya.
00:26
and the youngest of two in the family.
4
14947
3170
ugu yar labada caruurta ee reerkeena.
00:30
But then the great famine began in 1994.
5
18117
3607
Kadib abaartii darneyd ayaa billaabatay sanadkii 1994-ta.
00:33
I was four years old.
6
21724
2459
Waxaan jiray afar sano oo kaliya.
00:36
My sister and I would go searching for firewood
7
24183
3797
Aniga iyo walaasheey waxaan raadinaynay xaabo
(qoryo dabka lagu shito).
00:39
starting at 5 in the morning
8
27980
1976
laga soo billaabo 5-ta subaxnimo.
00:41
and come back after midnight.
9
29956
2806
Gurigana usoo laabaneynay saqdii dhexe kadib.
00:44
I would wander the streets searching for food,
10
32762
3888
Waxaan lugeyn jiray wadooyinka si anigoo raadinaya cunto.
00:48
and I remember seeing a small child
11
36650
2173
Waxaan xasuusataa in aan arkay cunug yar.
00:50
tied to a mother's back eating chips,
12
38823
2822
Kaasoo saaran dusha hooyadiis kuna cunaya baradhi shiilan,
00:53
and wanting to steal them from him.
13
41645
3224
Waxaan doonay in aan ka xado.
00:56
Hunger is humiliation. Hunger is hopelessness.
14
44869
4833
Baahida waa dulinimo, baahida waa rajo la'aan.
01:01
For a hungry child, politics and freedom
15
49702
3203
Cunug yar oo gaajoonaya, siyaasad iyo xoriyad
01:04
are not even thought of.
16
52905
2752
Maahan wuxuu ka fekero.
01:07
On my ninth birthday, my parents
17
55657
2688
Dhalashadeydii sagaalaad, waalideykeyga
01:10
couldn't give me any food to eat.
18
58345
3429
Meysan awoodin in ay isiiyaan wax aan cuno.
01:13
But even as a child, I could feel the heaviness
19
61774
3944
Aniga ka cunug ahaan waan dareemi karay dhibaatada
01:17
in their hearts.
20
65718
3035
Qalbiyadooda ka dhex guuxeysa.
01:20
Over a million North Koreans died of starvation in that time,
21
68753
5200
In ka badan 1 Milyan oo reer Kuuriya ah ayaa ku dhimatay gaajo waqtigaas
01:25
and in 2003, when I was 13 years old,
22
73968
3696
2003-da, waxaan jiray 13 sano
01:29
my father became one of them.
23
77664
2913
Aabahey waxa uu ahaa mid ka mid ah dadkaasi
01:32
I saw my father wither away and die.
24
80577
3888
Waxaan arkayay aabahey oo sii dhimanaya.
01:36
In the same year, my mother disappeared one day,
25
84465
4132
Isla sanadkii, hooyadey ayaa la waayay hal maalin.
01:40
and then my sister told me
26
88597
1805
Walaasheyna waxa ay ii sheegtay.
01:42
that she was going to China to earn money,
27
90402
2601
In ay aadeyso Shiinaha si ay lacag usoo hesho.
01:45
but that she would return with money and food soon.
28
93003
4195
Ayna la soo laaban doonto lacag iyo cunto sida ugu dhaqsiyaha badan .
01:49
Since we had never been separated,
29
97198
2951
Markaasi ka hor waligeey maanan kala tegin.
01:52
and I thought we would be together forever,
30
100149
2970
Waxaana ku fekeri jiray in aan wada joogi doono weligeen.
01:55
I didn't even give her a hug when she left.
31
103119
3873
Xittaa maanan siinin habo markii ay baxaysay.
01:58
It was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life.
32
106992
4213
Waana khaladkii ugu weynaa ee aan nolosheyda sameeyo.
02:03
But again, I didn't know
33
111205
1711
Lakin marnaba, maanan ogeyn
02:04
it was going to be a long goodbye.
34
112916
3488
In ay macsalaameynta qaadan doonto wakhtigaan aadka u fog.
02:08
I have not seen my mom or my sister since then.
35
116404
4937
Hooyadey iyo walaashey kadib maanan sii arag.
02:13
Suddenly, I became an orphan and homeless.
36
121341
4219
Si lama filaan ah, waxaan ku noqday agoon iyo darbi jiif.
02:17
My daily life became very hard,
37
125560
3089
Nolosheyda maalin laha ah waa ay adkaatay.
02:20
but very simple.
38
128649
2052
Lakin si fudud.
02:22
My goal was to find a dusty piece of bread in the trash.
39
130701
4023
Hadafkeyga waxa uu noqday in aan helo rooti booreystay qashinka dhexdiisa
02:26
But that is no way to survive.
40
134724
2907
lakin ma aheyn wado lagu badbaadi karo.
02:29
I started to realize, begging would not be the solution.
41
137631
4718
Waxaan billaabay in aan xaqiiqsado, in tuugsiga
uusan xal aheyn.
02:34
So I started to steal from food carts in illegal markets.
42
142349
5326
Waxaan billaabay in aan suuqyada raashinka ka xado.
02:39
Sometimes, I found small jobs
43
147675
2965
Mararka qaar, waxaan heli jiray shaqooyin yar yar.
02:42
in exchange for food.
44
150640
2330
Oo cunto shaqo ku badalasho ah.
02:44
Once, I even spent two months in the winter
45
152970
3146
Mar, Waxaan ku bixiyay 2 bilood oo qaboobaha ah
02:48
working in a coal mine,
46
156116
1743
Anigoo ka shaqeynaya godadka macdanta laga qodo.
02:49
33 meters underground without any protection
47
157859
5775
oo dhulka u qodneyd 33 meter, maanan wadanin wax iga difaaca haddey wax igu dhacaan.
02:55
for up to 16 hours a day.
48
163634
3433
Waxaan shaqeyn jiray illaa 16 saacadood.
02:59
I was not uncommon.
49
167067
2364
Caadi maanan aheyn.
03:01
Many other orphans survived this way, or worse.
50
169431
7561
Agoon badan ayaa sidaan noloshooda ku maareyn jiray mise waliba ka xun.
03:08
When I could not fall asleep from bitter cold
51
176992
4136
Mar ayaa hurdada iga soo dhici jirin qaboowga dartiis.
03:13
or hunger pains,
52
181128
1467
Marna xanuunka daran ee gaajada.
03:14
I hoped that, the next morning,
53
182595
2848
Waxaan rajeyn jiray, in subaxa xiga.
03:17
my sister would come back to wake me up
54
185443
2563
Ay walaashey dib igu soo laabaneyso hurdadana iga kicineyso.
03:20
with my favorite food.
55
188006
2270
Iyadoo wado cuntadii aan jeclaan jiray.
03:22
That hope kept me alive.
56
190276
3150
Rajadaas ayaa nolosheyda badbaadisay.
03:25
I don't mean big, grand hope.
57
193426
2798
Ula jeedo mid weyn, rajo weyn.
03:28
I mean the kind of hope that made me believe
58
196224
3122
Waxaan ula jeedaa qaar ka mid ah rajada ayaa iga dhigtay mid rumeysan.
03:31
that the next trash can had bread,
59
199346
2463
In qashinka xiga uu rooti ku jiri karo.
03:33
even though it usually didn't.
60
201809
3133
Xittaa haddii aan sidaa badanaa u fekeri jirin.
03:36
But if I didn't believe it, I wouldn't even try,
61
204942
3443
Lakin haddii aanan rumeysneyn, maanan isku dayi laheyn.
03:40
and then I would die.
62
208385
2093
Kaidbna waan dhiman lahaa.
03:42
Hope kept me alive.
63
210478
3938
Rajada nolosheyda ayay badbaadisay.
03:46
Every day, I told myself,
64
214416
2760
Maalin walba, Waxaan nafsadeyda u sheegi jiray.
03:49
no matter how hard things got,
65
217176
2728
In aysan dhibaato lahaeyn wax waliba sida ay u adag yihiin.
03:51
still I must live.
66
219904
3902
Weli waa in aan noolaadaa.
03:55
After three years of waiting for my sister's return,
67
223806
4130
Kadib sugitaankeygaa 3 sano kadib walaasheey soo laabashadeeda.
03:59
I decided to go to China to look for her myself.
68
227936
4352
Waxaan go'aansaday in aan Shiinaha aado, Anigana raadiyo.
04:04
I realized
69
232288
2860
Waan xaqiiqsaday.
04:07
I couldn't survive much longer this way.
70
235148
3650
Intaan ka badan iskuma dhibi karo sidaan.
04:10
I knew the journey would be risky,
71
238798
2805
Waan ogaa safarka in uu qatartiisa leeyahay.
04:13
but I would be risking my life either way.
72
241603
2897
Lakin waa in aan u bareeraa qatarta sidey ahaataba.
04:16
I could die of starvation like my father in North Korea,
73
244500
4186
Laga yaaba in aan u dhinto sida aabaheyn abaartii Waqooyiga Kuuriya.
04:20
or at least I could try for a better life
74
248686
3458
Mise ugu yaraan in aan helo nolol midaan dhaanto.
04:24
by escaping to China.
75
252144
3236
Tegitaankii Shiinaha.
04:27
I had learned that many people tried to cross
76
255380
3230
Waxaan ogaa in dad badan ay isku dayeen in ay gooyaan.
04:30
the border to China in the nighttime to avoid being seen.
77
258610
4787
Xaduuda Shiinaha wakhtiyada habeenkii si aanan loo arag.
04:35
North Korean border guards often shoot and kill people
78
263397
3958
Illaalada xaduuda Waqooyiga Kuuriya, badanaa waa ay toogan jireen weyna dili jireen.
04:39
trying to cross the border without permission.
79
267355
3373
In la dhaafo xaduuda amar la'aan.
04:42
Chinese soldiers will catch
80
270728
2651
Askarta Shiinaha waa ay ku soo qabanayaan.
04:45
and send back North Koreans,
81
273379
1854
Waxayna dib kugu soo dirayaan kuwa Waqooyiga Kuuriya.
04:47
where they face severe punishment.
82
275233
4340
Halkaasoo aad kala kulmeyso ciqaab daran.
04:51
I decided to cross during the day,
83
279573
3081
Waxaan go'aansaday in aan dhaafo maalinta cad.
04:54
first because I was still a kid and scared of the dark,
84
282654
5433
Mida ugu horeysa, weli waan yaraa mugdigana waan ka baqi jiray.
05:00
second because I knew I was already taking a risk,
85
288087
4649
Mida labaad, Waan iska ogaa in qatarta laba gaarba aan lugaha kula jiro.
05:04
and since not many people tried to cross during the day,
86
292736
3415
Waxaan kaloo ogaa in dad badan aysan isku dayi jirin in ay maalinti dhaafaan.
05:08
I thought I might be able to cross
87
296151
1690
Waxaan ku fekeray in aan dhaafi karo.
05:09
without being seen by anyone.
88
297841
3425
Iyadoo qofna i arkeynin.
05:13
I made it to China on February 15, 2006.
89
301266
3908
Waxaan imid Shiinaha 15-ka Febraayo 2006-da.
05:17
I was 16 years old.
90
305174
2228
Waxaan jiray 16 sano.
05:19
I thought things in China would be easier,
91
307402
2920
Waxaan ku fekerayay in Shiinaha ay noloshada ka fududahay.
05:22
since there was more food.
92
310322
3273
Cunto badana laga helo.
05:25
I thought more people would help me.
93
313595
3056
Waxaan ku fekerayay in dad badan ay i caawin doonaan.
05:28
But it was harder than living in North Korea,
94
316651
4013
Lakin waa ay ka adkaatay mida Waqooyiga Kuuriya.
05:32
because I was not free.
95
320664
1695
Maxaa yeelay xor maanan aheyn.
05:34
I was always worried about being caught
96
322359
2745
Waxaan ka welweli jiray in la i qabto.
05:37
and sent back.
97
325104
2795
Dibna la ii diro.
05:39
By a miracle, some months later,
98
327899
3271
SI layaab leh, bilo kadib.
05:43
I met someone who was running
99
331170
1443
Waxaan la kulmay qof ordaya.
05:44
an underground shelter for North Koreans,
100
332613
3342
Dhulka hoostiisa, halkaasoo ay ku noolaayeen dadka ka yimid Waqooyiga Kuuriya.
05:47
and was allowed to live there
101
335955
2608
Waana loo ogolaa in ay ku noolaadaan.
05:50
and eat regular meals for the first time in many years.
102
338563
5352
Waxaan cunay inta caadi ah sanado badan kadib.
05:55
Later that year, an activist helped me escape China
103
343915
4481
Sanadkaas kadib, Dhaqdhaqaaqyo ayaa waxay iga caawiyeen in aan Shiinaha ka soo baxo.
06:00
and go to the United States as a refugee.
104
348396
4221
Oo aan imaado Mareykanka si qaxootinimo ah.
06:04
I went to America without knowing a word of English,
105
352617
3300
Waxaan Mareykanka imid anigoo aanan aqoonin 1 eray oo Ingiriisi ah.
06:07
yet my social worker told me that I had to go to high school.
106
355917
4379
Wuxuu ii sheegay midka mid ah shaqaalaha bulshada in aan aado dugsi sare.
06:12
Even in North Korea, I was an F student.
107
360296
4199
Xitaa waqooyiga Kuuriya, waxaan ahaa arday F ah.
06:16
(Laughter)
108
364495
1384
(Qosol)
06:17
And I barely finished elementary school.
109
365879
3707
Waxaan si dhib badan ku dhameeyay dugsigii hoose.
06:21
And I remember I fought in school more than once a day.
110
369586
3304
Waxaan la tacalayay in ka badan 1 mar maalinti.
06:24
Textbooks and the library were not my playground.
111
372890
3938
Buugaagta iyo maktabada ma aysan aheyn goobta aan ku ciyaaro.
06:28
My father tried very hard to motivate me into studying,
112
376828
3745
Aabaheyn si adag ayuu iskugu dayay in uu igu qasbo waxbarasho.
06:32
but it didn't work.
113
380573
2551
Lakin waa ay shaqeyn weysay.
06:35
At one point, my father gave up on me.
114
383124
3143
Aabahey wuu iska key dhaafay.
06:38
He said, "You're not my son anymore."
115
386267
3969
Wuxuu yiri, "Wiilkeyga ma tihid intaan ka badan"
06:42
I was only 11 or 12, but it hurt me deeply.
116
390236
4752
Waxaan jiray 11 mise 12, lakin waxay ii dhaawacday si qoto dheer.
06:46
But nevertheless, my level of motivation
117
394988
2661
Lakin heerkeyga xiiso.
06:49
still didn't change before he died.
118
397649
4707
Muusan iska badalinin ka hor dhimashadiisa.
06:54
So in America, it was kind of ridiculous
119
402356
2805
Mareykanka waa qeyb ka mid ah maada.
06:57
that they said I should go to high school.
120
405161
3027
Waxay dhaheen waa in aad aadaa dugsi sare.
07:00
I didn't even go to middle school.
121
408188
2424
Maanan aadin xittaa dugsi dhexe.
07:02
I decided to go, just because they told me to,
122
410612
3384
Waan go'aansaday in aan aado, maxaa yeelay waa ay ii sheegeen.
07:05
without trying much.
123
413996
2408
Isku day la'aan badan.
07:08
But one day, I came home and my foster mother
124
416404
3413
Lakin hal maalin, guriga ayaan imid hooyadey.
07:11
had made chicken wings for dinner.
125
419817
3209
Waxay sameysay garbo dooro (digaag).
07:15
And during dinner, I wanted to have one more wing,
126
423026
3254
Inta lagu guda jiray qadada, Waxaan rabooday in aan helo 1 garab kale.
07:18
but I realized there were not enough for everyone,
127
426280
3196
Waxaan xaqiiqsaday, in aysan dadka dhan u filneyn.
07:21
so I decided against it.
128
429476
3497
Waxaan go'aansaday in aan iska daayo.
07:24
When I looked down at my plate,
129
432973
2325
Waxaan fiiriyay hoos.
07:27
I saw the last chicken wing, that my foster father had given me his.
130
435298
5136
Waxaan arkay garabkii ugu dambeeyay ee digaaga, oo aabahey isiinayo.
07:32
I was so happy.
131
440434
2318
Aad ayaan u farxay.
07:34
I looked at him sitting next to me.
132
442752
2263
Waan fiiryay isaga oo agteyda fadhiya.
07:37
He just looked back at me very warmly,
133
445015
3316
DIb ayuu iisoo fiiriyay si kulul.
07:40
but said no words.
134
448331
2672
Lakin waxba muusan dhihin.
07:43
Suddenly I remembered my biological father.
135
451003
4844
Si deg deg ah, waxaan xasuustay aabahey dabeecadaha dadka si fiican u yaqaan.
07:47
My foster father's small act of love
136
455847
2973
Aabahey matalaadiisa yar ee jaceyl.
07:50
reminded me of my father,
137
458820
2221
Waxay isoo xasuusisay aabahey.
07:53
who would love to share his food with me
138
461041
3000
Yaa jecel in uu cuntadiisa qeyb iga siiyo.
07:56
when he was hungry, even if he was starving.
139
464041
4637
Marka uu baahan yahay, xittaa haddii uu abaareysan yahay.
08:00
I felt so suffocated that I had so much food in America,
140
468678
4332
Waxaan dareemay in cunto igu filan Mareykanka ku heysto.
08:05
yet my father died of starvation.
141
473010
3467
Halka uu aabahey gaajo u dhintay.
08:08
My only wish that night was to cook a meal for him,
142
476477
4203
Rajadeyda habeenkaasi waxa ay aheyd in aan cunto u kariyo.
08:12
and that night I also thought of what else I could do
143
480680
3491
Habeenkaasna waxaan ku fekeray in aan awooday.
08:16
to honor him.
144
484171
2216
Si aan u sharfo.
08:18
And my answer was to promise to myself
145
486387
2734
Jawaabteyda waxa ay aheyd in aan nafsadeyda ka ballanqaado.
08:21
that I would study hard and get the best education
146
489121
3430
In aan si aad wax u baranayo, oo aan helo waxbarashada ugu fiican.
08:24
in America to honor his sacrifice.
147
492551
3564
Mareykanka dhexdiisa si aan u sharfo damaciisa.
08:28
I took school seriously,
148
496115
2536
Waxaan si daacad ah u dhigtay dugsiga.
08:30
and for the first time ever in my life,
149
498651
2800
Markii ugu horeysay nolosheyda.
08:33
I received an academic award for excellence,
150
501451
3897
Waxaan helay abaalmarin u dhiganta jaamacad.
08:37
and made dean's list from the first semester in high school.
151
505348
5614
Dhigtayna markii ugu horeysay dugsi sare.
08:42
(Applause)
152
510962
7632
(sabcis)
08:50
That chicken wing changed my life.
153
518594
2730
Garabkaasi doorada (digaaga) ayaa nolosheyda badashay.
08:53
(Laughter)
154
521324
4057
(Qosol)
08:57
Hope is personal. Hope is something
155
525381
3592
Rajada waa gaar, rajada waa wax waliba.
09:00
that no one can give to you.
156
528973
2509
Qofna kuma siin karo.
09:03
You have to choose to believe in hope.
157
531482
2920
Waa in aad doorataa kadibna aad rumeysaa rajadaada.
09:06
You have to make it yourself.
158
534402
3167
Waa in aad noloshaada ka dhigtaa.
09:09
In North Korea, I made it myself.
159
537569
3240
Waqooyiga Kuuriya, Nolosheyda waxaan ka dhigay
09:12
Hope brought me to America.
160
540809
2713
Rajadaan i keentay Mareykanka.
09:15
But in America, I didn't know what to do,
161
543522
3000
Lakin Mareykanka dhexdiisa, Ma aqoonin wax aan sameeyo.
09:18
because I had this overwhelming freedom.
162
546522
5032
Maxaa yeelay, waxaan heystay xoriyadaan layaabka leh.
09:23
My foster father at that dinner gave me a direction,
163
551554
4051
Aabahey maalintii qadada waxa uu ii tilmaamay wado cad.
09:27
and he motivated me and gave me a purpose
164
555605
3526
Wuu ii sababeeyay, wuxuuna i siiyay ujeedo.
09:31
to live in America.
165
559131
3927
In aan Mareykan ku noolaado.
09:35
I did not come here by myself.
166
563058
3120
Aniga isma keenin halkaan.
09:38
I had hope, but hope by itself is not enough.
167
566178
4954
Lakin rajo waan lahaa, kuma filneen rajada kaliya.
09:43
Many people helped me along the way to get here.
168
571132
4154
Dad badan ayaa iga caawiyay halkaan.
09:47
North Koreans are fighting hard to survive.
169
575286
3988
Dadka reer Waqooyiga Kuuriya waxad u dagaalamayaan in ay nolosha maareeyaan.
09:51
They have to force themselves to survive,
170
579274
2789
Waa in ay dagaalamaan si ay u badbaadiyaan noloshooda.
09:54
have hope to survive,
171
582063
2755
In la leeyahay rajo lagu badbaado.
09:56
but they cannot make it without help.
172
584818
4761
Lakin midaas oo dhan ma soconeyso caawinaad la'aan.
10:01
This is my message to you.
173
589579
2346
Tani waa fariinteyda kugu socoto.
10:03
Have hope for yourself,
174
591925
2709
Yeelo rajo nafsad ahaantaada.
10:06
but also help each other.
175
594634
3112
Xittaa caawi kuwa kale.
10:09
Life can be hard for everyone, wherever you live.
176
597746
6582
Nolosha wey ku adkaan kartaa qof waliba, halkuu rabo ha ku noolaade.
10:16
My foster father didn't intend to change my life.
177
604328
3786
Aabahey ujeedadiisa ma aheyn in uu nolosheyda badalo.
10:20
In the same way, you may also change someone's life
178
608114
4372
Wado isku mid ah, lakin waad badali kartaa nolosha qof kale.
10:24
with even the smallest act of love.
179
612486
4520
Xittaa haddii ay jirto xoogaa oo yar matalaad jaceyl ah.
10:29
A piece of bread can satisfy your hunger,
180
617006
5118
Jab rooti ah waxa uu dabooli karaa baahidaada.
10:34
and having the hope will bring you bread
181
622124
3101
Haddaad rajo leedahayna waxay kuu keentaa rootiga.
10:37
to keep you alive.
182
625225
2285
In ay kuu ogolaato in aad noolaato.
10:39
But I confidently believe that
183
627510
3217
Waxaan rumeysanahay.
10:42
your act of love and caring
184
630727
3458
In isku daygaaga jaceyl iyo xanaanad .
10:46
can also save another Joseph's life
185
634185
3404
ay badbaadin kartaa nolosha Joseph kale (Joseph waa magaca ninka ka sheekeynaya sheekada qabsatay)
10:49
and change thousands of other Josephs
186
637589
5442
ayna badali karto kumanaan Joseph oo kale.
10:55
who are still having hope to survive.
187
643031
4002
Yaa leh rajo ah in uu badbaado.
10:59
Thank you.
188
647033
1307
Waad mahadsan tihiin.
11:00
(Applause)
189
648340
9098
(Sabcis)
11:36
Adrian Hong: Joseph, thank you for sharing
190
684561
2825
Waad ku mahadsan tahay Joseph sheekadaada oo aad nala wadaagtay.
11:39
that very personal and special story with us.
191
687386
3182
Si gaarka ah iyo sida qaaska ah oo aad nola wadaagtay.
11:42
I know you haven't seen your sister for, you said,
192
690568
3225
Waxaan ogahay in aadan arkin in aad walaashaa arag sidaad tiri.
11:45
it was almost exactly a decade,
193
693793
2460
Hadda waxaa ka soo wareegta tobaneeyo sano.
11:48
and in the off chance that she may be able to see this,
194
696253
2417
Fursadaan waxaa laga yaabaa in ay aragto.
11:50
we wanted to give you an opportunity
195
698670
1827
Waxaan ku siineynaa fursad.
11:52
to send her a message.
196
700497
2228
Si aad fariin ugu dirto.
11:54
Joseph Kim: In Korean?
197
702725
1136
Ma af Kuuriyaan?
11:55
AH: You can do English, then Korean as well.
198
703861
2608
Ingiriisi waad ku hadli kartaa Kooriyana waa ok.
11:58
(Laughter)
199
706469
3908
(Qosol)
12:02
JK: Okay, I'm not going to make it any longer in Korean
200
710377
2341
Kuuriyaan in badan looma baahno.
12:04
because I don't think I can make it
201
712718
2741
Maxaa yeelay uma maleenayo in aan sameyn karo.
12:07
without tearing up.
202
715459
3656
Haddii aanan ka tanaasuleynin go'aankii hore.
12:11
Nuna, it has been already 10 years
203
719115
4721
baayo (walaalo) waxaa ka soo wareegatay 10 sano.
12:15
that I haven’t seen you.
204
723836
6521
In aanan ku arag.
12:22
I just wanted to say
205
730357
3392
Waxaan rabaa in aan ku dhaho.
12:25
that I miss you, and I love you,
206
733749
4184
In aan aad kuugu xiisay, kuuna jeclahay.
12:29
and please come back to me and stay alive.
207
737933
4343
Fadlan dib igu soo laabo noloshana ila joog.
12:34
And I -- oh, gosh.
208
742276
4886
Iyo -oh
12:39
I still haven't given up my hope to see you.
209
747162
4320
Weli kama rajo dhigin rajadeydii aheyd in aan dib kuu arko.
12:45
I will live my life happily
210
753591
4662
Nolosheyda farxad ayaan ku noolaan doonaa.
12:50
and study hard
211
758253
3319
Aadna wax waan u baran doonaa.
12:53
until I see you,
212
761572
2077
Illaa aan kaa arkayo.
12:55
and I promise I will not cry again.
213
763649
4579
Waxaan kaa ballanqaadayaa in aanan dib u oynin.
13:00
(Laughter)
214
768228
1557
(Qosol)
13:01
Yes, I'm just looking forward to seeing you,
215
769785
2588
Waxaan rajaynayaa inaan ku arko
13:04
and if you can't find me,
216
772373
2271
Haddii aad isoo heli weyso.
13:06
I will also look for you,
217
774644
3072
Waan ku raadin doonaa.
13:09
and I hope to see you one day.
218
777716
2736
Waxaan rajeynayaa maalin uun in aan ku arko.
13:12
And can I also make a small message to my mom?
219
780452
3336
Hooyadey ma u diri karaa fa.riin yar?
13:15
AH: Sure, please.
220
783788
1651
Haa, Hubaal.
13:17
JK: I haven't spent much time with you,
221
785439
2789
Wax badan wakhti maanan kula qaadanin.
13:20
but I know that you still love me,
222
788228
1912
Waan ogahay weli in aad i jeceshahay.
13:22
and you probably still pray for me
223
790140
2944
Weli waad ii duceysaa.
13:25
and think about me.
224
793084
3120
Waadna iga fekertaa.
13:28
I just wanted to say thank you
225
796204
2152
Waxaan rabaa oo kaliya in aan ku dhaho waad mahadsan tahay.
13:30
for letting me be in this world.
226
798356
3534
In aad ii ogolaato in aan adduunka imaado.
13:33
Thank you.
227
801890
1469
Waad mahadsan tahay.
13:35
(Applause)
228
803359
5324
(Sacabis)
Translated by Abdikani Hassan
Reviewed by Jamal Omar

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Joseph Kim - North Korean refugee
Joseph Kim escaped alone from North Korea at the age of 16, first to China and then to the United States.

Why you should listen

Joseph Kim is from the northern region of North Korea. Growing up during the great famine of the 1990s, at the age of 12 Joseph saw his father starve to death, his mother disappear and his sister flee to China to search for food. In 2006, when he was 16, he decided to make the dangerous escape alone out of North Korea to look for food -- and for his sister. While hiding in China, he met a Korean-Chinese grandmother who protected and fed him until he found help from Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), a NGO that provided more stabilized shelter and later helped him to escape to the United States.
 
Joseph arrived in the U.S. in 2007 as a refugee. He is now in college studying international business. He is still searching for his sister.

More profile about the speaker
Joseph Kim | Speaker | TED.com