Author's Note for The other side of tomorrow
The Asian Underground Railroad continues to operate today with its secret network of people scattered across Asia assisting North Korean refugees in their escape from oppression. In 2012, I interviewed a pastor, one of the masterminds behind this operation, and two North Korean boys who had recently escaped to Seoul, South Korea. They inspired me to read more testimonies from many other refugees.
Yunho and Myunghee and the other characters in this book are fictional, but their lives are based on real people who’ve escaped North Korea. Names and locations have been changed to protect them, but most of the events in this book are true. When details were no longer available, I filled in these gaps in order to share their stories of bravery and strength with you.
Most North Korean people are underweight and starving because of a severe famine in the 1990s that killed three million people, and the effects of the famine are still felt today. Some starve, which is why—along with other reasons--many North Koreans have chosen to risk their lives by crossing the border into China.
After a month in northern China, some escapees take a train or bus to southern China and then cross the mountainous jungle of Laos and into Thailand. The refugees seek asylum at the South Korean embassy, the US embassy, or any others that welcome them. All along this route, they hide in safe houses provided by the Asian Underground Railroad.
If they are caught in China or Laos, they are repatriated, meaning they are sent back to North Korea, where they will likely go to a concentration camp or gulag, facing certain death. The escapee’s whole family is usually sent to a concentration camp as well and punished to the third generation. Some children are born into a prison camp and don’t know why they are there. The horrors and cruelty that they have to endure are beyond comprehension.
If the escapees make it to an embassy, they join the list of refugees and must wait their turn to be placed in a safe country. Sometimes this takes many months or even years of waiting. South Korea has a program for North Korean refugees, which helps them acclimate to South Korean society, provides them money to start out, and teaches them job skills. The United States also began receiving North Korean refugees in 2004.
Writing The Other Side of Tomorrow opened my eyes to the atrocities of the North Korean government. From living in South Korea for ten years, I’ve experienced fear from Kim Jong Un as he threatened the South, but neither I nor anyone else can ever truly understand the fear, hunger, and violence that North Korean citizens, who live under his regime, endure every day. Through writing this book, I’ve met many wonderful and kind North Korean refugees and aid workers. In listening to their stories, I am forever grateful to God that He has kept them safe and that His many blessings have given me the chance to share their journeys with you through Myunghee and Yunho.
At this very moment, many North Korean kids are hungry and hurting, trying to cross borders, or living in hiding. I hope Myunghee’s and Yunho’s journeys spur you to action to help those in need.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In no particular order, I give an extreme thank you and appreciation to...
*Pens and Brushes critique group who critiqued the beginnings of this story and then realized it should be something more--a novel!
*Leonard Marcus, picture book historian and author, also a judge at the Asian Festival of Children's Content, who saw merit in the early story, placing it 1st Runner Up (2nd place) in the Scholastic Asia contest.
*Adria Goetz, my wonderful agent, who came alongside this story, helping me revise and edit, believing in this manuscript!
*Carolina Ortiz, my terrific editor, who had a vision for something even greater for this story--a graphic novel!
*Deb JJ Lee, the very talented illustrator, who not only brought my characters to life, but made each page a work of art!
*Harper Collins team, So many of you have done behind-the-scenes work to bring this book to life. Thank you!!
*North Korean sensitivity reader, you know who you are, thank you for making sure all the facts and cultural details were correct!
*North Korean friends/contacts, thank you for answering my unending questions!
*Major Peter R. Teachout, who helped me plan the break-out-of-prison plot when we were both in Korea.
*Jaekeun Cho, my husband, who moved us to South Korea. I wouldn't have all these stories if I hadn't moved across the world.
*Anna & Isaac Cho, my children, my "kid editors" who read early drafts of my story and gave their critiques.
*God, who gave me a passion for the North Korean people and who helps me with my writing.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Yunho and Myunghee and the other characters in this book are fictional, but their lives are based on real people who’ve escaped North Korea. Names and locations have been changed to protect them, but most of the events in this book are true. When details were no longer available, I filled in these gaps in order to share their stories of bravery and strength with you.
Most North Korean people are underweight and starving because of a severe famine in the 1990s that killed three million people, and the effects of the famine are still felt today. Some starve, which is why—along with other reasons--many North Koreans have chosen to risk their lives by crossing the border into China.
After a month in northern China, some escapees take a train or bus to southern China and then cross the mountainous jungle of Laos and into Thailand. The refugees seek asylum at the South Korean embassy, the US embassy, or any others that welcome them. All along this route, they hide in safe houses provided by the Asian Underground Railroad.
If they are caught in China or Laos, they are repatriated, meaning they are sent back to North Korea, where they will likely go to a concentration camp or gulag, facing certain death. The escapee’s whole family is usually sent to a concentration camp as well and punished to the third generation. Some children are born into a prison camp and don’t know why they are there. The horrors and cruelty that they have to endure are beyond comprehension.
If the escapees make it to an embassy, they join the list of refugees and must wait their turn to be placed in a safe country. Sometimes this takes many months or even years of waiting. South Korea has a program for North Korean refugees, which helps them acclimate to South Korean society, provides them money to start out, and teaches them job skills. The United States also began receiving North Korean refugees in 2004.
Writing The Other Side of Tomorrow opened my eyes to the atrocities of the North Korean government. From living in South Korea for ten years, I’ve experienced fear from Kim Jong Un as he threatened the South, but neither I nor anyone else can ever truly understand the fear, hunger, and violence that North Korean citizens, who live under his regime, endure every day. Through writing this book, I’ve met many wonderful and kind North Korean refugees and aid workers. In listening to their stories, I am forever grateful to God that He has kept them safe and that His many blessings have given me the chance to share their journeys with you through Myunghee and Yunho.
At this very moment, many North Korean kids are hungry and hurting, trying to cross borders, or living in hiding. I hope Myunghee’s and Yunho’s journeys spur you to action to help those in need.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In no particular order, I give an extreme thank you and appreciation to...
*Pens and Brushes critique group who critiqued the beginnings of this story and then realized it should be something more--a novel!
*Leonard Marcus, picture book historian and author, also a judge at the Asian Festival of Children's Content, who saw merit in the early story, placing it 1st Runner Up (2nd place) in the Scholastic Asia contest.
*Adria Goetz, my wonderful agent, who came alongside this story, helping me revise and edit, believing in this manuscript!
*Carolina Ortiz, my terrific editor, who had a vision for something even greater for this story--a graphic novel!
*Deb JJ Lee, the very talented illustrator, who not only brought my characters to life, but made each page a work of art!
*Harper Collins team, So many of you have done behind-the-scenes work to bring this book to life. Thank you!!
*North Korean sensitivity reader, you know who you are, thank you for making sure all the facts and cultural details were correct!
*North Korean friends/contacts, thank you for answering my unending questions!
*Major Peter R. Teachout, who helped me plan the break-out-of-prison plot when we were both in Korea.
*Jaekeun Cho, my husband, who moved us to South Korea. I wouldn't have all these stories if I hadn't moved across the world.
*Anna & Isaac Cho, my children, my "kid editors" who read early drafts of my story and gave their critiques.
*God, who gave me a passion for the North Korean people and who helps me with my writing.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
