Kang Chol Hwan Event and the birth of Cal LiNK

Mr. Kang's words were harrowing and haunting, yet his enthusiasm did not go unnoticed. He described his predilection for mice, the brutal executions at Yodok, and the desperation of prison camp life. But then Mr. Kang expressed his excitement for the future, looking into the eyes of close to two hundred students in the Valley Life Science Building of the Berkeley campus. His message: the future will be bright if we do something about it.

I was especially struck by Mr. Kang's wish that North Korean students could someday come to America to study alongside us. It seems like a great idea; academia is something we share with everyone, despite their political or cultural background. If a North Korean student is a great chemist, he should be able to learn from the best professors in the world so that he can someday benefit not only his own country but the world. Maybe there is something we can learn from them as well. Perhaps this is Mr. Kang's way of stating that, ultimately, North Koreans are not that different than you and me. Empathy and understanding is the first step towards healing and consolation.

The Aquariums of Pyongyang describes Mr. Kang's experience in a North Korean gulag. His memoir became a best seller worldwide, and garned much attention and support towards the North Korean cause. Even President George W. Bush invited Mr. Kang to Washington DC after reading the book to discuss what could be done to help the North Korean people.

This was LiNK's kick off event. Uncertainty was soon replaced by hope and optimism and it was clear that there were students at Cal who were concerned with human rights violations in North Korea and who wanted to learn more.

Where will this journey take us? What can we accomplish, the powerless and uninteresting college student? How much of a difference can we make? Who will listen to us?


Your strengths are your minds and your passion. Your tools are the information and resources out there. Read a newspaper or a book. Attend a lecture. Have a discussion with friends or family. This is not ancient history: this is the present, and something must be done. Through information and understand we will be able to better understand the tragedy and fragility of the situation in North Korea.

This is not a Korean issue, but rather a human issue. The stories you read might shock you or create anger or disgust. Be critical of the issues but do not allow your emotions to overwhelm your judgement. If you have strong feelings towards this issue, then express them so others can perhaps learn from you. However be eloquent, informed, and open to suggestion, because stubborness and ignorance cannot possibly produce anything but more struggle in an already drawn out struggle.

That being said, I am very excited for the future for LiNK at the UC Berkeley campus. It was about half a year ago on a rainy freeway in Seattle where we began discussing the possibility for a LiNK chapter at Cal. Phone calls were made, flyers were created, and hours of planning were put into this organization. This is the manifestation of what we had discussed in those early days. I am happy that we have come this far, but our journey is just getting started. I am glad to know that there are so many interested students out there who share my concern and my drive. We work to speak and and lend a hand for those without a voice or those whose arms are tied behind their backs.