The Girl with Seven Names: a north Korean Defector’s Story

The page numbers in this index relate to the printed version of this book;
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Ahn, Mr
as trader in Hyesan 41, 90
visited by Min-ho 89–90, 166, 230
visited by Min-young 95, 101–3
takes Min-young to see her relatives in Shenyang 103–4, 105–6
phone disconnected 115, 144
health of 146
hears but does not answer cellphone 151
death of 177
Ahn, Mrs 146–7, 177, 237
Americans 7, 22, 50, 59, 201, 288, 293
Anju 91
relocated to 15
family house in 16–18
bribery in 19–20
ideological indoctrination at kindergarten 21–4
outings and picnics 25–6
hangings in 27–9
departure from 29
Anseong 208–11
Aunt Old 13, 29, 65–6
Aunt Pretty 13–14, 29, 39, 169, 282
Aunt Sang-hee 109–10, 115–16, 131, 138
Aunt Tall 13, 29, 281
Baek Kyeong-sul 28
Baekam County 11, 66
Beijing Summer Olympics (2008) 200, 216–17
Bowibu (secret police) 23, 76, 111, 135, 169, 181, 191, 209, 222, 225, 226
Brian

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meets Min-young 286–7
impact on Min-young 287
meets Min-young’s family 288
asks Min-young to marry him 291
makes friends with Min-ho 293
brokers
paid by film documentary team 133, 173
tough but apparently honest 144–5, 163
hire thugs to ensure payment 148–9, 150–4
buy IDs for a fee 157–8
as marriage brokers 158
prepare documentation for apparently ‘lost’ passports 174–5, 181
talk through options for getting to South Korea 186–7
arrange fake South Korean passport 188
as human traffickers 191, 278
avoidance of 207
money owed to 210
as trustworthy 223
used only to get out of China 223, 225
agree to take Min-young’s family to Laos 244–8
fails to meet Min-young’s family in Laos 264
Carter, Jimmy 108
Chae Mi-ran see Park Min-young
Chai In-hee see Park Min-young
Chang, Mr 41, 90, 95, 101, 115, 146
Changbai 39–40, 41, 89–92, 131, 144, 148, 225, 228
Changbai Binguan hotel (Changbai) 225–6, 229
Changbai–Hyesan International Bridge (Friendship Bridge) 39, 64, 238
Changchun 148
China, Chinese
proximity to and trade with 11, 39–41, 56, 58
opium trade 24
propaganda concerning 50
Cultural Revolution 65
reaction to famine in North Korea 82
illegal visits to 89–90
crackdown on illegals in 200
difficulties for defectors 222–3, 225, 247
National Day 236
support Min-young’s views 290
Chongchon River 16
Choon-hi 136
Clinton, Bill 108
Coffee House (Luang Namtha) 255, 258, 259, 292
Cold War 5
Daeoh-cheon 41

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Fang, Mr (broker) 244–8, 250, 263
father (biological)
marriage and divorce 8–9
sees photo of Min-young 45–6
has twin daughters 46
remarries 46
father (step-father)
love and courtship 4–7
marriage 9–10
promotions and transfers 15, 29, 31–2, 37, 39
military life 20
loyalty of 23–4
chases dragonflies with the children 25
relationship with Park Min-young 47, 53
becomes a businessman 53
saves portraits in house fire xiii–xiv, 53
brings back gifts from China 59–60
arrest, interrogation and death 64, 65–70, 107
Gangnam, South Korea 215
Geumcheon district (Seoul) 212
Geun-soo 116, 117–21, 131, 132, 139, 142, 224
grandfather (maternal) 6–7
grandmother (maternal)
family background 6
as ardent communist 7
arranges her daughter’s marriage to an official 7–8
hides Workers’ Party Card in the chimney 7, 293
takes opium 24
tells her granddaughter her true paternal parentage 44–6
grandparents (paternal)
reaction to marriage of their son 29–30
coolness towards Park Min-young 30, 46
warmth towards Min-ho 30
reaction to death of their son 69
Great Fatherland Liberation War 50
Guangxi Province 244
Guilin 244
Gyeong-hwoi-ru (restaurant in Koreatown, Xita) 128–31
Gyeonggi Province 208
Hamhung 14, 169, 226
relocated to 29, 31
life in 31–2
elementary education in 32–4
black markets 84–5
Han River 215
Hanawon (House of Unity) 208–11, 214, 218

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Haojue (Chinese model) 222
Harbin 158–9, 191
Henan Province 241
Ho Chi Minh City 225
H.O.T. (pop stars) 90
Hyeonseo see Park Min-young
Hyesan
family homes in 3, 4–5, 7, 39
Americans in 7
as thriving hub of trade 11–12, 39–41, 90, 222
opium in 24–5
family gatherings 29–30
hospital in 67
famine and destitution in 81–3, 90, 217
Min-young warned not to return to 110, 111–15
crackdown on traders in 147, 181–2
Min-young sends goods to her family in 177–81
Min-young’s mother’s love for 181–2, 218, 220–1, 232–5
Hyun Chul (South Korean singer) 54
Hyundai 214
Incheon International Airport (Seoul) 187, 197–200
Jang, Mrs 117–21, 131–2, 142, 224
Jang Soon-hyang see Park Min-young
Japan, Japanese 7, 41, 107
Ji-woo 133–5, 142
John Hancock Center (Chicago) 293
Ju Hyun-mi (South Korean singer) 54
Kang, Mrs (teacher) 61–2
Kim
character and description 183–4, 185
dates Min-young 184–5
learns of Min-young’s true nationality 189–90
helps Min-young to go to Seoul 192
receives phone call from Min-young in Seoul 208–9
meets up with Min-young in Seoul 213
family and social background 215–16
learns of escape of Min-young’s family 248
deeply impressed by Dick Stolp’s kindness 272
sends money to enable Min-young to leave Laos 272
breaks up with Min-young 278
Kim family 6, 150
Kim Il-sung (Great Leader)
and songbun system 6
portraits and statues of 8, 16, 17, 18–19, 31, 72, 86–7
praise and veneration for 19, 21–4, 35–6, 49, 210

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and ‘life purification time’ 33–4
birthday celebrations 36
as guerrilla fighter 63
death of 71–3
criticisms of 107–9, 173
centenary celebrations 220
Kim Ji-hae see Park Min-young
Kim Jong-il (Dear Leader) 17, 18
and ‘life purification time’ 33–4
birthday celebrations 35–6
and fortune-tellers 41–2
praise and veneration for 49, 210
reaction to famine and destitution 83
unwilling to give up nuclear weapons programme 108
orders crackdown on Hyesan traders 147
encourages directness of speech 213
congratulated by Laos on his birthday 251
death of 289
Kim Jong-suk (mother of Kim Jong-il) 17, 21, 49
Kim Jong-un (son of Kim Jong-il) 289
Kim, Reverend 222–3, 244, 262
Kim Weon-joong (South Korean singer) 54–5
Korea Central Television 58
Korean People’s Army 50
Korean State Railway 3–4, 37–8, 41, 83–4, 85
Korean War 6, 7, 16, 107–8, 161, 173
Koreatown see Longbai; Xita (West Pagoda)
Kunming 223, 244, 256, 263
Laos 246–7, 250–1, 252–3
LG 214
Li River 244
Liaoning Province 106
Longbai (Koreatown, Shanghai) 156–8, 184
Luang Namtha (Laos) 250, 252–3, 258
Luang Namtha Prison (Laos) 256–8, 261–2, 265
Lujiazui 157
Min-ho 9, 18
birth and registration 29
meets his paternal grandparents 29–30
train journey to Hyesan 37–8
taken out for the day by his mother 44
as half-brother to Min-young 45
character and description 46, 63–4, 222
given a Game Boy video game by his father 60
reaction to death of his father 68
finds a thief in the house 86

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illegally crosses the river into China 89–90
unhappy at Min-young crossing the river 95
meets Min-young at Mr Ahn’s house 147–9
takes cash from Min-young’s bag 151
speaks to Min-young by cellphone 166–7, 193
placed under surveillance 169
imprisoned and released for receiving items from Min-young 179–81
leaves Hyesan to live with Aunt Pretty 181
meets and falls in love with Yoon-ji 209, 221–2
as successful smuggler and businessman 221–2
agrees to help mother escape from Hyesan 222
eventful but safe escape to Changbai 228–31
lives with Yoon-ji’s parents before their wedding 231
makes agonizing decision not to return to Hyesan 232–5
realizes he will not see Yoon-ji again 232–3, 234–5, 285
acquires Chinese ID 237–8
eventful road journey to Kunming 241–4
taken to Laos by broker 244–8
captured and imprisoned in Laos 248, 250, 252–3, 255–8, 263–5, 272–6
arrival in South Korea 276
taken to Hanawon 277–8
first experience of freedom in Seoul 279
struggles to adjust to new life 281, 283, 284–5
wants to bring Yoon-ji to South Korea 284
dislikes Brian 288
attends university and speaks English 293
makes friends with Brian 293
Min-young see Park Min-young
Ministry of State Security (North Korea) see Bowibu
Miss Ma 124–7
Morangak restaurant (Shanghai) 161
mother
visits her brother in Pyongyang 3–4
description and character 4, 14, 19, 20
love and courtship 4–5, 7
family background 6–7
birth and childhood 8–9
birth of Min-young (Kim Ji-hae) 8
marriage and divorce to an official 8–9, 45
marriage to her first love 9–10, 13–14, 45
superstitious nature of 12, 58
importance of family to 13
siblings 13–14
regrets leaving Hyesan 16
cleaning of portraits 17–18
accused of wearing trousers in public 19
good at bribery 19, 169, 181–2, 217
avoids being sociable 20

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loyalty of 23–4
picnic amongst pine trees 25
haunted by hanging of woman 28–9
pregnant with Min-ho 28
redecorates family houses 31–2, 39, 57, 58
memorable train journey to Hyesan 37–8
as entrepreneur 41
takes Min-Young to a fortune-teller 41–3
visits fortune-tellers 41–3, 168
called ugly by schoolboys 48–9
worries about her husband 62, 64
reaction to husband’s arrest, release and subsequent death 65–70
witnesses famine and destitution 79–80, 84–5
tries to prevent Min-young crossing to China 91
warns Min-young not to return from Shenyang 110, 111–12
reports Min-young missing 111–12, 169–70
placed under surveillance 169, 217
enquires about selling crystal methamphetamine 170–1
imprisoned and released for receiving items from Min-young 180–1
escape and return to Hyesan 181–2, 217
unhappy that Min-young wants to go to South Korea 185–6, 191
in hospital having scalded herself 193
learns of safe arrival in Seoul of Min-young 209
refuses to leave Hyesan 218
decides to leave Hyesan 220–1
eventful but safe escape to Changbai 228–31
eventful road journey to Kunming 241–4
taken to Laos by broker 244–8
captured and imprisoned in Laos 248, 250, 252–3, 255–8, 263–5, 272–6
arrival in South Korea 276
taken to Hanawon 277–8
first impressions of freedom in Seoul 279–80
struggles to adjust to new life 281–4
dislikes Brian 288
travels to America and orders coffee in English 293
unhappy at leaving her family in North Korea 293
Mount Paektu 11, 21, 63, 108
Mount Tonghung 31
National Intelligence Service (Seoul) 199, 201, 276
National Police Agency (Seoul) 212
North Korea
best years of 5
caste system see songbun
colonial period 11
intrusion of the State into the home 17–19
bribery in 19–20, 24, 40
informers and vigilantes 19, 23, 34, 38, 55, 59, 72–3, 181, 182

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education 21–4, 32–4, 36, 49–53
ideological indoctrination 21–4, 32–3, 51–2, 62–3, 220
trials and executions 27–9, 73–4, 147, 220
pollution 31, 37
communist central planning system 32
‘life purification time’ (self-criticism) 33–4, 73
communist youth movement 34–6
poverty 36
quotas for donations 36–7
officials 37–8
kindness to strangers in 38
markets 40–1
fortune-tellers and spiritual beliefs 41–2
selling rice in 41
accordion playing in 43
importance of family 47
propaganda 50, 77, 82–3
mass games 51–2
effect of outside world on 55–6
property ownership 57
as closed country 58–9
prison camps 66–7
mobilization of 77–8
famine in 79–87, 217–18, 220, 289
travel and travel permits 83–5, 86–7
career prospects 88–9
tyranny in 150, 181–2
defections from 171–2, 173–4, 288–9
official name for 198
directness of speech in 213
importance of loyalty and social status 213–14
lack of awareness of human rights in 288–9
reunification with South Korea 290–1