It was an honor to screen Beyond Utopia at The Fletcher School at Tufts University in April!
The event was moderated by Professor Aram Hur, who shared her knowledge of nationalism and democracy, focusing on matters of identity, integration, and democratic support in East Asia.
We held a meaningful discussion about the human rights situation in North Korea with international relations scholar Dr. Sue Mi Terry, Pastor Seungeun Kim, and many academic professionals and students. With twenty-four years of experience rescuing North Korean defectors, Pastor Kim was able to share expert knowledge with those in attendance.
Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, raised meaningful questions during our conversation. Like Pastor Kim, she is dedicated to saving lives, and her work has contributed to reducing suicide rates globally. We discussed the high suicide rates among North Korean defectors who have resettled in South Korea, and how Caleb Mission works to heal the trauma of defectors through the gospel and professional help.
Let us join together in prayer for this mission.
The topic that resonated most deeply with our audience, however, was neither the political nor academic discussions. It was the story of Soyeon Lee, who shared the heart-wrenching tale of herself and her son, as depicted in Beyond Utopia. Many audience members empathized with her story and were moved to tears.
Viewers of Beyond Utopia have often wondered about Soyeon’s son. He is still alive, but currently imprisoned in one of North Korea’s concentration camps. These camps are often described as some of the darkest places in the world.
Soyeon’s hope is to have a meal with her son one day, just as normal people do in their daily lives. Please keep her and her son in your prayers. Pray that North Korea opens up, and that many separated families like Soyeon’s may one day reunite.
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