Lecture seeks to educate on North Korean issues

By: Zack Tyman, Staff Writer

Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: University

By Zack Tymanstaff writerJunior Jeasun Huh lives in a world very different from that of her native Korea."When I tell people that I'm from Korea, they ask me if I'm from North or South," she said. "As if they were unaware of the atrocities in North Korea."Huh founded Vision for North Korea last semester at UNC.Today the group is hosting its first event, a lecture by George Mason University professor Kim Hyun-sik, hoping to educate people about North Korea. Kim served as a tutor to former North Korean President Kim Il Sung."Students' knowledge of North Korea is minimal," Huh said. "The more knowledge that is dispersed, the more we can do."Kim will give half his speech at 6 p.m. today in the Student Union Great Hall and will deliver the second half Tuesday at Duke University.Huh said the lecture seeks to clear up misconceptions students might have about North Korea."When you think of North Korea, you think of Kim Jong Il. You think of nuclear weapons and the Axis of Evil," junior Matthew McKirahan said. "I think we've stereotyped it just because of the leader … and I think it's worth discussing."Political science professor James White believes one of the biggest misunderstandings is about leader Kim Jong Il."It's a big mistake to think that he is some kind of kook," White said. "He makes Saddam Hussein look like Mary Poppins."White also said there is a need for information on North Korea and the actions of its government - both in and out of the country."It's one of the most tightly wrapped, brutal governments you could find," White said. "If they could spread information (to North Koreans) about what the outside world is like, maybe they could weaken the government."But with one in five North Koreans in the military or police, White said it's hard to distribute information.Overall, Huh said she thinks improving life for North Korean citizens is a group effort."The biggest pitfall is saying that doing just a little won't change anything," she said. "But working with other organizations at other universities, we can make a difference."