Five North Korean defectors and professor Kim Seok-hyang talk about life in North Korea at the Peace Chapel held in a form of talk show in the Welch-Ryang Auditorium from Nov. 5 to 9. Photo by Kahng Sun-woo.

The Peace Chapel, organized by the Office of Public Relations, was held from Nov. 5 to 9 under the theme of “The World We Build Together.” As a part of the Conversation Chapel, it was held in the form of a short talk show. A total of five North Korean defectors were invited on stage throughout the one-week chapel event to talk about their lives in South Korea. The chapel was first proposed and planned by professor Kim Seok-hyang, who teaches North Korean Studies, part of the Interdisciplinary Programs. For each session, professor Kim, a North Korean defector and two South Korean students led the talk show. A total of 14 South Korean students and three North Korean defectors were invited as interviewees at the Peace Chapel throughout the week. “There are a growing number of North Korean defectors in South Korea and at Ewha as well, including both undergraduate and graduate students,” said an official at the Office of Public Relations, who wishes to remain anonymous. “The school wanted to respond to this trend.” The chapel event was also an opportunity for students to view North Korean student defectors with an unbiased perspective. “I think this was a chance to hear their stories,” Kim Na-yeon (Consumer Studies, 3) said. “North Korea may seem like a country far away, but it is not. North Korean students are students just like us. I hope other students feel the same way and can be open-minded towards North Korean students.” The Conversation Chapel is held for a week annually during the fall semester under various themes. This year is the first time for the Office of Public Relations to try this new theme of inviting North Korean defectors to participate in the Conversation Chapel.

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