Geumseong escaped North Korea with his mother's help but now worries she faces execution if repatriated from a Chinese prison.
Geumseong, a North Korean refugee, escaped to South Korea in 2019 after a dangerous journey through China and Thailand, aided by his mother Eunhee.
On the banks of the Yalu River, Eunhee revealed she had arranged to be sold as a bride to a Chinese man in exchange for help getting her son to safety, leading to their separation.
Family Separation and Escape Details
Eunhee settled in northeastern China but missed her son deeply, eventually attempting to leave the country in December 2024 to reunite with him in Seoul.
During their last video call in December 2020, Geumseong showed his mother his new life in South Korea, including his foster home and school, after spending three months in a settlement center.
Eunhee's attempt to flee China resulted in her imprisonment, and Geumseong fears she will be forcibly returned to North Korea, where rights groups report escapees face torture, forced labor, or execution.
UN human rights experts have cited reports of two women executed after repatriation in October 2023, with estimates of up to 1,000 people returned since then.
Geumseong has appealed to the Chinese government for mercy, but Beijing stated it handles such cases humanely under the law, emphasizing that illegal immigrants are not refugees.
Despite his efforts, Geumseong has not been able to visit his mother and continues to fight for her release, highlighting the risks faced by North Korean defectors.
