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Jeon Hye-sung (commonly known as Lim Ji-Hyun) is a North Korean Defector known primarily for her disappearance from her home in Seoul and subsequent reappearance on North Korean Television in 2017. Before this, she was known for publicly detailing her life in North Korea.[1]
Lim Ji-Hyun | |
|---|---|
| 임지현 | |
 | |
| Born | Chun Hye-Sung |
| Disappeared | 2017 Seoul, South Korea |
| Known for | Life in North Korea |
Career in South Korea
editIn April 2014, Lim escaped from North Korea into China by paying brokers all of her savings. She worked as a bartender in Seoul before becoming famous on social media for telling her stories on life in North Korea.
She became a frequent guest on South Korean Television.[2]
Scandal
editLim would get into a scandal where she was accused of being a sex worker while in China. Multiple photos were released supposedly showing Lim engaging in sexual acts. These photos were later revealed to not be of Lim.[3]
Disappearance and Reappearance in North Korea
editLim disappeared from South Korea in 2017. According to the police, her home was left virtually untouched.
In June 2017, Lim reappeared in an interview on North Korean TV. During the interview, she claimed that life in South Korea is “hell on earth,” and said that she regretted her decision to defect, and later begged Kim Jong Un for forgiveness. She claimed to be living with her parents in the North Korean city of Anju.
While she claimed that she returned to North Korea on her own volition, many speculate that she was kidnapped by North Korean agents.
Her last known appearance on North Korean TV was in 2017.[4]
References
edit- ^ "North Korean TV star defector Lim Ji-hyun feared abducted". 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
- ^ "Why did this North Korean defector in haunting video return to North?". NBC News. 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
- ^ Abigail Haworth (2021-02-17). "The Mystery of the Missing North Korean Social Media Star". Marie Claire Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
- ^ Hurst, Daniel (2017-07-19). "South Korea investigating 'abduction' of North Korean defector and TV star". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-16.