李炫秀Ted英语演讲：My escape from North Korea我的北韩逃亡记
作为从小在朝鲜长大的孩子，Hyeonseo Lee（李炫秀/音译 ）认为她的国家是”世界上最好的”。她一直这样认为。直到90年代的大饥荒，她开始怀疑。14岁时，她逃出朝鲜并开始了在中国隐姓埋名的难民生活。 这是一个关于生存和希望，令人痛心的私人故事。同时也是对那些远在他乡，却仍然时刻生活在恐惧中的朝鲜人一个鲜明有力的提醒。
李炫秀Ted英语演讲：My escape from North Korea我的北韩逃亡记
When I was little, I thought my country was the best on the planet, and I grew up singing a song called “Nothing To Envy.” And I was very proud. In school, we spent a lot of timestudying the history of Kim Il-Sung, but we never learned much about the outside world,except that America, South Korea, Japan are the enemies. Although I often wondered about the outside world, I thought I would spend my entire life in North Korea, until everything suddenly changed.
我小的时候以为 我住在全世界最棒的国家 有首叫做「我们最幸福」 的歌陪伴着我长大 当时 我好骄傲 在学校 我们花很多时间 学习有关金日成的历史 但从来没有人告诉我们 外面的世界长甚么样子 我们只知道 美国 南韩 和日本 都是敌人 即便我对外面的世界充满好奇心 那时的我也没想过 自己这辈子会离开北韩 直到一切忽然急转直下
When I was seven years old, I saw my first public execution, but I thought my life in North Korea was normal. My family was not poor, and myself, I had never experienced hunger.
But one day, in 1995, my mom brought home a letter from a coworker’s sister. It read, “When you read this, all five family members will not exist in this world, because we haven’t eaten for the past two weeks. We are lying on the floor together, and our bodies are so weak we are ready to die.”
我七岁那年 第一次看到公开处刑 但我还是觉得在北韩的生活很正常 我的家境并不穷困 而我也不曾饿过肚子.1995 年的某一天 我妈妈带了一封信回到家 那封信是她同事的姊姊寄的 信上写着 「当你读到这些字的时候 我们一家五口 已经离开这个世界了 因为我们已经足足饿了两个礼拜 我们五个人现在全倒在地上 身体虚弱地 感受死亡的逼近」
I was so shocked. This was the first time I heard that people in my country were suffering.Soon after, when I was walking past a train station, I saw something terrible that I can’t erase from my memory. A lifeless woman was lying on the ground, while an emaciated(瘦弱的，憔悴的) child in her arms just stared helplessly at his mother’s face. But nobody helped them, because they were so focused on taking care of themselves and their families.
我当下真的好震惊 那是我第一次知道 原来我们国家也有如此生灵涂炭的一面 那之后没多久的一天 当我经过经过火车站的时候 我看到一个可怕的景象 我这辈子永远忘不掉 一个女人奄奄一息地倒卧在路边 手里却仍紧抱着嬴弱的孩子 那孩子瞪大了双眼 无助地凝视着妈妈的脸庞 但没有一个人帮助他们 因为大家都忙着 照顾自己和自己的家人
A huge famine（饥荒） hit North Korea in the mid-1990s. Ultimately,(最后) more than a million North Koreans died during the famine, and many only survived by eating grass, bugs and tree bark(树皮). Power outages（供断） also became more and more frequent, so everything around me was completely dark at night except for the sea of lights in China, just across the river from my home. I always wondered why they had lights but we didn’t. This is a satellite picture showing North Korea at night compared to neighbors.
90年代中期 北韩发生大饥荒 超过一百万的北韩人民 因为那场飢荒而死亡 而许多幸存者 靠着吃草 抓虫 嚼树根 才活了下来 没电的情况也越来越严重 所以当夜色降临时 我的世界天昏地暗我唯一能看到的是 中国的灯火照在海波上反射过来的光 中国距离我家仅有一河之隔 我总是在想 为什么他们有光 而我们却没有 这张是北韩夜晚的卫星空照图 可以和邻国们相比
This is the Amrok River, which serves as a part of the border between North Korea and China. As you can see, the river can be very narrow at certain points, allowing North Koreans to secretly cross. But many die. Sometimes, I saw dead bodies floating down the river. I can’t reveal many details [about] how I left North Korea, but I only can say that during the ugly years of the famine I was sent to China to live with distant relatives. But I only thought that I would be separated from my family for a short time. I could have never imagined that it would take 14 years to live together.
这是鸭绿江 (Amrok River) 她就恰巧压在 北韩和中国的边境线上 如你所见 这条河川的河道十分狭窄 北韩人民可以从某些地方偷偷跨境 然而 有很多人因此死了 有时候 我会看到河面上漂着浮尸 我不能透漏太多 我是怎么怎么离开北韩的 我能说的就是 在那可恨的飢荒岁月中 我被送到中国的远房亲戚那去了 但那时我认为 我和我的家人过不久一定能再见面 我从来没想过这一别 就是14 个年头
In China, it was hard living as a young girl without my family. I had no idea what life was going to be like as a North Korean refugee（难民，避难者）, but I soon learned it’s not only extremely difficult, it’s also very dangerous, since North Korean refugees are considered in China as illegal migrants. So I was living in constant fear that my identity could be revealed, and I would be repatriated（遣返） to a horrible fate back in North Korea.
在中国 没有家人的陪伴下 很难不马上长大 我根本不知道 身为北韩难民 人生会变成什么样子但很快地我就明白 这样的生活不仅艰难困苦 更是危机四伏 因为中国将北韩难民 视为非法移民 所以我无时无刻都活在恐惧之中 我担心我的身分会被发现 也担心我会被遣返回北韩 接受可怕的命运
One day, my worst nightmare came true, when I was caught by the Chinese police and brought to the police station for interrogation（审讯）. Someone had accused me of being North Korean, so they tested my Chinese language abilities and asked me tons of questions. I was so scared, I thought my heart was going to explode. If anything seemed unnatural, I could be imprisoned and repatriated. I thought my life was over, but I managed to control all the emotions inside me and answer the questions. After they finished questioning me, one official said to another, “This was a false report. She’s not North Korean.” And they let me go. It was a miracle.
有一天 我的噩梦成真了 中国的警察抓了我 把我带回警察局去侦讯 原来 有人向他们告发我是北韩人 于是 他们考我中文 问我一大堆问题 我好害怕 我的心脏简直要跳出来了 如果哪里表现的不自然 我很可能会面临牢狱之灾 甚至 被遣返 当时 我觉得我人生简直要画上句点了 但我努力控制自己的情绪 回答那些问题 他们问完我之后 其中一个警察向另一个警察说 这是误报 她又不是北韩人 然后他们就这样放我走了 这简直是奇迹
Some North Koreans in China seek asylum（避难所） in foreign embassies, but many can be caught by the Chinese police and repatriated. These girls were so lucky. Even though they were caught, they were eventually released after heavy international pressure. These North Koreans were not so lucky. Every year, countless North Koreans are caught in China and repatriated to North Korea, where they can be tortured, imprisoned or publicly executed.
一些在中国的北韩人民 会向外国驻华使馆 寻求庇护 但还是有很多北韩人被中国警察抓走 然后被遣返 这几个女孩很幸运 那时候 虽然他们被逮捕了 中国后来还是因为面临 国际施加的压力释放了他们 这几个北韩人民就没有那么幸运了 每年 中国政府在中国境内逮捕了无数的北韩人民 并将他们遣返回北韩 一个可能虐待他们 监禁他们 甚至将他们公开处刑的地方
Even though I was really fortunate to get out, many other North Koreans have not been so lucky. It’s tragic that North Koreans have to hide their identities and struggle so hard just to survive. Even after learning a new language and getting a job, their whole world can be turned upside down in an instant. That’s why, after 10 years of hiding my identity, I decided to risk going to South Korea, and I started a new life yet again.
即便我非常幸运地逃离了那里 还是有许多北韩人民不是那么的走运 北韩的人民需要隐姓埋名的生活 这件事真的很可悲 他们光是活下去就要花好大的力气 尽管如此 只要有机会学习新的语言 然后找到工作 这世界马上就会截然不同 这也就是为什么 在我过了 10 年隐姓埋名的生活后 我决定冒险前往南韩 再一次展开我的新生活
Settling down in South Korea was a lot more challenging than I had expected. English was so important in South Korea, so I had to start learning my third language. Also, I realized there was a wide gap between North and South. We are all Korean, but inside, we have become very different due to 67 years of division. I even went through an identity crisis. Am I South Korean or North Korean? Where am I from? Who am I? Suddenly, there was no country I could proudly call my own.
在南韩安顿下来 比我想像中 要难的多 在南韩 英文非常重要 所以我得开始学习第三种语言 此外我了解到南韩和北韩间 有着深不见底的鸿沟 虽然我们都叫做韩国人 但是骨子里的差异真的很大 毕竟我们分裂了 67 年啊 我甚至有过认同危机 我究竟是南韩人 还是北韩人呢 我是从哪里来的 我究竟是谁 一瞬间 让我骄傲的国家 烟消云散了
Even though adjusting to life in South Korea was not easy, I made a plan. I started studying for the university entrance exam.
虽然不是那么容易适应在南韩的生活 但我有了计画 我开始准备起大学的入学考试
Just as I was starting to get used to my new life, I received a shocking phone call. The North Korean authorities intercepted （拦截）some money that I sent to my family, and, as a punishment, my family was going to be forcibly （强迫地）removed to a desolate（荒凉的） location in the countryside. They had to get out quickly, so I started planning how to help them escape.
但正当我逐渐适应新的生活的时候 我接到了一通令人错愕的电话 北韩政府 截获到一些我寄回家的钱 他们惩罚我的家人 即将把我的家人发配到 穷乡僻壤去 他们一定得快点离开 于是我开始帮他们计画要如何出境
North Koreans have to travel incredible distances on the path to freedom. It’s almost impossible to cross the border between North Korea and South Korea, so, ironically(具有讽刺意味地), I took a flight back to China and I headed toward the North Korean border. Since my family couldn’t speak Chinese, I had to guide them, somehow, through more than 2,000 miles in China and then into Southeast Asia. The journey by bus took one week, and we were almost caught several times. One time, our bus was stopped and boarded by a Chinese police officer. He took everyone’s I.D. cards, and he started asking them questions. Since my family couldn’t understand Chinese, I thought my family was going to be arrested. As the Chinese officer approached my family, I impulsively （冲动地，瞬间地）stood up, and I told him that these are deaf and dumb people that I was chaperoning（监护人）. He looked at me suspiciously, but luckily he believed me.
北韩距离自由 不可思议地遥远 南北韩间的国界 基本上是不可能穿越的 所以我又搭飞机回到中国 往中朝边界前进 因为我家人们不会说中文 我得带着他们 我们就这样一路逃了 2000 哩 经过了中国 来到东南亚 我们搭了一星期的巴士 有好几次都差一点就被抓到了 有一天 我们的巴士突然熄火 一名中国警察走了来 他检查每个人的身分证 然后问大家问题 因为我的家人不会说中文 我以为他们就要被逮捕了 于是 当中国警察走近我家人的时候 我立刻站了以来 告诉他 那些人又聋 又哑 我是来陪他们来搭巴士的 他用怀疑的眼神看了我一会儿 他相信我了 真的好险
We made it all the way to the border of Laos, but I had to spend almost all my money to bribe the border guards in Laos. But even after we got past the border, my family was arrested and jailed for illegal border crossing. After I paid the fine and bribe, my family was released in one month, but soon after, my family was arrested and jailed again in the capital of Laos.
然后我们就这样一路到了寮国的边境 但为了贿赂寮国边境的警察 我几乎花光了我所有的钱然而进入寮国之后 我的家人还是被抓进去关了 理由是非法入境 在我缴了罚款 然后再次贿赂后的一个月 他们终于被放出来了 不过没多久 他们又被逮捕 然后被关在寮国的首都
This was one of the lowest points in my life. I did everything to get my family to freedom,and we came so close, but my family was thrown in jail just a short distance from the South Korean embassy. I went back and forth between the immigration office and the police station, desperately trying to get my family out, but I didn’t have enough money to pay a bribe or fine anymore. I lost all hope.
那绝对是我人生的最低潮的几个日子之一 我费尽了所有心思要让我的家人自由 当我们离自由如此接近的时候 他们又被抓进去牢里了 那里距离南韩的使馆只有几步之遥 于是我开始不断地在入境局 和警察局间奔走 拚了命地要把我的家人弄出来 但我没有足够的钱 再去付罚款或是或贿赂了 我的希望彻底地粉碎
At that moment, I heard one man’s voice ask me, “What’s wrong?”
就在那刻 我听到一个男人的声音 他问我 「妳怎么了」
I was so surprised that a total stranger cared enough to ask. In my broken English, and with a dictionary, I explained the situation, and without hesitating, the man went to the ATM and he paid the rest of the money for my family and two other North Koreans to get out of jail.
我好惊讶 一个完全陌生的人 是关心地询问我 我用我的破英文 翻着字典 向他解释这一切 那个男人二话不说地 走到提款机前领了钱 帮我把积欠的罚金和贿赂用的钱全部还付清 让我的家人和另外两个北韩人能够出狱
I thanked him with all my heart, and I asked him, “Why are you helping me?”
我由衷地向他道谢 然后问他 「你为什么要帮助我」
“I’m not helping you,” he said. “I’m helping the North Korean people.”
他说 「我不是要帮你 我帮的是北韩的人民」
I realized that this was a symbolic moment in my life. The kind stranger symbolized new hope for me and the North Korean people when we needed it most, and he showed me the kindness of strangers and the support of the international community are truly the rays of hope (希望之光)we North Korean people need.
我知道这是我的人生中十分具象征性意义的一刻 这个好心的陌生人对我而言 象征了新的希望在北韩人民最需要希望的这一刻 他让我体会到来自陌生人的善良 还有国际社会的支持 这些生命之光 都是我们北韩人民需要的
Eventually, after our long journey, my family and I were reunited in South Korea, but getting to freedom is only half the battle. Many North Koreans are separated from their families, and when they arrive in a new country, they start with little or no money. So we can benefit from the international community for education, English language training, job training, and more.We can also act as a bridge between the people inside North Korea and the outside world,because many of us stay in contact with family members still inside, and we send information and money that is helping to change North Korea from inside.
经过了这些长途跋涉 我和我的家人终于在南韩团聚 在获得自由后 我们还有一段路要走 许多北韩人民的家庭还是被拆散的 当他们到新的国家 他们一盆如洗甚至身无分文 我们可以得到国际社会的援助 无论是教育 英语训练 职业训练 还是其他的 我们也能扮演起 北韩境内人民和外头世界 的桥梁 因为我们中的许多人 和还留在北韩的家人都还保持着连络 我们把资讯和金钱送进去 从内部着手帮忙改变北韩
I’ve been so lucky, received so much help and inspiration in my life, so I want to help give aspiring （渴望的，励志的）North Koreans a chance to prosper（繁盛，成功） with international support. I’m confident that you will see more and more North Koreans succeeding all over the world, including the TED stage.
我真的很幸运 得到了很多帮助 这一路走来 也接受了许多人的鼓励 所以我想要燃起北韩人的热情 让他的在国际的帮助下 有机会能成功 我有信心你们将会看到越来越多的 北韩人能够在世界各地有很好的表现 包括在 TED 这个舞台上
Thank you.
谢谢大家
(Applause)
(掌声)