North Korean Political Prison Camp Exhibition
Where Love Does Not Exist
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SAGE +Movement for New Intellectuals in Christ
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Where Love Does Not Exist
The North Korean Political Prison Camp is a huge place of exile
where the political prisoners considered as threat to its regime
are isolated from society. The North Korean regime established 10
camps, and after a process of closure and integration, 6 camps are
still in operation, holding approximately 150,000 prisoners as of
today. Most do not survive and return from their time, and
prisoners are daily subjected to 12 hours of forced labour and
various forms of violence and torture to death. SAGE prepared this
exhibition gather hearts wanting to solve the North Korean human
right issues, no longer through the lenses of political ideologies,
but just as it is. Perhaps the dispute on ideological differences
of the left and right wings whiles political prisoners are facing
the worst abuse of human rights imaginable is a luxury we simply
cannot afford. In this particular exhibition, we focused on
presenting the simple, yet profound truth. As you closely read on,
the truths that are on display will begin to speak to you, asking
you to look at and not forget the place where love does not exist.
We hope that the very dialogue will continue to echo in your
lives.
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The North Korean Political Prison Camps
( , , , ) 3 . , 0 , . 0000 . 1947 , 6 . , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 22
, 25 , 15 4 .18 Gaechon (#14) Political Prison Camp Capacity:
50,000 prisoners Hwasung (#16) Political Prison Camp Capacity:
20,000 prisoners Chongjin (#25) Political Prison Camp Capacity:
5,000 prisoners Hoeryong (#22) Political Prison Camp Capacity:
50,000 prisoners
The North Korean Political Prison Camps generally refer to
political penal-labor colony where the political prisoners are
isolated from society with their three generation together and are
punished through forced labor until their death. In North Korea,
the political enemy is considered as threat to its regime such as
anticommunists, capitalists, Christians, and recently defectors. In
South Korea, those camps are referred to as political prison camps,
but in North Korea, they are known to kwan-li-so or the completely
control district. The North Korean regime established camps in
1947, and after a process of establishment and relocation, closure
and integration, 6 are in operation as of today. The Gaechon(#14),
Yoduk(#15), Hwasung(#16), Pukchang(#18), Hoeryong(#22), and
Chongjin(#25) political prison camps currently keep about 154,000
people in the camps according to the recent report of
government.
:19,000Pukchang(#18) Political Prison Camp Capacity: 19,000
Prisoners
Yoduk (#15) Political Prison Camp Capacity: 50,000 prisoners
. ,
20km Revolutionizing Zone/District Yoduk Political Prison Camp
Completely Control Zone/District Yoduk County 35km
. 15 . ,
(, , ) , . , , . , .
Prison camps are largely divided into two categories - complete
control districts are life imprisonment facilities, and
revolutionizing district are labour camps that allow prisoners to
be released after carrying out their sentence. The North Korean
political prison camps are for life imprisonment. However, the
Yoduk political prison camp (the Camp #15) is divided into sections
called the complete control districts where the sentences are
lifetime and the revolutionizing district from which prisoners
eventually can be released. Since any judicial procedure shall not
be provided the suspicious political enemy and their family, people
imprisoned in the revolutionizing district cannot know of their
sentence. Complete control districts are life imprisonment
facilities that do not educate prisoners on the ideology of Il-
Sung Kim and JongIl Kim, but are only taught minimal knowledge such
as skills required for mining and farming. Once imprisoned, no one
can return to society, and the prisoner is subjected to merciless
forced labour in mines and lumber camps until he or she dies.
Complete Control Districts
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A satellite photo of Yo-Duk (#15) Prison Camp
, , , , , . 5 , 5 30 . , , , .
The North Korean prison camps are unlike South Korean
penitentiaries that are in the form of a building, but in the form
of a closed village, surrounded at their outer perimeters by
barbedwire fences punctuated with guard towers and patrolled by
heavily armed guards. People in the camps get up at 5 a.m. and
carry out their assigned labor from 5:30 a.m. They are extremely
hard labored in mining, timber-cutting, or farming enterprises.
There is no exception for children. Schools in the camp provide
basic math, reading, writing etc., in the purpose of conducting
labor, and students are forcibly labored.
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Structure of the Houses
. 1 5~6 , .
So-called harmonica house, was formed with wall piled earth
bricks.
where the family of prisoners are livingSAGE +
Clothes of the Prisoners
. , . . , '' .
In the prisoners' camp, basic necessities like clothes,
blankets, etc. are not supplied, so inmates make their necessities
by themselves.
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Massacre
12 5,000 .
The political prisoners of the Camp #12 (working in mines)
numbering about 5,000 were all massacred for attacking the village
where the prison guard and their families were living in. From
Complete Control District.
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The only meat source
, 22 . () .
In the Complete Control District, meat is not provided, so rat
meat is the only meat source. In the Camp #22, there are barely no
rats left. And the prisoners, who have no access to medical help,
die out of epidemic hemorrhagic fever (due to rats) every year
during late fall and early winter. From Complete Control
District.
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Human-eating dog
88 5 13 19 (13) 2 .
In May 1988, two middle school girls (13 years old) who were
prisoners in the Camp #13 were eaten by the prison guard dog on
their way home from school. From Complete Control District.
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Cant Cry
. , . .
Prison guards use political prisoners as their practice target
during their training. The prisoners were not allowed to say
anything even if they were bleeding or had broken ribs. They could
only shed tears at the injustice. From Complete Control
District.
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Human or animals?
30 . 100g . .
Political prisoners are allowed out of their cells 30minutes a
week to get some sunlight. The prisoners, men and women alike, have
shaved heads, and look like walking skeletons. They eat 100g of
rice with salt soup (water with a dash of salt), and so during
their time out in the sunlight, they eat all kinds of grass when
the prison guard is not looking. If they get caught, they are
beaten mercilessly, and sometimes die on the spot. From Complete
Control District.
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Who gave them the rights to take lives?
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In the Su-gol Valley, prisoners are secretly executed. In the
fall of 1989, a prison guard, having discovered that a female
prisoner was pregnant with another guards child, knifed open the
womans womb, took out the unborn baby and trampled the baby to
death. From Complete Control District.
89 , 17 () .
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Runaway
13 27 580131 . . .
A 27-year old prisoner at the Camp #13 took a prisonproperty
jeep #580131 and escaped from prison. He abandoned the jeep at the
Tumen River and crossed the border to China. But he was caught
within a week by the Chinese police and was sent back to North
Korea. The furious prison ward accused the prisoner of defying
IlSung Kims authority. He had the prisoners nose pierced with an
iron chain, and his feet nailed with a peg. The prison ward ordered
the rest of the prisoners to stone him to death. From Complete
Control District.
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Complete Control District
4 . , .
The Camp #4 located in Sam-deung-ri, Kangdong-gun. The camp is
surrounded by electric fences and there are traps with spikes made
from large pegs hidden away with trees and grass. From Complete
Control District.
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Humans inferior to the pig
6 3 . , , . .
The 6 groups of political prisoners who were working at the mine
construction ate pig food for 3 months to the point the pigs were
not growing. They took out bits of rice, cabbage, radish leaves,
bone bits from the pig sty and ate them. The remaining liquid
portion of the pig food were eaten together with rice. And after
eating the pig food, the prisoners gave the pigs water.
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From Complete Control District.
Reformation Camp
OO .
The panoroma of a reformation camp, where defectors are
imprisoned after being forcibly repatriated.
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Strip Search
. .
The scene of a strip search before defectors are interrogated.
Any valuables or money that are found during the search are con
scated.
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Pigeon Torture
60cm . .
It is called pigeon torture because the prisoner is hung from
the wall for a long time with his hands tied behind him.
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Various Kinds of Torture
. , , .
An inspector observes inmates undergoing various kinds of
torture: the so-called crane torture, plane torture, and motorcycle
torture (from left to right).
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Studying Regulations
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The prisoners study inmate regulations on their knees.
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Degrees of Malnutrition
170cm 42kg 1,
Level 1: 42Kg weight, 170cm height Level 2: 40Kg weight, 170cm
height Level 3: 38Kg weight, 170cm height
40kg 2, 38kg 3 . 3 .
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Secretly Eating Snakes and Rats
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Prisoners avoiding guards and secretly eating snakes or rats
during forced labour. They can withstand for a month if they eat
like this.
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Solitary Con nement
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The scene of a prisoner in solitary con nement trying to lure a
rat to eat it. This is the only means of sustention.
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Forced Labor
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Prisoners sometimes were pinned to death under logs they
carried.
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Forced Labor
. .
The prisoners are forced to carry excrement, but they are too
exhausted to take more than a couple steps.
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Disposing Corpses
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The bodies of prisoners dying out daily to forced labour and
violence are disposed of without cof ns.
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The Morgue
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The scene of rats eating the corpses placed in the morgue.
Corpses are heaped here daily.
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Clock Torture
. , .
The scene of a repatriated pregnant female defector being
tortured by having to use her hands to illustrate the time called
out by a guard.
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Forced Abortion
. .
The scene of a female defector who conceived in China being
forced to have a miscarriage. Two prisoners are jumping on a
see-saw placed on the womans stomach, under the threat of the
guard.
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A Kernel of Corn
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A security guard beats a hunger-stricken prisoner who tried to
pick a kernel of corn from animal waste.
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What the hell are you eating!
A security guard forces the prisoner to vomit up the kernel of
corn by making him stand on his hands.
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Is it chineses or Korean?
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A Fugitive
3.5 4mSAGE +
Log Length 3.5 4m
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Crying Mom and Smiling Son
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A Human Cow
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Half Time, Illusory Snack
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Handicappeds Log-dragging
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At The Corn Field
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To Make Them Chiller In Winter
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A Dead mans Last Present
Torture by re
14 .
In his age of 14, Shin Dong-Hyuk was tortured by re in secret
prison when he was imprisoned for over 6 months because his mother
and brother had failed in escaping from the camp.
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Scars
2005 14 .
IShin Dong-Hyuk s scars injured from electrical fence when his
escaping from Gaechon prison camp.
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A nger lost to a sewing machine
14 .
Dong-Hyuk Shin, who used to work in a textile factory within the
Gaechon (#14) political prison camp, got his nger cut off by a base
of a sewing machine that was dropped on it as a punishment.
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A nger lost to a sewing machine
14 .
Dong-Hyuk Shin, who used to work in a textile factory within the
Gaechon (#14) political prison camp, got his nger cut off by a base
of a sewing machine that was dropped on it as a punishment.
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Research on Dong-Hyuk Shin's Expression Terminology Recognition
Phase14 24 .A table that illustrates the point of time Dong-Hyuk,
Shin, who was born In the 14th Gaechon political prison camp and
lived in the complete restricted zone for 24 years, began to
understand the following expressions.
Phase of time when expression term were heard or understood are
indicated
: Dong-Hyuk Shin : former prisoner of North Korean Prison
Camps
Category
Emotional ExpressionsP
rison Camp
N. Korea
China
S. Korea
Depressed Sadness and Worries
Sad Unloved Horrible
Despair Worry Apprehensive Afraid Anxious Scared Despair
Rejected Frightened Discouraged Angry Hatred Aggression Curs e
Unjust Resist Dislike Happy Pleased Peaceful
Fear and Anxiety
Rage and Anger
Happiness
Joyful Bliss Good mood Moved Lively Hopeful Tender Kind Pretty
Lovely Warm Affectionate Good Pure Genuine I love you
Affection and Concern
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Hye-Won, Gyu-Won Oh . 1976 9 17, 1978 6 21 . , . , 1983 . .
Hye-Won Oh was born in Kiel, Germany, on September 17, 1976, and
Gyu-Won Oh was born in Kiel, Germany, on June 21, 1978 to South
Korean parents. Gyu-Won played the violin well, while Hye-Won was
talented in painting and writing. Hye-Won entered elementary school
in Kronshagen on September 1, 1983, and she was beloved by German
friends and teachers. In 1985, a North Korean agent approached Mr.
Oh and offered him a government position in North Korea, as well as
free rst class medical treatment for his wife, who was then
suffering from hepatitis. Despite his wifes objections, Mr. Oh
decided to accept the offer, believing that the promise made by the
agent was legitimate. Soon, though, authorities ordered Oh to
return to Germany and recruit more South Korean students to live in
North Korea. His wife and daughters, he was told, could not
accompany him. Enroute to Germany, Oh turned himself over to
authorities in Copenhagen, and was granted political asylum. Mr. Oh
was successful in his escape from North Korea, but was unable to
help his wife and daughtersee. For this reason, Hye-Won and Gyu-Won
were imprisoned with their mother in the Revolution izing District
of the Yoduk Camp at the end of 1987. At the time of imprisonment,
Hye-Won was 11 years old and Gyu-Won was 9 years old. Later, for
unknown reasons, they were moved to the Completely Control
District, where one must serve an unwavering life sentence.
1985 , . 3
1986 6 11 . , , 1987 . 11, 9. 1990 .
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A photograph showing Dr. Gil-Nam Oh's family who are imprisoned
in Yoduk Camp
. , , .
A photograph showing Dr. Gil-Nam Ohs family who are imprisoned
in Yoduk Camp: Wife Sook-Ja Shin, younger daughter Gyu-Won, older
daughter Hye-Won. One of the 6 photographers sent together with a
cassette tape recording of family members voices through composer
Yi-Sang Yoon on Jan 20, 1991 with the demand that Dr. Oh re-enter
North Korea.
1991 1 20 . .
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Ahn Myung Chul , 1987 4 . 1994 9
22 , 10 . [] He became prison camp guard when he was enlisted
for military service in 1987. He had worked at four different
camps. In 1994, he escaped from his service, no.22 Hoeryung
political prision camp, stopped over china, sought asylum in South
Korea in October. He published his autobiography The Complete
Control District in 2007. :
Period of Work : 1987 1994 Place of Work : No.11 Kyungsung
Political Prison Camp No.13 Jongsung Political Prison Camp No.22
Hoeryung Political Prison Camp No.26 Seungho-Ree Reformation
Camp
1987 1994 : 11 13 22 26
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Kang Chul Hwan9 . 10 . [ ] [ ] .
When he was 9, his grandfather who was of Jochongnyeon
background, was charged with espionage. His entire family,
excluding only his mother, was found guilty by association and was
imprisoned in Yo-Duk political prison camp in the Southern
Ham-Kyung province. He was held under brutal captivity for 10
years. Published his autobiography, The Aquariums of
Pyongyang.:
Period of Imprisonment: 19771987
19771987: 15
Place of Imprisonment: 15th Yo-Duk Political Prison Camp
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Kim Young Sun . . . [ ] .
She grew up in an upper class family in North Korea, and was a
talented person, graduating from Pyongyang College of Arts
Department of Dancing, and teaching the dancer, Seung-Hee, Choi.
Her entire family was imprisoned for the reason that Hye-Rims, Sung
Jung-Il,Kims rst wife, was her friend. Both her parents died of
starvation. Published autobiography, I was HyeRim, Sungs
friend.:
Period of Imprisonment: 19701979 Place of Imprisonment: 15th
Yo-Duk Political Prison Camp
19701979: 15
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Kim Hae Suk 13 . 28 .
When he was 13, it was suspected that his grandfather had
defected to South Korea, and his entire family was imprisoned in
the Buk-Chang political prison camp. During the 28 years under
captivity, his grandmother died of starvation and he lost both his
mother and brother to an accident.:
Period of Imprisonment: 19752002 Place of Imprisonment: 18th
Buk-Chang Political Prison Camp
19752002: 18
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Shin Dong Hyuk . 24 2005 . [ ] .
He was born in a political prison camp, birthed out of the
commended marriage of his parents, who were also prisoners. In
2005, after 24 years of imprisonment, he was the rst to
successfully escape from a complete restricted zone. Publised
autobiography, Enter into the world from the complete restricted
zone of a political prison camp.:
Period of Imprisonment: 19822005 Place of Imprisonment: 14th
Gye-Cheon Political Prison Camp
19822005: 14
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Jung Gwang Ila
3 . He was imprisoned for 3 years on the charge of espionage for
coming into contact with a South Korean personage while based in
China as the branch manager of Chosun Pyong-Yang Commerce
Corporation.:
Period of Imprisonment: 20002002 Place of Imprisonment: 15th
Yo-Duk Political Prison Camp
20002002: 15
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Tuesday, march, 1, 2011
. 1905 , . 100 . . ~ . () () . . . 46 . 57 , 61 .
. 47 . 47 2 .
, . . .
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. 23 66 8 .
. . . . , ,
() ? 62, . 100 , .
" . " " " . , " " " " . , .
. . . 1938 . ' ' . '' . , , . '' " " . ' ' , ' ' . '' . . '' ''
'' ' ' . 3 4 '' ' ' .
" , 78 86 3
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~ ... '' 1930 '' . ' ' . . ( B ) . . , ? . 1949 ' ' ' ' ' ' .
1975 ' '(19749 ) . 1975 , ( )
1930 . . , . , (1911~1969) . 1920~30 ' ' .
. . , . , . ' ' .
- . 2001 .
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Kang Hong Shik193040 . ' ' . (). .
He was both a famous actor and singer in the 1930s and 40s. He
also gained fame by direction North Koreas rst art lm, My Hometown.
It is speculated that he was imprisoned for his carefree nature, as
it was considered to be a hindrance in the process of deifying
Il-Sung, Kim (Testimony of Young-Sun, Kim). He is also the
grandfather of actor Min-Su, Choi.:
Period of Imprisonment: ?1971() Place of Imprisonment: 15th
Yo-Duk Political Prison Camp
?1971(): 15
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Park Seung Jin1966 . . .
The North Korean soccer team was imprisoned in Yo-Duk political
prison camp for partying the night before their match with Portugal
in the 1966 England World Cup He was imprisoned in a reformation
camp, after consideration of the contributions that he had made to
North Koreas soccer, but was later released. It is known that the
other players were imprisoned in complete restricted zones.:
Period of Imprisonment: 19??19?? Place of Imprisonment: 15th
Yo-Duk Political Prison Camp
19??19??: 15
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Shin Bul Chul .
1947 , , . .
A renowned actor and comedian during Japans colonial rule. After
defecting to North Korea in 1974, he received review that he was
politically successful after being awarded different titles and
awards, but was imprisoned in the Yo-Duk political prison camp for
satirizing North Koreas situation by a slip of tongue. He
tragically died of undernourishment.:
Period of Imprisonment: 19721976() Place of Imprisonment: 15th
Yo-Duk Political Prison Camp
19721976(): 15
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Choi Seung Hee1930 . , , . .
She gained international fame in 1930s for founding Koreas own
unique modern dance. After Koreas liberation from Japan, she
defected North, and was given various titles and positions but was
imprisoned in the Buk-Chang political prison camp because dancing
was considered to be decadent in a socialist society. She died
while imprisoned, and was reinstated after her death.:
Period of Imprisonment: ?1967() Place of Imprisonment: 18th
Buk-Chang Political Prison Camp
?1967(): 18
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Shin Sang Ok 1978 1 , 7 . . [], [] 1986 .
After his wife Eun-Hee, Choi, an actress, was kidnapped in Hong
Kong in January, 1978 by a North Korean secret agent, he was also
kidnapped in July of the same year in Hong Kong, while looking for
his wife. After his numerous attempts to defect, he was imprisoned
in Seung-Ho-Ree reformation camp, but was released. He became the
president of North Koreas New Films and Movies Association, and
produced movies like, Salt, and Star sh. He defected with his wife
in 1986.:
Period of Imprisonment: 19??19?? Place of Imprisonment: 26th
Seung-Ho-Ree Reformation Camp
19??19??: 26
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21
21 North Korean Cheerleaders2002 2003 . .
They visited South Korea as the cheering squad for the 2002
Busan Asian Games, and 2003 Dae-Gu Universiad. They were imprisoned
in the Dae-Heung prison after they breached their pledge to not
divulge anything theyve seen or heard during their trips.:
Period of Imprisonment: 2005 Place of Imprisonment: Dae-Heung
Prison
2005:
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SAGE+Movement for New Intellectuals in Christ
