The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) is a non-governmental organization, established on May 10, 2003, devoted to the improvement and realization of human rights in North Korea as well as transitional justice for past human rights violations.

Ten years ago, as I concluded my initial term as Chairperson of NKDB and returned to my day job working as an orthopaedic  surgeon at the hospital, I carried with me the hope that a decade later the human rights situation in North Korea would be much improved, and that the environment for our work would also become more favorable. Sadly, the reality has moved in the opposite direction, and today we find ourselves facing perhaps the most difficult period yet for North Korean human rights activities.

Even so, what matters most remains the same: people. What has sustained NKDB over the past twenty years, and what has upheld the frontline of North Korean human rights, has been the courage and solidarity of individuals who believed in this cause and acted upon it.

Through that courage and solidarity, truths that might otherwise have been forgotten have been preserved as records; victims have found pathways to recovery and the strength to stand again; and international attention and pressure have been mobilized to bring change. Government and international efforts alone have clear limits—real progress in North Korean human rights can only be achieved through this steady participation and solidarity.

As I take on the remainder of my predecessor’s term as Chairperson, I will dedicate all my efforts to ensuring that NKDB continues forward steadfastly, even in these challenging times. Along the way, I also intend to take on the challenge of building a stronger base of civilian support, something that has often been approached with hesitation in the North Korean human rights movement.

Just as human rights NGOs around the world have sustained their independence and continuity through the support of ordinary people, NKDB too seeks to establish a firmer foundation rooted in individual participation and solidarity. I will also work to cultivate capable leadership that is prepared to guide the next generation toward even greater progress and impact.

The improvement of North Korean human rights is not a distant task for the future—it is a responsibility our generation must fulfill today. With the participation and support of the broader public, NKDB will continue to drive meaningful change. I believe that our small steps will collectively bring us closer to the day when the people of North Korea live not in oppression and fear, but in freedom, dignity, and peace.

Thank you.