‘A gripping, suspenseful and cathartic memoir that tells a story of pain and perseverance and makes the moral case for asylum.’ David Lammy MP

‘Extraordinary. … Elegantly written, reflective, wise, sad and at times almost unbearably painful.’ Marcel Theroux

‘A steely determination shines through Jihyun’s kindly face.’ Daily Mail

‘Jihyun Park is the first defector to seek political office outside the Korean peninsula.’ The Sun

‘Few people can lay claim to a life as remarkable as that of Jihyun Park.’ Manchester Evening News

‘A compelling and well-written account of life inside (and outside of) North Korea. Moving without being sentimental, comprehensive but never dry.’ Daniel Tudor, author of North Korea Confidential

‘A story of suffering, detention, fear and humiliation.’ The Hon Michael Kirby, former Chair of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry On Human Rights Violations in North Korea

‘Courage and sacrifice befall few. Jihyun is one of those few. This fascinating and shocking book allows us to stand with Jihyun and others like her.’ Lord David Alton, Chairman of the British-DPRK All-Party Parliamentary Group

‘A startling and brutal reminder of the horrific plight of North Koreans in China, particularly those who are forcibly repatriated. Jihyun narrates the heart-breaking account with such tender desperation that is nothing short of the enduring power of a mother's unconditional love for her children.’ Sylvia Kim, Human Rights lawyer

‘Gripping. Strikes a good balance in offering colourful cultural details.’ Alice Fookes and Anna Souter, UN Women UK

‘What Park has done is extraordinarily brave, and rare. She is a survivor who fights to live a life of dignity. This is her story.’ Christine Chung, Senior Advisor to the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea

Jihyun Park was born in Chongjin, North Korea, in 1968. She experienced acute poverty, famine, illness, and intimidation. She first escaped at the age of 29. After her second escape from North Korea, with the help of the UN, she was granted asylum seeker status in 2008 and moved to Bury, Greater Manchester, where she lives with her husband Kwang and three children. She has been outreach and project officer at the European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea and is a human rights activist.

Seh-Lynn Chai is South Korean. She divides her time between London, where she lives with her family, and Seoul, where her parents reside. She has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in French Literature from L’Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) and an MBA from Columbia Business School. After a career in finance at JP Morgan, she is now an active campaigner for peace on the Korean Peninsula and for human rights and has served on the Korean government’s Peaceful Unification Advisory Council.