In 2011, the author, originally from South Korea, went undercover in North Korea as a teacher at a university founded by Evangelical Christians. The students were future leaders of the regime, isolated from the outside world. The author tried to teach them critical thinking and encouraged them to express themselves through personal letters. Despite the desire to share the truth, the author couldn't due to the danger it posed. The story reflects on the complexity of living in a world built on lies and the hope that these young men can someday make their homeland beautiful.
Sure, here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker lived undercover in North Korea for six months in 2011.
2. The speaker was born and raised in South Korea.
3. The speaker posed as a teacher and missionary at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, an all-male university in Pyongyang.
4. The university was founded by Evangelical Christians who cooperated with the North Korean regime.
5. The speaker's students were young men expected to be future leaders of North Korea.
6. North Korea is heavily focused on the Great Leader, Kim Il-Sung, and Kim Jong-Il, with all aspects of life revolving around them.
7. The students were restricted in their activities, monitored closely, and not allowed to leave the campus.
8. The speaker attempted to teach critical thinking and essay writing to the students, but it was challenging due to their upbringing in a system of lies.
9. The students were isolated from the outside world, unaware of the Internet and global figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs.
10. The speaker formed a close bond with the students but had to leave abruptly when Kim Jong-Il's death was announced.
11. The speaker received personal letters from students expressing their feelings and struggles.
12. The speaker hoped the students would one day help make North Korea beautiful despite its current oppressive regime.