Culinary entrepreneur Lee Soon-sil has opened up about the heartbreaking separation from her daughter during her defection from North Korea.
Lee appeared on KBS 1TV's 'Morning Yard' on the 17th, alongside her husband Hwang Yoo-sung, to share her story.
She explained that she decided to defect due to domestic violence issues with her former husband in North Korea. After defecting, she discovered she was pregnant and went through the process of giving birth alone.
Recalling the painful memories, Lee said, "In North Korea, even a three-year-old child becomes mature. It was so heartbreaking. Babies cry when they're hungry or cold, but even when my child was cold or hungry, she couldn't express it."
She added that an elderly woman who assisted with the birth named the child 'Gilbok,' wishing her a life full of blessings.
However, shortly after crossing the river, they were captured by a human trafficking group hiding in the reeds.
Lee described the horrific scene, saying, "Men emerged from the reeds and took us away. My child was taken out of my backpack, and she held my hand tightly, saying, 'Mom, don't go.' We clung to each other, but they covered our mouths and, right in front of me, they bargained over my child like she was a rabbit or a puppy."
Ultimately, her daughter was sold for 3,000 yuan to an unknown location, and Lee herself was sold for 5,000 yuan. To this day, she has no information about her daughter's whereabouts or well-being.
Lee has previously revealed to other media outlets that the 3,000 yuan transaction was equivalent to approximately 180,000 Korean won.
Reporter Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr