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STORY: OHCHR / TÜRK SOUTH KOREA VISIT
TRT: 02:23
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 12 MAY 2026, SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
1. Various shots, High Commissioner (HC) Türk and team meeting with young escapees from the DPRK
2. Various shots, HC Türk exchanging with young escapees
3. UPSOUND (Korean) Kim Geum-sung, North Korean Escapee:
“I am North Korean escapee youth, Kim Geum-seong. I was separated from my mother, and she is currently detained in China. She has been in detention for one year and four months. Through uncle, I had the opportunity to meet you, HC, and it is such an honour. Thank you very much for inviting me.”
4. UPSOUND (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“When did you leave North Korea?”
5. UPSOUND (Korean) Kim Geum-sung, North Korean Escapee:
“In 2019.”
6. UPSOUND (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“With your mother?”
7. UPSOUND (Korean) Kim Geum-sung, North Korean Escapee:
“I left North Korea together with my mother.”
8. UPSOUND (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“And what happen to you in China?”
9. UPSOUND (Korean) Kim Geum-sung, North Korean Escapee:
“After arriving in China, I was able to come to South Korea on the condition that my mother would be sold off.”
10. UPSOUND (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“So, he has given the exact details of his mother to our office?
11. UPSOUND (Korean) Kim Geum-sung, North Korean Escapee:
“Correct.”
12. Wide shot, downtown Seoul
13. Various shots, HC Türk and team meeting with escapees from the DPRK and civil society organizations
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“So, I've just met with civil society organizations, but also with people who experienced first-hand the horrific human rights situation in North Korea. People who have just escaped, those who have family members who have been abducted, those whose family members were POWs. And what they conveyed to me was the utmost urgency to focus on the human dimension, on the human rights situation in North Korea.”
15. Wide shot, downtown Seoul
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today (12 May) began a two-day visit to South Korea where he met with civil society organizations working on human rights issues in South Korea, as well as human rights groups working on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). He also met with escapees from the DPRK.
The escapees from the DPRK who met with the High Commissioner have been interviewed by the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul as part of its monitoring work on the DPRK.
Türk said, “I've just met with civil society organizations, but also with people who experienced first-hand the horrific human rights situation in North Korea. People who have just escaped, those who have family members who have been abducted, those whose family members were POWs. And what they conveyed to me was the utmost urgency to focus on the human dimension, on the human rights situation in North Korea.”
On Wednesday, the High Commissioner will meet senior Government officials in Seoul, as well as business leaders, before holding a press conference.
On Thursday, the High Commissioner will travel to Gwangju to deliver a keynote speech at the World Human Rights Cities Forum.
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