“The tears of North Korean defectors are the pain of our nation… Now is the time to remember and honor them.”
The first overseas memorial for North Korean defectors, honoring approximately 10,000 victims who fled North Korean oppression in search of freedom but ultimately could not achieve their dreams, has been erected in a prominent location in Closter, New Jersey, USA.
At 11 AM on the 17th, a dedication ceremony for the memorial was held in the small park located at the intersection of Herrington Avenue and Knickerbocker Road in Closter (Herrington Ave & Kinikerboker Rd. Closter, NJ 07624), hosted by the International North Korea Human Rights Alliance (President Dr. Ma Young-ae).
The dedication ceremony was emceed by Lee Young-cheol, a representative (North Korean defector from Korea). Following the opening declaration, a national salute was observed, and the US national anthem and the Korean national anthem were sung in powerful and beautiful voices by tenor Kim Young-hwan (evangelist). A moment of silence was held for fallen patriots and victims who perished while defecting, followed by a welcoming address from Dr. Ma Young-ae, President of the International North Korea Human Rights Alliance. This was followed by a congratulatory speech from New Jersey State Assemblyman Robert Auth and words of encouragement from Lee Dong-kyu, Consul General of New York. After the memorial’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, the covering was removed. Attendees then laid chrysanthemums, took commemorative photos, and shared a luncheon featuring Ma Young-ae’s Pyeongyang Sundae. The event was attended by members of the New York-New Jersey Association for National Salvation, local Korean associations, local officials, politicians, veterans’ associations, the General Association of North Korean Defectors from Canada (President Kim Cheol-soo), as well as North Korean defectors from Virginia and Korea, and defectors and compatriots residing in New York and New Jersey.
The following is a video message from President Ma Young-ae.
This project marks the first overseas memorial dedicated to North Korean defectors in the history of the defector human rights movement, and its symbolic and historical significance has already garnered considerable attention from academia, human rights organizations, and political circles.
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“Remembering 10,000 who left no name on their journey to freedom”
According to various international human rights organizations and major media reports, approximately 10,000 cases exist of defectors losing their lives while passing through third countries such as China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, or being executed after forced repatriation. However, most of these individuals were forgotten by history, leaving no name behind.
The memorial is dedicated precisely to them. Dr. Ma Young-ae stated, “They were not mere numbers or statistics; they were our kin, someone’s family. This monument serves to honor the lives of those nameless individuals and to be a landmark for remembering those who will embark on the journey to freedom in the future.”
Dr. Ma Young-ae, a Leading Figure, Erects First Overseas Memorial for North Korean Defectors
The driving force behind this meaningful project is Dr. Ma Young-ae, an active North Korean defector human rights activist, pastor, and businesswoman.
Dr. Ma, who escaped North Korea in 2001 and acquired South Korean citizenship, moved to the United States in 2004. After earning a doctorate in theology and being ordained as a pastor, she has dedicated herself to human rights work for North Korean defectors. To date, she has led over 1,800 praise and testimony gatherings across the United States.
As an entrepreneur, she is also on a successful path. She founded ‘Ma’s Korean Sausage’ and launched the ‘Pyeongyang Sundae’ brand, securing over 30 distribution channels across the Americas, thereby gaining recognition as a model for the self-reliance of North Korean defectors.
Having established the ‘North Korean Defector Mission in America’ in 2007 and the ‘International North Korean Defector Human Rights Solidarity’ in 2015, she officially formalized the credibility of the ‘International North Korea Human Rights Alliance (INKHRA)’ in August 2024 by receiving 501(c)(3) non-profit status approval from the U.S. federal government.
Cooperation Started in Seoul, Extended to New York
In September 2024, during her visit to Seoul to attend an event for the National Unification Advisory Council, Dr. Ma officially proposed this memorial project during a meeting with then-Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho. All expenses were borne by President Ma Young-ae, and funds were also contributed by various individuals.
Subsequently, the South Korean Ministry of Unification responded positively to this proposal, recognizing its high symbolic and historical significance as a monument project spearheaded by the first international human rights activist who is a North Korean defector.
The memorial was manufactured in South Korea and imported through the Port of New York in June 2025, and after completing local U.S. customs procedures, it was safely enshrined in Bergen County.
“President Trump’s Encouragement Reveals U.S. Interest in North Korean Defector Human Rights”
Dr. Ma Young-ae’s connection with former U.S. President Donald Trump is also widely known.
She met with former President Trump on several occasions, notably being invited to his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2021 for a two-hour private meeting where they engaged in deep discussions about North Korean defector human rights.
This memorial project was also pursued with President Trump’s encouragement and support, which Dr. Ma described as “the fruit of his exhortation, the tears of North Korean defectors, and my faith.”
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Unwavering Resolve Amidst Severe Obstruction and Slander
This project was not without its challenges. Dr. Ma stated, “Although we faced several crises of frustration due to certain far-left groups and complaints, we were ultimately able to achieve this through the trust and solidarity of those who shared our vision.”
She particularly expressed gratitude for the full support of the New York-New Jersey Association for National Salvation, local Korean associations, local officials, and politicians.
Furthermore, at the event held on the eve of the dedication ceremony (16th, Lodi Allen Banquet Hall), special thanks were extended to Son Myung-hwa, representative of the Association of Families of Korean War POWs, for her active cooperation and solidarity.
Beyond a Space of Remembrance, a Landmark for Freedom and Human Rights
Dr. Ma Young-ae stated that this memorial is “not merely a monument, but a global human rights alarm for those who are still risking their lives in search of freedom,” adding, “We will continue to expand international solidarity for the restoration of human rights for the 25 million compatriots within North Korea.”
This project, which reminds us that the human rights of North Korean defectors are not merely an issue for a specific group but a matter of conscience and memory for our entire nation, will long be remembered as both a question and a message to the world on how to respond to the North Korean human rights issue.
The memorial’s location is as follows. Herrington Ave & Kinikerboker Rd. Closter, NJ 07624
There is an Exxon gas station across the street.
Joint coverage by Lee Tae-bong, Ahn Dong-il, and Ahn Ji-young, reporters for Hi-US Korea.
