Dr. Ma Young-ae, a North Korean defector human rights activist, sees her dedication and international solidarity bear fruit.
Efforts are accelerating towards an unveiling ceremony on July 17th at a park in Bergen County.
The person leading this project is Dr. Ma Young-ae (pictured above), president of the U.S.-based *International North Korea Human Rights Alliance* and a North Korean defector human rights activist. She is promoting the construction of this memorial through solidarity with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Unification, with an official unveiling ceremony planned for July 2025.
According to Dr. Ma, among the current 25 million residents in North Korea, approximately 300,000 to 400,000 people are estimated to be living in hiding in China and Southeast Asian countries, concealing their identities. In contrast, approximately 35,000 North Korean defectors (Saeteomin) have entered the Republic of Korea, regained official status, and settled.
According to reports from various human rights organizations and major media outlets, approximately 10,000 cases are recorded of individuals who attempted to defect in search of freedom but died during transit through third countries such as China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, or were executed after forced repatriation to North Korea. This memorial is a symbol to console and remember these North Korean defector victims who could not even leave their names.
After defecting in 2001, Dr. Ma Young-ae acquired South Korean citizenship, moved to the United States in 2004 to study theology, and received a Ph.D. in Religious Missions before being ordained as a pastor. Since then, she has toured across the United States, holding over 1,800 praise and testimony meetings, and has been active as a missionary for North Korean defector human rights. Simultaneously, she has also achieved success as an entrepreneur by establishing Mars Korean Sausage Co., Ltd., launching the brand “Pyeongyang Sundae,” and supplying it to approximately 30 clients in the Americas. This has established it as a robust small but strong enterprise, presenting a model for North Korean defectors’ self-reliance.
In 2007, she established the ‘North Korean Defector Mission in America,’ and in 2015, the ‘International North Korean Defector Human Rights Alliance.’ She has consistently used a portion of her business profits for rescuing North Korean defectors and for scholarship programs for second-generation Koreans.
As a result, on August 14, 2024, she officially received 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the U.S. federal government, successfully elevating the status of the ‘International North Korea Human Rights Alliance.’ Among other accolades, including the International Human Rights Award established by the ‘Challenging Koreans Movement Headquarters,’ she also had the honor of being the first North Korean defector to receive the Peace Prize from the Korean-American Alliance 70th Anniversary Women’s Forum.
Dr. Ma has a deep connection with President Trump, having met him several times and received encouragement. Even in 2021, when President Trump was a former president, she was invited to his Mar-a-Lago estate and had a two-hour conversation. (Refer to the article screenshot below) Dr. Ma recently stated that this memorial project was strongly driven by President Trump’s encouragement and support. “This memorial was created with President Trump’s special request regarding North Korean defector human rights, and with the aspirations and tears of the defectors,” Dr. Ma conveyed, adding, “Furthermore, the fact that this project was realized during President Trump’s tenure makes its significance immeasurable.”
Dr. Ma Young-ae received the Peace Prize from the Korean-American Alliance 70th Anniversary Women’s Forum in 2023. The Women’s Forum expressed special respect for Dr. Ma’s leadership and volunteer activities dedicated to the development of the Korean diaspora in the Americas.
In September 2024, when visiting Seoul to participate in the National Unification Advisory Council meeting, Dr. Ma Young-ae met with then-Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho. From that meeting, Dr. Ma began discussions regarding the project to erect a memorial for North Korean defectors in the Americas, laying the groundwork for positive responses and cooperation from the South Korean government. The South Korean Ministry of Unification attaches great significance and meaning to the fact that this memorial being erected in the U.S. is being led by Dr. Ma Young-ae, the first international North Korean defector.
The photo above shows Dr. Ma Young-ae standing in front of the crane truck that brought the memorial. “It’s a historic scene, safely arriving at New York Harbor about a month after leaving Busan Port, and then making the difficult journey to the memorial construction site,” Dr. Ma expressed with emotion.
A significant amount of funding was invested in this memorial construction project, and all these costs were jointly covered by the International North Korea Human Rights Alliance and her personal funds. The memorial was produced in South Korea, recently underwent customs clearance procedures at New York Harbor, and is currently being stored at a facility within Bergen County. (Pictured above) Dr. Ma is accelerating efforts with the goal of holding an unveiling ceremony on July 17th at a park in Bergen County.
This project has been actively prepared for a year, but it has faced difficulties on several occasions due to obstruction, defamation, and complaints from far-left organizations and some individuals. Nevertheless, Dr. Ma stated, “It was possible thanks to the full support of the core members of the International North Korea Human Rights Alliance, the Association of Patriotic Comrades in New York and New Jersey, local Korean association officials, local government officials, and prominent politicians.”
This memorial is not merely a symbol commemorating the past; it is expected to be a significant milestone for the many North Korean defectors who are currently undertaking life-threatening journeys in search of freedom, and for the restoration of human rights for the 25 million compatriots suffering within North Korea, as well as for raising awareness in the international community.
Dr. Ma specifically expressed deep gratitude to Representative Son Myung-hwa of the Korean War POW Family Association, who actively led the efforts in solidarity with the Ministry of Unification of the Republic of Korea and various non-profit organizations for the construction of this memorial. (Reporter Ahn Ji-young)
