On the Nomination of Former Congresswoman Michelle Steel Park as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea
Ma Young-ae (President, International North Korea Human Rights Alliance; CEO, Mars Korean Sausage Co., Ltd.)
On the 7th, after successfully concluding the first anniversary commemoration of the Closter North Korean Defector Memorial—far more successful than anticipated—another piece of joyful news reached me and our colleagues.
It was news that compelled us to exclaim, “Thank God.” The news was that Chairwoman Park Eun-joo would be appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. I first met Park Eun-joo (Congresswoman Michelle Steel Park’s Korean name) in 2007 when she was Chairwoman of the California State Board of Equalization, and we built a friendship. I received tremendous support from her, so I still use her Korean name rather than “Congresswoman Steel,” as it feels more familiar and affectionate.
She is a female politician who understands the circumstances of North Korean defectors better than anyone else, and she is a politician who cares deeply about the peaceful reunification of Korea and the human rights of North Korean residents. Moreover, her parents are displaced persons from North Korea.
The highlight of my relationship with Chairwoman Park was when she enabled me to deliver a 20-minute speech about the reality of North Korean defectors and North Korean residents at the Republican National Convention. That miraculous convention speech made me a North Korean defector human rights activist, gave me confidence, and led to my success in business as well.
How grateful I am for that. That event took place at the California Republican Convention held in San Francisco on February 10, 2007. It was a convention of California Republican elected officials led by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who was one of the leading Republican presidential candidates at the time. Shawn Steel, Chairwoman Park Eun-joo’s husband, personally drove to pick me up and took me to the convention venue, making it all possible.
At that time, I was being shunned by the Korean government and was in an unstable status, having applied for refugee status, but I was actively leading the North Korean Defector Mission. Congresswoman Park invited me despite my circumstances. Congresswoman Young Kim was also at the convention that day. At that time, she was not yet a federal congresswoman but was serving as an aide to another congressman. Chairwoman Park (Ambassador Steel) held my trembling, nervous hand and said, “Young-ae, just speak calmly as you usually do with me.” That day, I exposed the reality of North Korea that forced people to defect, and I vehemently condemned the repatriation of North Korean defectors from China.
My speech was interpreted by Chairwoman Steel’s aide, Peter Kim (I remember his name because I am so grateful), and he did an excellent job. When I spoke, the Korean audience did not laugh, but after his interpretation, the American audience either laughed or showed indignation. I particularly remember Mayor Giuliani’s very strong reaction. I still remember the warm embrace of Chairwoman Park and Congresswoman Young Kim when I came down from the podium, congratulating me on a job well done. After that day, I resolved to advocate for the human rights of North Korean defectors and devoted myself even more to my theological studies, determined to earn my degree.
