North Korean Young Leaders Assembly 2025
Be Part of the Change
Help escapees expose the reality of North Korea
“I once believed I had no voice. But in Washington D.C., I stood in front of diplomats, senators, and UN leaders—and shared the truth I once risked my life to hide.” — 2024 NKYLA Participant
Each year, brave North Korean defectors escape one of the most oppressive regimes on Earth. But survival is only the beginning. To truly reclaim their future—and shape a better one for others—they need the tools to become leaders, advocates, and changemakers.
That’s where the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly comes in: an annual U.S.-based leadership and diplomacy program that brings together 10 North Korean escapees to meet with lawmakers, diplomats, think tanks, and global human rights experts.
They don't just learn—they speak out. They testify. They become the voice their country tried to silence.
Your donation directly impacts North Korean escapees.
The North Korean Young Leaders Assembly is the only international-level program of its kind led by North Korean escapees and focused on building actionable leadership—not passive storytelling. We train these leaders to share their truths, influence policy, shape global opinion, and one day...rebuild a free and unified Korea.
From escapee to founder:
Meet Hyunseung Lee
“I remember the exact moment I realized I was no longer just an escapee. I was a voice. I had to use it.”
Hyunseung Lee was born in North Korea, escaped its dictatorship, and built a new life as a scholar, strategist, and human rights advocate. Today, he’s the founder of the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly (NKYLA). He created this program to give others what he never had—a global platform, direct access to policy leaders, and the power to change lives beyond survival.
Thank you for your generosity.
All donors who give over $500 will receive a personal thank-you letter from a participant.
Who are these young leaders?
They are not just participants—they are survivors, leaders, and changemakers.
Meet the faces of courage behind NKYLA 2025:
● One escaped North Korea after witnessing brutal purges. That moment shattered their belief in the regime and forced them to flee for truth.
● Another hid in China for years without legal protection, constantly at risk of repatriation and death, before finding freedom.
● One was born into the “hostile class” in North Korea, treated as less than human for their family background—but today, they are thriving in university.
● Another suffered starvation as a child, having to scavenge for food before escaping on foot and eventually earning a scholarship abroad.
● One was captured during a failed escape attempt, interrogated and punished—yet they tried again and succeeded.
● Several realized the lies of the regime—that North Korea wasn’t a “paradise,” and made the daring choice to leave everything behind.
Today, they are:
● University graduates from institutions in Korea and the United States
● Public speakers, activists, and community builders
● Authors, Lawyers, IT specialists, and aspiring diplomats
They’ve lived in North Korea, China, South Korea, and the U.S.—each step shaping them into bridges between isolated North Koreans and the free world. They no longer run from the past—they are using it to rewrite the future.
Together, We Can Light a Way Forward
These youth are not running from North Korea anymore—they’re running toward a future of dignity, justice, and unification. They are no longer victims. They are the future builders of a free Korea.
Will you stand with them? Please give, share, and join the movement.
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What your donation supports:
Education & Leadership Training Participants gain first-hand exposure to U.S. foreign policy, international human rights law, and Korean unification strategies through programs with the U.S. Government, UN, and civil society.
Global Advocacy & Testimony Participants present public testimonies at the United Nations, participate in media interviews (including C-SPAN and VOA), and engage with influential policymakers.
Healing Through Community Beyond policy, NKYLA provides emotional healing through cultural exchange and the rare experience of reclaiming their North Korean identities without fear.