North Korean Young Leaders Assembly 2026
Empower North Korea's Future Leaders
Support Their Journey from Survivors to Global Changemakers
Campaign Progress
Help us reach our goal to support 10 young leaders
New Updates:
July 2026 — the 4th North Korean Youth Leaders Assembly comes to America. Young escapees who chose freedom over fear will gather to draw the future of the homeland they were forced to leave. Your gift today becomes the starting point of change in North Korea. Please stand with these future leaders. We still need $25,000. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
— Hyunseung Lee, NKYLA Founder
From Survival to Leadership
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.
From Escapee to Founder: Meet Hyunseung Lee
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.
What Your Donation Supports
Education & Leadership Training
First-hand exposure to U.S. foreign policy, international law, and unification strategies.
Global Advocacy
Public testimonies at the UN, media interviews, and engagement with policymakers.
Healing Through Community
Cultural exchange and reclaiming North Korean identities.
Voices of Courage
"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"
-2023 Participant
Escaped after witnessing brutal purges
"I was born into the 'hostile class'-treated as less than human. Today, I'm thriving in university and speaking truth to power."
-2024 Participant
Graduate student & Public speaker
"I hid in China for years, always at risk of repatriation. Now I help others find their voice."
-2025 Participant
Author & Human rights advocate
Your Donation, Their Future
Every contribution directly empowers these young leaders
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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.