The best thing I've ever done

Recently I saw on facebook that my friend Reed was planning to go yesterday (Saturday) to a North Korea balloon launch. I didn't know much about it but it sounded interesting, so I decided to tag along.

So Saturday morning I went in to Seoul and met up with the group of about 15 people. We got on a bus and headed north to the border city of Paju,to a parking lot just on the other side of the mountain from the DMZ. On the way, one of the group leaders told us that one of the group members had gotten in touch with someone at the LA Times, and they were waiting for us there. The truck of supplies had already gone ahead as well.
So we set off.

Here's the story. A North Korean defector (5 years hence) recently got in touch with a Korean woman who has always wanted to do something for the people in North Korea. For years, he has, through the funding of religious organizations, been sending boxes of socks over the border with weather balloons. They always required him to include messages about God. He was never comfortable with this, but he knew that it was either include the messages or send nothing at all. But recently, after getting in touch with the woman and a small group of other like-minded individuals, they were able to raise the money to be able to afford it themselves.

So they fill fruit boxes full of 100 pairs of socks, each attached with this message:



"Dear This Flyer Finder,
...
The world has not forgotten the current hardships of our fellow brothers and sisters in North Korea. From all countries, we pray for your survival until the day of reunification. We love you."

The LA Times reporter asked him to explain, 'why socks?'
He replied..
you can not imagine how painful it is to live without socks. Your feet are damaged and cold. It is not an uncommon sight to see people with crutches who have lost feet or whole legs to gangrene or frostbite, all because they had no protection of socks. North Korea in fact does not manufacture socks. Even the military is not issued socks. Therefore, it is a simple but desperately needed commodity.
In addition to this, there are literally no food rations from the government. Only top level government officials ever receive any of the food aid that comes from places like the US. So, people are left to fend for themselves entirely if they are to eat. One pair of socks can be sold in exchange for 10 kilos of corn, which is enough to feed one person for a year. Thus, these hundreds of socks can make an immense difference in the lives of those who find them.
Also, he felt it is important to have such a simple message of support with each pair of socks. He said that this can serve many purposes. First, they are told only negative stories about South Korea and most of the international community. This message of kindness is proof that these stories are false. Also, he knows from experience that when a person is starving, the help from another to prevent them from starving will never be forgotten. So this message is a simple outreach that can actually have profound effects.

Back to the actual balloons.

Mr Lee had gathered fruit boxes from the markets and his group had stuffed them with the socks. Each box was turned upside down, UNsealed, and tied with twine. To the side of each box, a timer he designed himself was tied. He removed the timers from floor fans and set them for 3 hours. After 3 hours, the twine is cut by a device in the timer, and the unsealed box flies open, dispersing the contents to the North Korean countryside below.



Then we unfurled the balloons. They are 15-20 foot, oblong plastic balloons. We filled them with gas and tied them on to the boxes, one at a time. When the first one was ready, we all gathered around with a hand on the box and let it go together. We all watched anxiously as it went up. The ground wind was blowing gently from the north, but the head of the nearby army garrison had assurred us the wind up high was blowing toward the north. The oblong balloon bent and twisted a few times, until finally it got up high enough, and floated straight, and began drifting northward.
















Then the reporter wanted us to do three balloons at once for a photo op. This turned out to be a bad idea. Releasing them together made them bump into each other, and 2 of them popped and came back down. Luckily, they landed very near by and we were able to retrieve the boxes. After that, Mr Lee decided that it may be best to stop for the day. He was still unsure about the wind, and we had wasted quite a bit of gas on those two failed balloons. The entire collection of supplies cost $2,000. Not an easy amount for such a small, albeit dedicated group to raise in a month.
So, having only launched two balloons but not wanting to waste anymore resources, we called it a day and headed back to Seoul for lunch.

A few of the group had to leave, but the remaining 10 or so stopped at a samgyapsal place in Itaewon for a late lunch and Q&A session with Mr Lee (the NK defector).
It was fascinating talking to him about his experiences, opinions, and mission. I asked him if he thinks reunification will happen, and how,and what are his hopes for it. He said that he has no doubt it will happen. And when it does happen, it will come from the people, like Libya. He said already about 50% of the people realize the truth of their situation. When he left 5 years ago, about 200 people a month were defecting. Now it is closer to 500 a month. And that is only 1/3 of those who attempt to leave.



At one point in our meal, we ordered some beer. Korean culture has some very strict rules in relation to drinking etiquette. The younger person always serves the older, and the older one always drinks first, two hands must be used, etc. However he poured us all drinks. I tried to take the bottle from him to pour his, but he said he wanted to show us how grateful he was that we had come to help him that day.

I asked him once if it was difficult for him to trust South Koreans and Western people when he came here. He said that at first it did cause him a lot of stress. But more and more, he is seeing the good in people. That day, for example, he said he was very touched that so many people from all over the world had come to show they care about the people in the North. He said that it is his wish that one day soon we will all be able to cross the border and offer these gifts with our own hands, face to face. But until then, he is very thankful that we are willing to help him with his project.


I learned a lot. And more than that, I was really inspired. I plan to continue to be involved in this group in any way I can. They are a very small and new group. They just applied to be recognized as a non-profit by the reunification committee. Until then, they are technically unofficial. But with more volunteers and internet exposure, as well as the LA Times article, hopefully they will be able to continue their work as long as necessary.

If anyone wants to donate to the group, either monetary or socks (sock drive, that's a good service project!), let me know and I'll get you connected to Mr. Lee.

Also, make sure to check out the article in the LA Times!

**Update! Here's another link on the LA Times for the article...looks like this one is on the regular page and not just as a blog. Awesome! And, this one includes a picture of me!


One of the group leaders mused at dinner that we are in a unique position to be able to do this. It is the only place in the world where we have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of the people of North Korea. No where else is it possible to provide them with anything they need. With so much suffering so close, and with such a unique situation, how can we not do whatever we can?

Honestly, I think it's the best thing I've ever done.