A North Korean refugee could discover a cure for cancer, rescue puppies from burning buildings and bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. Yet after hearing about these deeds, the first question from most audiences would be: “How did you escape North Korea?” I thought about that during Freedom Speakers International’s 24th “I am from North Korea” English Speech Contest, held Oct. 10 at Ewha Womans University. I organized it with FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo, and my co-emcees were North Korean refugees Han Song-mi and Kim Myeong-hee, both past winners. Seven previous winners returned to the stage, but only two spoke about their escapes. When North Korean refugees choose their own topics, they rarely talk about their escape stories, reunification or the Kim dynasty ruling North Korea. Why would North Korean refugees get tired of talking about their escapes from North Korea? One, by the time they begin speaking publicly, North Korean refugees have already answered the escape question many times, including in stressful situations. In a third country such as Cambodia or Thailand, they e