Park Eun-mi, second from left, celebrates her birthday with Freedom Speakers International (FSI) staffers in 2018. Courtesy of FSI

Before she became a public speaker, author, influencer, political commentator, podcast co-host with me and Ivy League graduate, I received an unforgettable phone call from North Korean refugee Park Yeon-mi in late 2013 or early 2014. It was the first and only time in 13 years of knowing her that I have heard her yell.

Her voice rang out with an emotional mix of joy and disbelief: “THEY FOUND MY SISTER!” As if I had not heard her the first time, she repeated it, just as loudly. After more than six years of separation and uncertainty if Eun-mi was even alive, Yeon-mi had been informed by South Korean government officials that her older sister had safely escaped to South Korea.

I have known Eun-mi for 11 years but knew about her before meeting her. Yeon-mi had even gone on a South Korean TV show talking about her sister asking people for help to find her. When I met Eun-mi, it was like meeting Bigfoot or another mythical legend. I had heard about her but had no idea I would ever meet her.

Eun-mi joined Freedom Speakers International (FSI) in May 2014 before we were even an official organization. At that time, she had no desire to follow in her younger sister's footsteps as a public speaker and later as an author. Instead, her heart was set on becoming a teacher.

At the time, Eun-mi was at the ABC level of English so she needed to improve that first. It would have been easy for Eun-mi to ride on Yeon-mi's coattails, leveraging her sister's fame for her own opportunities. Instead, she focused on her dream of teaching, acquiring new skills, and building a new life in South Korea. In early 2020, both Park sisters graduated from college, Yeon-mi in the USA and Eun-mi in South Korea.

Jan. 16 is the birthday of Eun-mi and FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo, and I met her for dinner to celebrate.

Over the years, Eun-mi's story has been intertwined with FSI's journey. Some moments stand out vividly.

In one of our early tutoring sessions, Eun-mi surprised me by requesting to learn “Airport English.” When I finally figured out what she meant, we role-played scenarios like lost luggage and navigating security. It was a delightful and practical lesson that reflected her enthusiasm and determination to learn. She wasn't just curious. She was going to go to the U.S. again to see Yeon-mi. She had been confused about many things about navigating her way through the airport and understanding directions from airplane staff. It had been only the second flight of her life – her first was to freedom in South Korea. It was a learning lesson for me about the importance of tutors making study sessions relevant to the lives of North Korean refugees studying with us.

Eun-mi has celebrated her birthday with us several times, including bringing a cake to our office in 2018. It was a touching moment because she wanted to share her birthday with us. Her gesture of gratitude and joy reminded us of the deep bonds we've built over the years.

We have had other touching and hilarious moments over the years. For example, she complains that I am too tall and that makes her look short in photos. So she began stepping on my toes while standing on her tippy-toes in the effort to make herself look taller.

Park Eun-mi giving a speech at the 17th FSI “I am from North Korea” English Speech in Seoul in February 2023 / Courtesy of FSI

In 2021, after graduating from college and getting hired as a teacher, she came to us and said she was ready to become a public speaker. In 2023, on her third try, Eun-mi won the Grand Prize at FSI's 17th North Korean Refugee English Speech Contest. This victory was not handed to her because of her connections but was earned through preparation, practice, and perseverance. She sought feedback from me and asked me to be her mentor for the speech contest, she embraced critiques, and honed her craft to deliver an award-winning speech.

Today, Eun-mi is a college graduate and an elementary school teacher. Her success represents the culmination of years of hard work and the fulfillment of her goal. Watching her achieve this milestone has been one of the most rewarding experiences for all of us at FSI. Eun-mi's gratitude often humbles me — she's shared countless times how much FSI has meant to her and her family. As we celebrated her birthday a few weeks ago, she reflected on the lessons she's learned from us over the years. Hearing her speak so warmly about our impact reminded me why we do what we do.

She also reminded me of things I had said to her in mentoring sessions long ago, when we worked together on her YouTube channel recently, and worked on an early draft of her memoir. Some I didn't remember, but they sounded like things I would say. Her ability to internalize and apply those lessons speaks to her dedication and self-awareness.

Eun-mi's story is a reminder that every North Korean refugee's journey is unique and not all are ready from the start to open up about their experiences. Of the about 30 memoirs published by North Korean refugees in English that I am aware of, it took them on average about 11 years to publish books. That's despite people around them encouraging them.

Eun-mi's choice to focus on teaching instead of public advocacy underscores the diversity of paths that North Korean refugees can take once they are given the freedom to choose. After she settled down, she began considering other options, and one of those has been public speaking.

Her journey from a new arrival in South Korea to a confident and accomplished teacher and public speaker exemplifies the transformative power of education and mentorship. Stories like hers are why FSI exists—to empower individuals to achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society.

We first met Eunmi in May 2014 after hearing about her from her sister Yeon-mi. We used to meet very often before Yeon-mi went viral with a speech in late 2014 and moved to the USA. We were finally all together again in June 2024 when Yeon-mi, Eun-mi and their mother all spoke at an FSI event.

Park Eun-mi, seated on the left, Park Yeon-mi, seated on the right, with their mom, seated at the center, at an FSI event moderated by Casey Lartigue in Seoul, June 2024 / Courtesy of FSI

As we celebrated Eun-mi's birthday last week, we also looked ahead to the future. Over dinner, slices of cake and champagne, we talked about the projects we're working on and the goals we hope to achieve together. We parted, all feeling thankful to know one another.

Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@alumni.harvard.edu) is the chairman and co-founder of Freedom Speakers International with Lee Eun-koo, and co-author with Han Song-mi of her memoir "Greenlight to Freedom: A North Korean Daughter's Search for Her Mother and Herself.”