Description:
The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) cordially invites you to the launch of our new report:
GULAG, INC.
The Use of Forced Labor in North Korea's Export Industries
by Kim Kwang-jin
Thursday, May 26, 2016
9:30a.m. – 11:00a.m.
The National Press Club
Holeman Lounge
529 14th Street, NW, 13th Floor
Washington, DC 20045
Presenter:
Kim Kwang-jin
Author, Gulag, Inc.: The Use of Forced Labor in North Korea's Export Industries
Discussants:
David Asher
Adjunct Senior Fellow, Center for New American Security
Roberta Cohen
Co-chair Emeritus, HRNK
Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
William Newcomb
Visiting Scholar, U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Moderator:
Greg Scarlatoiu
Executive Director, HRNK
About the Author
As non-resident fellow at the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Mr. Kim Kwang-jin is an invaluable experienced resource shedding light into the darkest corners of the North Korean regime‘s secret and illegal international financial operations. His revelations have saved re-insurance companies tens of millions of dollars and brought an end to an important method the corrupt regime purloined from foreign sources the funds it needed to maintain its internal oppression.
In September 2003, Kim Kwang-jin and his family rushed to an airport in Southeast Asia to fly to freedom in Seoul, South Korea. Months earlier, Mr. Kim lived a privileged life working for the government’s overseas banking operations in Singapore. Then, Mr. Kim fell out of favor after he was suspected of leaking information about the regime to foreign nationals. Before being summoned back to North Korea to face severe punishment, Kim made the decision to defect with his family. During his banking career, Mr. Kim helped earn millions of dollars for what he calls North Korea's "Royal Court Economy," i.e., the enterprises and often illegal schemes that financially supported the country’s totalitarian regime.
Since arriving in South Korea, Mr. Kim has served as an analyst at the ROK Institute for National Security Strategy. A household name on TV and radio programs addressing North Korea, he has worked as a consultant for the ROK Unification Ministry as well as media organizations including KBS, MBC, and RFA. He is a standing member of the ROK National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC). His educational background includes completion of Ph.D. course work and an MBA in Finance and Insurance from Kookmin University (Seoul, 2014, 2012), a Master’s in Economics/IT of North Korea at the University of North Korean Studies (Seoul, 2008), and a BA in British Literature from Kim Il Sung University (Pyongyang, 1989). Working for the North Korean regime, Mr. Kim served as Singapore Representative of North East Asia Bank (2002-2003); an agent of the Korean Foreign Insurance Company and North East Asia Bank, Pyongyang, (1998-2002), and Professor of the Pyongyang Computer College (1991-1997). He has published numerous papers and articles on the North Korean economy and the current power transition in North Korea, including: “Gulag, Inc.—The Use of Forced Labor in North Korea’s Export Industries” (upcoming HRNK publication); - “After Kim Jong-il: Can We Hope for Better Human Rights Protection?" (HRNK, 2009, 2011); "Financial Institutions in North Korea and Their Role"(2016); "North Korea's Provocations after Presidential Elections in South Korea"(2012); "On KWP's Role and Its Prospect in Power Transition to Kim Jong-eun" (2011); "The Defector's Tale, Inside North Korea's Secret Economy", World Affairs Journal (2011); “Kim Jong Il’s Royal Court Economy and Destruction of the People’s Economy” (2008); “The Change of North Korea’s Foreign Exchange Control System and its Increasing Dependence on Foreign Currency” (2008); “The Dollarization of North Korea Economy and Kim Jong Il’s Royal Court Economy” (2007); “The Korea Foreign Trade Bank and North Korea’s Foreign Exchange Control System” (2007); and “The US Financial Sanctions Regime on North Korea and Its Prospect” (2006)
RSVP
Space is limited. Please RSVP to Rosa Park, HRNK Director of Programs, at [email protected] by Monday, May 23, 2016.
Reports
Complimentary copies of the report will be available by the registration table.
Press
The event will be on the record. Please indicate in your RSVP if you are press and if you plan to bring equipment. A mult box will be available for use.
Refreshments
Beverages and pastries will be available prior to the event.
Metro
The closest red line metro station is Metro Center. The closest orange/blue/silver line metro station is Federal Triangle. Please refer to the map below.
Map
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