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As some people have already pointed out, homosexuality is about love and attraction, not the act itself. Having sex with someone of the same sex because that's your only choice doesn't necessarily mean that you're gay. Also, being coerced into sexual acts is rape, and being sexually abused does not change or validate your own sexuality.

As others have said, I don’t think this is increasing homosexuality, this is just coerced sex, rpe basically. And also as others have said, she isn’t being homophobic or transphobic, she’s just angry at the abuse E; I say this as a bi dude

I recently read Yeonmi-ya's book. I must say that I was completely blown away by just how miserable life is in North Korea. The fact that Kim Jong Un has money to spend on developing nuclear weapons, but not to feed his people is utterly atrocious!

Your perspective is so valuable to me because you're so good at explaining things in a way that makes them accessible to me despite our cultural background, like, you've got a gift for phrasing things in a way my western brain can wrap around in terms of empathizing with the struggles in North Korea... this was particularly interesting and gives me a lot to think about. Thankyou so much

Important Note: coerced sexual intimacy = sexual abuse & rape =/= sexuality or sexual identity it is a situational sexuality that they can coerce another into having, like prison rape, and it is not the sexuality that they are born with, and would desire most

This is a clear case of situational homosexuality. Regardless of who you are, humans need affection and love for meaning and purpose. Displaying romantic gestures can be considered individualistic. This is very dangerous in NK. General speaking, men are easier to court than women. I hear this from former prison mates and bisexual men.

This is not a surprise to me at all. Similarly, I have experienced the same fate throughout my travels in the Middle East (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco) which are some of the most conservative Islamic religious countries. This phenomenon is similar to what you might find in an all-male prison setting. Because of the immense apartheid and segregation of sexes in these countries, men tend to pray on any guy or boy that has feminine soft features, lighter skin complexion, absence of hair etc. Unfortunately, I have faced countless sexual assaults and harassments first hand in Egypt, Iraq, Morocco and especially Saudi Arabia. I guess I am what you might call an effeminate or "pretty boy". I am more on the slim, well groomed, lighter complexion and hairless (thank God to laser). I am also lucky to be open and transgender (MTF) here in California. When I travel to the Middle East (often), I of course tend to hide any behavior that might suggest homosexuality and basically revert back to the "closet" for obvious reasons. Due to my polished looks, protrusion of my breasts due to hormones, skin complexion and I guess....my behavior and body language, I tend to become a magnet for attracting unwanted male -attention to the extremes. I am talking about being followed, cat called, refused to get dropped off in taxis, drivers putting their hands on my thighs and making sexual remarks. I was recently sexually assaulted in Mosul (Iraq) in March by the hotel receptionist guy who followed me into my room and refused to leave until he got what he wanted. I've been broken and hurt in every way possible...things I am still working on. Men in the Middle East tend to be very bold and hyper sexual and it's utterly frightening. I am not scared to get killed... that would be the least of my worries. I am scared to get more hurt than I already have been due to men not being able to control their sexual urges. I guess someday... I will write a blog about it. Meh.....So I can completely see how this is occurring in North Korea now.

I do not think she's being homophobic, she's explaining the context for what's happening in North Korea. EDIT: I'm not replying to any comments. Any questions you have can be answered by watching the video or reading comments.

A huge concern is the terrible level of oppression/repression and how strong the people must be to survive this. Thank you Ms Park for sharing!! Cheers!

As a gay male I think the difference is forced sexuality and the choice of sexuality , the way I've interpreted it is this isn't by attraction its by lack of any other choice (wether coerced by higher ups or between people stuck with their own sex and no others ) I didn't interpret this as yeonmi having an issue with homosexuality its come across as anger with the way it has come about

What you've described here is known as "Prison Gay" in America. Prison Gay means that a person might have a tendency to be gay, or be curious of the same gender, but the same gender sexual partner isn't always a first choice as they might not peruse such relationships outside of confinement. I think people do this to get affection and closeness, and perhaps sexual satisfaction as a place like prison can make someone feel very lonely and I imagine people in the work camps and army of NK must feel somewhat the same way during the time they're there.

I don't know if my emotions about this were right, but the pictures kind of moved me. To see people exchanging love and be soft with each other in such a harsh environment. But now knowing that it also could be a forced relationship I don't know anymore. I hope those men genuinely like each other and help each other through the tough life in North Korea.

As some have pointed out, when a higher officer demands to sleep with soldiers with lower ranks, it's rape. They are forcing those soldiers to sleep with them, maybe not by using physical violence, but they are certainly coercing them in doing so, because if they disobey they'd be in big trouble. It has little to do with sexual attraction, because the victim has absolutely no choice in the matter. Also it is a well known fact that if you don't have contact with the opposite sex, you may get into a same sex relationship when you wouldn't do so otherwise. This also happens in prisons everywhere in the world, some people may call it "gay for the stay". So not surprised this may happen when you have to serve 10 years in the military. Those situations have little to do with actual sexual attraction. But I suppose that, like in any place and any time in history, there actually are people who really are attracted to the same sex. Because that is not something related to culture, it's just something that happens naturally, so I guess it happens in North Korea too. Yeonmi, do you know what would happen to people who may actually be attracted to someone their own sex (and not because they are forced to, or because they are in the army/prison)? Or who feel like they are trapped in the wrong body (transgenders)? Is this something people would have a hard time understanding about themselves because of the lack of sex ed? Would they just be depressed and miserable and ashamed of it their whole life? Is it something you'd keep to yourself because it is a very conservative society? Or do most people feel that way in a way because in the end many marriages aren't love marriages anyway and many marriages may be unhappy ones?

Thank you for sharing your work, Yeonmi. To eradicate the word 'love' is a crime against humanity. Best wishes to you.

Yeonmi your subscribers are growing!!! 😊 I've been following you since when you had 500k 💕. Thank you for sharing about and standing up for your fellow North Koreans! ❤

If it's forced, it's not gay. It's an assault.

How evil must one be to remove the word "love" from an entire country's language?

You’re so insightful, direct yet respectful & humble!!!! A true role model

It used to be a HUGE problem in Soviet Army as well. It started with something called "dedovschina" ("grandfatherism"). Supposedly it is dealt with now. It has strong roots in prisons everywhere. It has nothing to do with Love or "making love",or Intimacy, but with ABUSE. It makes me think what the nature of this kinds of relationships is, and what the objective of normalizing it for youngsters is.

I am your patreon ❤️ I have been your supporter since 200k subscribers 😁 Please continue the great work you are doing ❤️

For anyone doubting Yeonmi here or wondering if she is telling the truth... it is important to note that she has sources inside North Korea. That's where she gets most of the new information. This is how she was able to make a video on an uprising in North Korea before news media picked it up and how she was able to obtain pictures of Kim Jong Un's new personal resort which was built but no one knew what it looked like inside. People inside North Korea talk to her and send her things. Yeonmi also has contact with North Korean students or staff in China and other countries who are able to access her videos and secretly watch her. She has a Korean language channel set up specifically for them. Also, much of what she says is public knowledge. Such as the mandatory military service, concentration camps, no sex education, certain words and definitions are removed (check an official North Korea dictionary), etc so everything she says here is bound to be true.

I don't think homosexuality is "spreading" or "increasing" in North Korea. Perhaps a desire for openness is spreading. Maybe knowledge about homosexuality is spreading. Perhaps digital photography and digital media are spreading, but homosexuality is not spreading or increasing. Situational bisexulaity is always around 50%, while homosexuality as an orientation is always around 10% of the population regardless of cultural norms, rules and laws.

Sorry, but rape and sexual abuse isn't about sexuality, it's about power, control, humiliation and violence. To call sexual abuse homosexuality is clearly a misrepresentation that sounds homophobic to me... I'm sure this is unintentional

Love that you mentioned 1984!! The word “Orwellian” describes a power regime or structure in which words (or the absence of them) destroys the concepts and true meaning behind them (see the philosophers Foucault & Lacan). Such a great video!! I learned so much 💔

Hi, Yeonmi, thank you for explaining this aspect of the Korean society in detail, but, it is really important to emphasize that homosexuality is not a problem at all! People might feel romantically or sexually attracted to whomever according to their sexual orientation. Forced sex has nothing do with homosexuality and situational cases where same sex relationships might develop cannot be labeled as homosexuality, which is being sexually aroused or romantically involved with people of the same sex under normal conditions.

Homosexuality is consensual. This is not, it's abuse and rape.

You can be homoerotic without being homosexual. Also, a coerced/forced relationship is not the same as a chosen one. Love, Attraction and Desire are weird, wonderful and often confusing concepts even with the labels. Sometimes, the labels don't actually help.

Being forced to have sex is not homosexuality, its rape. Understand the difference, gurl.

In some cases, sex is about love. In other cases, it is about dominant-submissive relationships, perhaps gaining the favor of the master, like in ancient cultures. In prison, it is about violence. If you see it occuring in prison, you just mind your own business and move on. In cultures where women are kept at home or in harems, and the soldiers are in the field with no women, they often have boys - Bache Bazi boys - dancing boys, as in Afghanistan.

What you are describing is called “situational homosexuality” and it happens in prisons and other isolated sorts of lifestyles all over the world. As a gay person who was absolutely born this way, I seriously doubt that there aren’t gay people in North Korea just because gay identity does not exist in its culture. Evidence shows that homosexuality is sometimes, if not always, biological in nature, or innate to the gay person. Also, homosexuality happens in animals, who also have no gay identity. Also, please remember that same sex relationships are about LOVE, not sex. To the extent that North Koreans can love, gay North Koreans are capable of falling in love without ever acting on it. I didn’t need pictures of soldiers kissing to know that homosexuality exists in North Korea, as it does in nature. It’s not surprising that it wouldn’t be visible considering the consequences of nonconformity in North Korea. I enjoy your videos and learning about North Korea. Thank you.

North Korea is so screwed I am going to start praying for people there daily. How horrible for all of them.

There's even an openly gay defector but he came out as gay in the South

Homosexuality has always existed in humans, and across various species. I think we shouldn't assume that these two soldiers were kissing each other due to be being deprived of women. They genuinely might have always preferred the attention and affection of the same sex.

Thank you so much for baring your soul and being so vulnerable as you explain the insidious cruelty inflicted by these monsters! Helping the world SEE your people and understand the nature of their imprisonment is noble. Keep fighting the good fight!

This is so tragic the trauma these young men are facing, I hope one day the people of North Korea can enjoy the liberties we have. I was wondering if you can possibly review “Crash Landing on You,” it’s a South Korean drama, and I was wondering if the South’s views of the North is accurate through this series.

Why is it that every authoritarian, government or fundamentalism religious which itself is just another authoritarian in religious form have to repress sexuality. 1. Knowing your body: health and anatomy 2. Knowing the spectrum of sexuality, and romantic attraction 3. Consent, this one is the most important part of sexual education but is most neglected to bespoken Consent is also must abused by these authoritarians, not just governments. I'm sorry if sound like I'm bashing religions, I'm specifically talking destructive religions. They all have in common even if they seem more sexually free on the surface. Like the children of God. Sexual control is an important part of authoritarians either to repress or to force onto their people or even both.

I just found your channel yesterday on Womens day 😊 what you're doing is so important. Sending you love from Canada 💜

A truly fascinating channel.

After watching so many of your videos, if I ever thought there was nothing else I could learn from you - I would be wrong. You continuously amaze me with the information that you share and your ability to communicate it in a way that enables others to easily understand you. The information you covered here is mind boggling to my western mind. It has actually occurred to me that I wish President Biden and/or his advisers could talk to you because I can’t imagine that anyone on his staff could more effectively relay this quality of information about North Korea to him. I am so sorry for the North Korean people, to have a human monster like this with the ability to control their lives in such a way.

Suggesting that homosexuality can 'spread' is misleading. The fact that men have sex with men for whatever reason, doesn't make them necessarily homosexual. But then South Korea isn't the most progressive country regarding gender, so what hope could North Korea have?

The sad part is the reality of how this is not consent but an abuse out of necessity

your level of communication is something that should be awarded. The dynamics that you managed to explain within 8.28 minutes are overwhelming. Thank you keep up

She is so brave and courageous💗

Brilliant!! I have Korean family and I totally appreciate your information. Spreading awareness is key!! You did that so well!! Hugs and prayers to you and your family ❤️🙏

This is so weird and strange, I hardly can comprehend it. How awful to live in a country like this, where people basically are prisoners. Thank you for explaining

Gays exist everywhere, in every culture, in all of history. It does not matter if the society is oppressive or inclusive, homosexuality rates are the same. I'm not korean, but I assumed that north koreans have bigger problems to worry about than people's private romance lives. In the book "nothing to envy" one of the defectors wrote that when she left north korea, she was age 25 and she had no idea where babies came from.

As a gay American, this is fascinating to hear about! I guess for alot of North Korean men that are in the military, its similar to prison. You make love with men because there’s no other option. And some people are just gay, but like you said, they don’t even have a word for it

Thank you for sharing this piece of information for us to furthur understand what's happening now in North Korea.

Lot of information to process for a country like north korea...but its just for the few people ruining it.....the locals are innocent...they are just trying to save themselves....hats off to you yeonmi for fearlessly showing us all the perfections and flaws with no filter at all🧡🧡

I saw the movie, "The Tale of 15 Children" and it struck me how intimately the two boys hugged each other. I've actually never seen a hug that intimate, even in gay society. I wonder if there's also a cultural difference here, and a different standard of intimacy?

Thankyou Yeonmi for educating us about North Korea. Having watched other videos of yours, I have been curious about sexuality, particularly, homosexuality in North Korea, considering the culture of the regime and you have effectively answered my queries. Very informative and I look forward to learning more from you. Thankyou. 👏👏👏👏👏

Thank you for sharing this. I’ve heard of homosexuality being accepted in North Korea but I didn’t really understand in what sense. Now I truly understand.

❤️ you are amazing!

This isn’t homosexuality as much as it is rpe. What’s tough about that is, I’m not even sure they understand that what they’re doing IS rpe. Homosexuality is a sexual attraction. I don’t feel there’s an attraction with the majority of these cases. Everyone feels the need to fuck and with them not understand what they’re doing is “wrong”, it’s probably just that. Also, the homosexuality isn’t the problem. The problem is their circumstances and the rpe aspect of it. Essentially, everything EXCEPT the actual homosexuality is wrong

Because of the very close bonds between soldiers, homosexuality was a very common practice. They would mend each other's wounds from battle, sleep in close quarters and spent years away from home. The only difference is that they didn't have a word for it or see it as wrong. From the time of the Greeks to the Samurai.

I'm a rape victim. The strength is there to confront it.

"Not knowing it's Homosexuality" Gives me Samurai and Japanese Ancient Buddhist Monks vibe

Great video Yeonmi

WHY DOES THIS VIDEOMAKES IT FEEL LIKE BEING HOMOSEXUAL IS A MATTER OFCONCERN/TO BE FEARED OF? ????

interesting information, but there needs to be a discrimination for what homosexuality means vs act of power and co-ercion between men. one is a sexual orientation, the other is rape.

It’s a human nature. That’s why!

Based on my own expectation from the encounter with homosexuality in my own country (it is forbidden and the sentence is execution) i came for a cute story of resistance and encountered a horrible horrible crime. Don't know what to say...

Many thanks for this remarkable insights you share! It really broadened my views on North Korea. I think it's quite important that people in the so called "free world" realise how estimable our life in "Western" societies is. We should never be blind eyed to stories in other parts of the world that are very distinct from our societies, and not take our freedom for granted.

Homosexuality has always existed, you can see it in nature. It is in every country, and two men, or two women getting together is NOT a tragedy. I suggest you talk to us (LGBTQ) people, so that you can understand. We are part of nature, we are not a disease, we are not contagious.

Wow, thank you for teaching us this. It makes makes my outlook on North Korea and the world and life more then it was before.

Sexuality can bend for what is available. In institutions like Prison or the army that practice gendered segregation. You will often see people's sexuality bend. Gay legend says this happened in the North American Navies, Ancient Rome & Ancient Greece... Sadly the exploitative & unsafe nature of these arrangements sounds less than ideal.

Have you ever considered to have Korean subtitles? South Koreans might also be surprised by what happens in the other half of Korea. Or are they well- informed about the situation?

It’s crazy the world we are living in. God is really going to punish this generation for all the wickedness against fellow humans.

Thank you for allowing the rest of the world the opportunity to learn about the lives of North Koreans.

Words are important for helping shape our world.

Wow, that was definitely surprising to hear and difficult to comprehend. I guess it's safe to say that every man over the age of 17 has or will have some type of sexual encounter with another man, whether he likes it or not. That really sucks if you're not gay or bi. The fact that in a country so conservative yet the word gay is non-existent there and the fact its not illegal in this country, defitnetly surprised me.

In any situation where there is gender isolation for long periods, homosexuality becomes normal. It happens in prisons everywhere and also in Saudi Arabia where men and women are kept separated in public

Sexual acts do not define sexuality. Most of the male and female soldiers in NK resort to intimacy with the same gender due to desperation and lack of options as you said and It's very abhorrent that some especially juniors are sexually abused with very little knowledge about it. This regime is evil on all levels

It was ALWAYS this way.

Ms. Park you should contact netflix and make a show, these stories wo be great in every language, all the best fot you.

I absolutely love your videos and the way you explain things from north Korea. You help us understand so much! Thank you🌺⭐

For the algorithm!

I noticed you didn't say anything about the females. I'm sure the same thing is happening with females, soldiers.

I love the thumbnail image! Hahaha I was gonna say he needs memed but it looks like you already did that. Also, how do you have almost a million subs and no checkmark??? What the hell, KZfaq!?

Every single time I watch one of your videos I am mind blown by the things you speak of. It’s just so difficult to imagine people living like that in 2022. I feel so bad for the citizens of North Korea. I hope they find freedom somehow.

i just finished reading your book, great story! I really would like to know more about your academic life, and how you improved so quickly. I am inspired. I wish to do the same thank you.

It's nice to know that you have opened your eyes to the world

That is at least one thing I agree with Rocket Man. Pornography should have stayed illegal. There is no light in porn. It degrades the human spirit in all age groups and fogs up the purpose and meaning of real intimacy. Being a pervert is not something to be proud of. Every person of purity hates perversion. It brings death and decline.

Yeonmi, you continue to do excellent videos!!! I've watched your videos for a couple of years now & really appreciate how you bridge the knowledge gap, for folks in "The West," about North Korea. Thank you for your continued Great work...Peace, x & much gratitude to you, from Canada :)

Homosexuality has always been a significant part of military life. Read up on the ancient Greeks who practiced pederasty where men would rape boys in order to make them "manlier". Or read up on Chinese Gordon whose officers all engaged in ritual gang rape as part of their unit's initiation process. You may also read up on "rituals of inversion" in the maritime industry and in piracy (invert was the ancient term for homosexual).

Really frustrating that so many people around the world are suffering on such a level. We feel so helpless.

Believe it or not, the United States has this problem in a few states where deep out in the country people aren't educated on sexuality and they have no idea about sex, dating and how to behave around the opposite gender. No kissing, no touching, because it will get you pregnant. Yes, it exist in the US even after all the educational levels. It happens. When I was younger, I dated a country girl. She didn't even know what was happening when she started her period. It was so shocking. She couldn't kiss worth anything. She didn't know how to pucker up her lips and kiss.

Bravo, you are very courageous. Thank you so much for examining and illuminating these issues. The more we address the human rights violations of tyrants the more likely that addressing the issue and tackling the injustice. You have a very sweet manor and an engaging intellect. Keep up the great work!

Wow, this was truly enlightening. Thanks for sharing this information.

In the US, if someone is forcibly expected to have sex that’s called rape. If a prison guard has sex, even consensually with a prisoner, that’s rape. If the victim is under 18, that’s raping a child. That’s so horrible. It’s so crazy to me as a US citizen that people are expected to live that way and no way to get out and no concept of what the rest of the world is like. How miserable. I could tell just looking at those photos that one isn’t wanting to kiss the other.

what i understood is she is trying to say that the relationship they are having is becuase they have no other options. like they cant date women so they are being intimate with males. what i think nobody os 100% straight or gay naturally , you can make out with anyone. im trying to understand why is it a subject of objectification because kissing someone is not forced right.. i get ( i think) she isnt being homophobic but rather trying to emphasise on the fact the lack of sex education north korea has, kind of lack of freedom to love some one ..i guess she is tryna say that ih homosexuality is not illegal and legal at the same time means that the concept of it is non existent and if it becomes more prominent then it might get illegalised .. right? damn its confusing. i personally think there is nothing wrong with the situation because we never questioned a straight society like oh that man has wife or that woman has man but they didnot went out with someone of their own gender identity so they dont know are they gay or not and thats sad .. we never did that. so i think instead of emphasising on increased '' homosexual relations' the emphasis should be more on sex education. but idk.. at the end of the we are talking about north korea here.

Make love. Not war. Right.

I think something similar was happening in the military of ancient Sparta and for quite the same reasons. Also this was going on in Wild West because men so much outnumbered women. I've read about so called "bachelor marriages".

2:42 actually The United States is the third largest army. Not sure why it’s completely missing from the list but yeah, just thought I would point that out.

About everything I just heard I feel so sorry for those soldier who had to submit to these sexual assault and it's no less than a rape.. But about those two guard's jeez if someone make a movie about that topic it definitely win Oscar's.

In my opinion labeling is stupid. Just be who you are.

I don’t think there’s a country in the world that there aren’t men and women who are attracted to or has fallen in love with the same sex. I’m sure they’ll know if they’re attracted to the same sex but, don’t have a name to put on it. And I bet even if they knew what to call it, no one will dare mentioned it to others because of fear. But I can completely understand what you’re saying about that kind of relationships in prison or the army are started because of loneliness and isolation, especially in North Korea. These sorts of sexual partners actually does in fact, happens in counties all over the world, but at least they have a choice compared to the poor people of North Korea.

I finally decided to Subscribed. You deserved it! I been watching your Chanel for almost a year now. You truly are the Voice for those unfortunate ones! God Blessed you and your family!

Wow, so informational. The power that words have in a society I've not understood so clearly! I pray your people will be set free.