The Hard Road Out

One Woman’s Escape from North Korea

By: Jihyun Park, Seh-Lynn Chai, Sarah Baldwin - translator

Narrated by: Rosa Escoda

The harrowing story of a woman who escaped famine and terror in North Korea, not once but twice.

‘A gripping, suspenseful and cathartic memoir that tells a story of pain and perseverance and makes the moral case for asylum.’ David Lammy MP

North Korea is an open-air prison from which there is no escape. Only a handful of men and women have succeeded.

Jihyun Park is one of these rare survivors. Twice she left the land of the ‘socialist miracle’ to flee famine and dictatorship.

By the age of 29 she had already witnessed a lifetime of suffering. Family members had died of starvation; her brother was beaten nearly to death by soldiers. Even smiling and laughing was discouraged.

The first time she ran, she was forced abandon her father on his deathbed – crossing the border under a hail of bullets. In China she was sold to a farmer, with whom she had a son, before being denounced and forcibly returned to North Korea.

Six months later guards abandoned her, injured, outside a prison camp. She recovered and returned China to seek her son, now six, before attempting to navigate the long, hard road through the Gobi Desert and into Mongolia.

Clear-eyed and resolute, Jihyun’s extraordinary story reveals a Korea far removed from the talk of nuclear weapons and economic sanctions. She remains sanguine despite the hardship. Recalling life’s tiny pleasures even at her darkest moments, she manages to instill her tale with incredible grace and humanity.

Beautifully written with South Korean compatriot Seh-lynn Chai, this compelling book offers a stark lesson in determination, and ultimately in the importance of asylum.

©2022 Jihyun Park, Seh-lynn Chai (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

‘I am still reeling. … How does one person carry so much — the pain of a family lost and life destroyed, and the joy and challenge of a new family and a new life in such an unfamiliar place?’ Financial Times

‘A gripping, suspenseful and cathartic memoir that tells a story of pain and perseverance and makes the moral case for asylum.’ David Lammy MP

‘A moving and insightful account of how tyrannical governance can squeeze all the joy and almost all the humanity out of its subjects and drain them of any power to revolt.’ Geoffrey Robertson KC

‘Extraordinary. … Elegantly written, reflective, wise, sad and at times almost unbearably painful.’ Marcel Theroux

‘Park’s story is shocking and a testament to her resilience.’ The Telegraph

‘Detailed and damning.’ TLS

‘Brave, tender, and intimate … A frank and balanced view of the reality of life under a dictatorship.’ Kirkus

‘A compelling and well-written account of life inside (and outside of) North Korea. Moving without being sentimental, comprehensive but never dry.’ Daniel Tudor, author of North Korea Confidential

‘An incredible story of survival and escape that provides tremendous insight … Anyone who wants to understand North Korea and be inspired by the strength of a true survivor must read this book.’ War on the Rocks

‘Courage and sacrifice befall few. Jihyun is one of those few. This fascinating and shocking book allows us to stand with Jihyun and others like her.’ Lord David Alton, Chairman of the British-DPRK All-Party Parliamentary Group

‘A riveting story of pain, suffering, starvation, betrayal, abandonment, and ultimately redemption. This deeply personal tale offers profound insights on human nature and the inhumanity of the North Korean state. Jihyun Park’s courage is a true inspiration.’ Professor Sung-Yoon Lee, author of The Sister

Unbelievable and remarkable at the same time

It's hard to believe all that Ms. Park went through. The strength of character, conviction, and love of family surpassed all of her suffering. It was a gripping story and at times I couldn't believe the things that happened to her. She tells the story very well and it is a compelling story. It really wraps you into the story. It's sad that she had to endure all that she did. However, it inspires hope that some can survive the most cruel of circumstances and yet not become bitter.

In some ways it reminds all of us who have easier lives to appreciate what we have and not take things for granted.

She is an amazing person and worthy of admiration. It was brave of her to tell her story.

The narration was very good.

Transformative

I am well onto my senior years and crave personal narratives from individuals who embrace life on the deepest of levels. The Hard Road Out, for as dark and hopeless it’s reality, is the greatest of testaments.

Excellent

Very interesting and meaningful story of struggle and triumph that is so well written.

How much can one person endure?

An incomprehensible and shocking story. So riveting that I was left wanting to know more details about the escape to Mongolia and then the return to China and the missionary who helped prior to then going to the UK.

Tear jerker

Be ready to be moved and cry. Thank you for sharing your powerful life story.

Harrowing

A potent account of innocent indoctrination, desperation and slavery. One gets to learn about North Korea as well as an unvarnished account of how awful trying to escape it can be.

Hard Road

While I have always known I was fortunate to be an American and live in America, this book will shows how bad a bad country can be. How awful the leadership of North Korea is not to see how badly they treat even the people who are trying to do their best to be good citizens. I am glad she lives a better life now.

Yes, purchase it. Now.

Wow! We’ve heard some stories, seen some pictures but when you hear what it’s really like living in North Korea, escaping, getting caught and escaping again…the unimaginable strength it takes to survive that. The grief for the loved ones that had to be left behind, for those who abandoned her. Wow! This absolutely gave me perspective.

More, please!

The end of the story waned in details as to what happened. The powerful story left me wanting more.

Excellent book, easy to listen to.

I learned so much about North Korea. My daughter is from an orphanage in South Korea, and knowing what N. Korea is like I can only thank her lucky stars she is from the south. Very detailed and well narrated. I enjoyed this learning experience.