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'We sweat together': Risking it all to help North Korean defectors

Pastor Kim Seongeun crosses icy rivers, dense jungle and risks his life helping desperate families fleeing North Korea. But what keeps him going is a promise he made to his son.

South Korean Pastor Kim Seongeun risks his life helping desperate families to flee North Korea. He has crossed icy rivers, dodged poisonous snakes and badly injured his back accompanying defectors on one of the most treacherous journeys in the world. To date his church, Caleb Mission, has helped over 1,000 people reach freedom in South Korea. What keeps him going is a promise he made to his son. Pastor Kim tells us about the Roh family whose lives were hanging in the balance when they called him for help. The documentary Beyond Utopia centres on his work.

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: June Christie
Interpreter: Sunny Parker
Thanks to Kevin Kim for the voice-over of Pastor Kim

Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Pastor Kim Seongeun. Credit: Dogwoof)
(Film clip: Beyond Utopia\Dogwoof)

Available now

41 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Nov 202312:06GMT
  • Thu 30 Nov 202318:06GMT
  • Thu 30 Nov 202323:06GMT
  • Fri 1 Dec 202303:06GMT

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