Volunteers and North Korean refugees participate in a Language Match session in 2018. Courtesy of Freedom Speakers International

Over the years, I’ve heard a number of accusations about myself, ranging from I am allegedly brainwashing North Korean refugees to I am allegedly a CIA spy.

I thought I had heard it all, but I recently received an email from "djelf7@djelf7.com" who wrote as part of a rambling email, “Interested to see casey lartigue (why are all of his advertised north koreans pretty females? Is it trafficking?)” [sic]

He included a link to a video apparently making the same accusation. I responded by asking if I had permission to cite and quote him, and he consented. I occasionally come across people burning me in effigy on the Internet, although I have yet to encounter any of those people in person. I am sure my fans and acquaintances will say it isn’t worth responding to such a person, but I would like to use this as a teachable moment.

This insinuation is unfounded, offensive and reflects the broader problem of the spread of misinformation targeting North Korean refugees and those working to support them. Some people prefer conspiracies and unfounded accusations over realities they don’t understand.

Instead of insinuating things about me, the people wondering about the imbalance in gender should take up the issue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's regime. Something about North Korea is pushing and pulling people out of North Korea despite the risks that come with escaping. Over the past 25 years, 72 percent of the 34,000 North Koreans who have made it to South Korea have been women.

This demographic reality is reflected in Freedom Speakers International (FSI), where 70 percent (28 of 40) of our keynote........

© The Korea Times