About Humans of North Korea (HNK) is a socially engaged art group that supports people of and from North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK) through humanitarianism, advocating Korea peace and North Koreans’ resettlement. HNK publicly discusses the complex identities and socio-political history of the Korean heritage through topics on North Korea and its diaspora. HNK members actively develop public forums to reciprocally communicate with the public and understand North Korean people, culture, society, economy, and politics. To understand the humans of North Korea, HNK studies the diverse aspects of North Korea that are less discussed by the public and historic/current relations between the two Koreas. Volunteering at and collaborating with North Korean-/defector-support organizations internationally, HNK contributes cultural and communal activities to engage with the North Korean people resettling in new environments. HNK organizes activities such as English-learning, cooking, art, and design workshops, and various tours to museums, cultural centers, and regional neighborhoods, while building reciprocal relations with North Koreans. Through community activities, HNK helps to dismantle the historical prejudice that was created by the media’s rhetoric on North Korean dictatorship and nuclear threats. It also brings awareness to South and North Korea’s political history and identity. HNK's such interactive activities create a focal point for the personal relationship with the North Koreans who can share their knowledge of their home country as well as their unique skills with others. HNK centers these in-person experiences with North Korean people and academic approaches in various public platforms, including symposia, lecture series, exhibitions, roundtable discussions, and film screenings. In 2016, Jae Hwan Lim, Rachel Yelinn Chung, and Eun Pyo Hong co-founded HNK in Chicago, IL during their studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. HNK continues to be collectively run by Lim as its director and Chung as the executive designer. |