From October 18 to 19, 2026, the Head of the East Asian Office of LDLU, Mariia Makarovych, held a series of meetings with representatives of the North Korean defector community in Seoul. The events were organized by the human rights organization Gyeore-eol Nation United.
A symbolic part of the program was a visit to the Hyerim Presbyterian Church, which is known for its support of North Korean defectors. Addressing the community, the LDLU representative spoke about the challenges of the Russian war in Ukraine, the fate of her hometown Bakhmut, and the parallels between the crimes of the Russian and DPRK regimes.
Following this, a coordination meeting organized by Gyeore-eol Nation United took place. The round table was attended by more than 20 representatives of North Korean defector organizations and businesses, as well as youth. The main topic of discussion was the prospects for international human rights activities and the development of joint youth projects.
During the meeting, the participants discussed further cooperation, in particular holding joint human rights, educational, and advocacy events. One of the priorities identified was organizing joint visits of Ukrainian and Korean youth who have suffered from the crimes of the Russian Federation and the DPRK for joint advocacy at the EU level.
The LDLU team will continue to support the North Korean defector community and their human rights activities. We are grateful to Gyeore-eol Nation United and the entire defector community for their consistent support of Ukraine, despite significant pressure. We look forward to deepening our cooperation!
