He escaped North Korea twice — and survived things most people can’t even imagine.
In this Digital Social Hour episode, Sean Kelly sits down with Cheol Ryu from Charles North Korea to talk about growing up under the North Korean regime, losing his mother to starvation, surviving prison labor, escaping across the border, and eventually building a new life in America.
Cheol Ryu shares what life is really like inside North Korea — from public executions and total surveillance to food shortages, propaganda, prison camps, and the risks of trying to escape. He also explains how he made it to the U.S., why he continues speaking out, and what people still don’t understand about North Korea today.
Chapters
00:00 Secret phone surveillance and a near-death escape
00:29 Meet Charles, who escaped North Korea twice
01:17 Life inside North Korea and brutal punishment
02:42 Losing his mother to starvation
03:35 His first escape to China
07:54 Arrest, prison, and forced labor
11:29 Surviving on vomit, corn, and anything he could find
15:44 His second escape and crossing the river again
33:26 Coming to America and building a new life
41:40 What North Korea is really like today
What you’ll learn
🚨 What daily life in North Korea is actually like
🥀 How Charles lost his mother to starvation
🏃 How he escaped North Korea for the first time as a child
⛓️ What happened after he was caught and sent back
🍚 How severe hunger pushed him to do anything to survive
🌊 How he crossed the border again knowing he could be shot
🙏 The role faith played in helping him survive
🇺🇸 How he rebuilt his life after arriving in America
📱 How North Korea monitors phones and controls information
🧠 Why he still speaks out for those who can’t
🎙️ APPLY OR CONNECT
👉 Interested in being a guest? Apply here:
https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/apply
💼 SPONSORS:
QUINCE: https://quince.com/dsh
Select Quote: selectquote.com/dsh
Shopify: Shopify.com/dsh
📩 Business Inquiries & Sponsorships
[email protected]
👤 GUEST
Cheol Ryu: https://www.instagram.com/charlesnorthkorea/
🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
🍏 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015
🎵 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759
📸 Follow the Host
Sean Kelly on Instagram: @seanmikekelly
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed by guests on Digital Social Hour are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Sean Kelly, or the Digital Social Hour team.
The host and producers are not responsible for statements, claims, or opinions shared by guests during the show. This content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, financial, or professional advice.
Listeners are encouraged to do their own research and consult qualified professionals when appropriate. While we aim to share accurate and reliable information, no guarantees are made regarding completeness or accuracy.
🔥 Stay tuned for more conversations with creators, founders, and innovators shaping the digital world.
Keywords
Digital Social Hour, Sean Kelly, Charles North Korea, North Korea defector, escaped North Korea, North Korean escape story, North Korea prison camp, North Korea labor camp, life in North Korea, North Korea propaganda, North Korea surveillance, North Korean refugee, starvation in North Korea, escaped to China Visit Our Website at https://digital-social-hour.simplecast.com/
Presented by https://podgo.io/
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.