North Korean Refugee Stories: Meet Ben
After living apart from his mother for three years, 10-year-old Ben is finally on his way to join her in South Korea. Having lived in China for so long without his mother, you might expect him to be an unhappy child, but he’s not. Ben is very energetic and playful, knowing there was hope as his mother worked tirelessly to bring him out of China. While under LiNK’s care, Ben became great friends with our Protection Officers, playing Angry Birds, and re-enacting the kung-fu battles they saw in movies.
One of our happiest moments with Ben was the first time he was able to call his mom. As the phone rang, Ben seemed skeptical that she would really be on the other end, not having spoken to her in nearly three years. But when she answered the call, and he heard her voice on the other end, his eyes lit up. The conversation was limited, as Ben mostly speaks Chinese now, but she was able to tell him that she missed him and was waiting for him in South Korea. Hearing that news brought another smile to his face!
The day after he arrived in Southeast Asia, Ben celebrated his 10th birthday and was able to enjoy his first birthday cake! Though the initial transition to life in South Korea may be challenging, we trust that with the love and support of his mother, he’ll succeed and thrive in his new life.
UPDATE: July 2013
Ben arrived in South Korea and reunited with his mom who loves him a lot. She’s grateful that he isn’t a picky eater and has a good appetite, but he’s still not used to eating kimchi. He’s learning Korean and math at an afterschool program with plans to attend elementary school later this year. His transition may be tough at first but with his mom’s love and support, we think he’ll do just fine.
