Ms. Ju-hyeon Kim was born in North Korea, studied in Russia, and later resettled in South Korea in pursuit of freedom. Her firsthand experience of life under a totalitarian regime and her escape have driven her to become a passionate advocate for human rights and Korean unification. She is the founder and current leader of the National Committee of North Korean Defectors under Action for Korea United (AKU), where she works to empower defectors and amplify their voices nationwide. Ms. Kim has also engaged in international youth leadership initiatives, including the Korea and Japan Youth Leaders Assemblies (KYLA & JYLA), promoting awareness and solidarity among youth for a unified Korea. At the forefront of the Korean Dream movement—based on the founding ideal of Hongik Ingan (“to broadly benefit humanity”)—Ms. Kim is committed to building a free and unified Korean Peninsula. She hopes her story inspires action toward lasting peace and reconciliation.