A North Korean soldier who made a daring dash across the South Korean border earlier this month is a “nice guy” who loves American films and TV shows, according to the surgeon treating him.
John Cook-Jong Lee told Reuters this week that the defector, a 24-year-old soldier known only as “Oh”, is recovering from serious bullet wounds after fellow North Korean soldiers shot at him as he fled to the South.
“Two major surgeries were required to remove the bullets and patch Oh back together”, The Guardian reports. Doctors needed almost 12 litres of blood transfusions to save him - enough to replace all his blood twice.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“He told me that he is so thankful for South Koreans for saving his life and giving him that much blood,” Lee said, before adding that Oh had admitted to liking Western films, TV shows and music, something severely frowned upon in his home country.
Oh revealed his fondness for the action thriller Transporter 3, religious comedy Bruce Almighty and the mystery TV drama series CSI, Lee recounted.
Lee said he had not shown Oh any news coverage regarding his defection.
Oh may receive South Korea's welfare plan for North Korean defectors, under which the government provides seven million won (£4,800) in cash over a year, as well as support in housing, education and job training, The Guardian adds.
The South Korean and US soldiers who led a rescue attempt to drag the Oh to safety after he was badly wounded have been awarded medals, Reuters reports.
-
Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetimeFeature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
-
Book reviews: ‘We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution’ and ‘Will There Ever Be Another You’Feature The many attempts to amend the U.S. Constitution and Patricia Lockwood’s struggle with long Covid
-
Philadelphia’s Calder GardensFeature A permanent new museum
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
Kim Ju Ae: North Korea’s next leader?The Explainer Kim Jong Un’s young daughter is being seen as his ‘recognised heir’ following a high-profile public appearance at China summit
-
'Axis of upheaval': will China summit cement new world order?Today's Big Question Xi calls on anti-US alliance to cooperate in new China-led global system – but fault lines remain
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Wonsan-Kalma: North Korea's new 'mammoth' beach resortUnder the Radar Pyongyang wants to boost tourism but there won't be many foreign visitors to Kim Jong Un's 'pet project'
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
