Roh Chol-min
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1998
- Human rights activist
- Soldier
Roh Chol-min | |
|---|---|
| Born | Roh Chol-min 1998 |
| Other names | Noh Cheol-min |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2017 – present |
Roh Chol-min (Korean: 노철민; born 1998), also known as Noh Cheol-min, is a former North Korean soldier who defected to South Korea across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on December 21, 2017.[1] His account of service in the North Korean People's Army (KPA) gained international attention for exposing systemic corruption and deprivation within the regime's specialized military branches.[2]
Roh was born into a family with high-status social lineage.[3] His grandfather was reportedly a university classmate of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, providing the family with initial elite standing.[3] Growing up in a rural mountain town near the Chinese border, Roh initially experienced relative luxury, including access to a television and couch.[3] However, as the North Korean economy contracted, his family's fortunes declined; he has recalled instances where his sister sold herbs to provide basic meals like a single potato.[3]
Military service and observations
Roh was drafted into the KPA's 200,000-strong special forces, a selection influenced by his social "foundation" and his physical height—5 feet 8 inches—which is considered exceptionally tall in North Korea.[3] In late summer 2017, he was stationed as a new recruit at a guard post on the front lines of the DMZ.[3] Roh witnessed widespread bribery where fellow soldiers from wealthy backgrounds paid senior officers to skip mandatory drills and target practice.[3] Despite his unit's elite status, he suffered from chronic hunger and a lack of medical care.[3] He described a period of fanatical loyalty, recalling a "glorious" day when he sobbed with emotion after seeing Kim Jong-un pass his base in a black van.[3]