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Kindness towards strangers is rare in North Korea. There is a risk to helping others. The state made accusers and informers of us all.
Lee Hyeon-Seo
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects the courage needed to show kindness in a repressive environment where such actions can have serious consequences.

In this quote, Lee Hyeon-Seo speaks to the scarcity of kindness among strangers in North Korea, a place where societal norms and government actions have instilled fear of retribution for helping others. The idea of helping someone becomes risky as the state has encouraged a culture of suspicion, where individuals may inform on one another, leading to a breakdown of communal support and kindness.

Themes

KindnessCourageStrangersRiskNorth KoreaFearHelp

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech about human rights, this quote highlights the importance of compassion even in hostile environments.

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