Who Is Yeonmi Park? Age, Biography and Wiki
Yeonmi Park, born on October 4, 1993, is a notable North Korean defector and human rights activist. Gaining international recognition for her compelling story of escape and advocacy against the oppressive regime of North Korea, Yeonmi has emerged as a voice for many defectors. Today, in 2025, at the age of 31, she continues to inspire and educate others about the atrocities faced by those living under totalitarian regimes.
| Occupation | Radio Host |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 4, 1993 |
| Age | 31 Years |
| Birth Place | Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, North Korea |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | North Korea |
Popularity
Yeonmi Park's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Yeonmi Park stands approximately 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) tall. Her weight is around 120 pounds (55 kg), providing her with a healthy and athletic physique. While specific body measurements are not publicly disclosed, she maintains a fit and active lifestyle, which reflects her dedication to health and well-being.
In her interview with Rogan, Park said that North Korea has only a single train and that people often had to push the train to make it move. Screenshots of this interview were used to turn Park into an internet meme.
In a separate interview, Park was told that a train engine alone can weigh 100 to 200 tons, close to the weight of the Statue of Liberty or an adult blue whale. Park responded that she had never seen people pushing trains in North Korea, though she believed that it did happen and claimed she had photographs to prove it.
She sent three of these photos to journalist Laura Jadeed, but Jadeed wrote that none of them showed people pushing trains.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Yeonmi Park has been somewhat private regarding her personal life, particularly her relationships. As of 2025, it is known that she is dating, but the specifics about her boyfriend or any significant other are not widely publicized. Yeonmi often emphasizes her family, particularly her mother, who also escaped North Korea. Their bond remains strong as they navigate their new lives in the United States.
The authenticity of her claims about life in North Korea – many of which have contradicted her earlier stories and those of both her mother and fellow defectors from North Korea – have been the subject of widespread skepticism.
Political commentators, journalists and professors of Korean studies have criticized Park's accounts of life in North Korea for inconsistencies, contradictory claims, and exaggerations.
Other North Korean defectors, including those from the same city as Park, have expressed concern that the tendency for "celebrity defectors" to exaggerate about life in North Korea will produce skepticism about their stories.
In 2014, The Diplomat published an investigation by journalist Mary Ann Jolley, who had previously worked with Park, documenting numerous inconsistencies in Park's memories and descriptions of life in Korea. In July 2023, a Washington Post investigation found there was little truth to Park's claims about life in North Korea.
Park attributed the discrepancies to her imperfect memory and language skills, and her autobiography's coauthor, Maryanne Vollers, said Park was the victim of a North Korean smear campaign.
Net Worth and Salary
In 2025, Yeonmi Park's net worth is estimated to be around $1 million. Her income primarily comes from her speaking engagements, book sales, and media appearances. She has been a staunch advocate for human rights, earning a substantial income as a public speaker who captivates audiences worldwide with her harrowing and inspiring narrative of escape from North Korea.
According to the National Review, Park presumes that "the regime adjusts, as the Chinese Communists and the Vietnamese Communists have done.
That would allow the North Korean Communists to hang on for untold years longer." She has stated that the Jangmadang (the black market of North Korea), will transform or develop the country's society by providing access to outside news media and information.
According to Park, "If I ever return to a reformed North Korea, I will be thrilled to meet my peers as we attempt to bring wealth and freedom to people who were forced into poverty by the Kim family dynasty." She considers Kim Jong Un to be a "cruel" leader.
Career, Business and Investments
Yeonmi Park's career took off following her defection from North Korea, which she detailed in her memoir "In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom." Since then, she has become an influential speaker, delivering talks at prestigious venues such as the United Nations and various universities. In 2025, she continues to work as a human rights advocate, with her businesses revolving around public speaking and charitable endeavors aimed at helping North Korean defectors.
Yeonmi is also involved in investment opportunities, particularly in tech startups focused on social change and advocacy, aligning with her passion for improving the lives of others worldwide.
In 2011, Yeonmi Park participated as Yeju Park in the South Korean reality television program Now On My Way to Meet You, a show that has been credited for launching her career as a public figure.
The program – broadcast on Channel A – began as an emotional, dossier-style documentary focusing on the reuniting of North Korean defectors with their families. It later evolved into a variety show featuring young and attractive North Korean defectors, dubbed "defector beauties".
According to media academic Richard Murray, Park's ability to speak English, coupled with her being a young, attractive woman, contributed to her rise in popularity with journalists.
Social Network
Yeonmi Park maintains an active presence on social media platforms, where she shares insights into her life, advocacy efforts, and thoughts on global human rights issues. She is particularly active on Twitter and Instagram, engaging with her followers and raising awareness about North Korean human rights violations. As of 2025, her followers include supporters of her activism, human rights advocates, and individuals interested in learning more about her story.
Park runs the YouTube channel "Voice of North Korea by Yeonmi Park", which as of July 2023 has over one million subscribers. Her political views have been called "American conservative", and she has criticized the concepts of political correctness and "woke" culture in the U.S., drawing parallels between political correctness in the U.S. and North Korea.
Education
Yeonmi Park pursued her education after settling in the United States. She attended Columbia University, where she studied political science. Her academic journey underscores her commitment to understanding and advocating for human rights. In 2025, she continues to leverage her educational background to deepen her advocacy work and influence policy changes regarding North Korean human rights.
In 2015, Park published her memoir, In Order to Live, in which she describes her journey from defection to higher education. She attended classes at Barnard College and was accepted to the Columbia University School of General Studies, starting there in 2016. She graduated from Columbia in 2020.
