Songmi Han is co-author, with Casey Lartigue, of Greenlight to Freedom: A North Korean Daughter’s Search for Her Mother & Herself.

Born in North Korea, Songmi escaped to South Korea in 2011, following her mother in pursuit of freedom. For over a decade, she kept her identity as a North Korean refugee hidden until 2022.

Songmi joined Freedom Speakers International (FSI) in November 2019 with the goal of improving her English. In early 2021, she was hired as a part-time Special Assistant at FSI. Later that year, she joined the FSI North Korean Refugee Keynote Speakers Network, beginning her journey as an advocate and public speaker.

Her public speaking debut took place on February 19, 2022, at an FSI-hosted conference. In August 2022, she won the Grand Prize at FSI’s 16th I am from North Korea English Speech Contest. The following year, she was a featured speaker at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy in May 2023.

Since beginning her public speaking career, Songmi has shared her story in cities across the globe, including Nashville, New York City, Washington, D.C., Cambridge, New Delhi, Seoul, and at institutions like Harvard University.

Despite attending elementary school for only one year in North Korea, Songmi persevered in her education after resettling in South Korea, ultimately graduating from college in August 2023.

Greenlight to Freedom (animation by Teri Shim): Greenlight to Freedom (Animated Trailer) – YouTube