"The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story" written by Lee Hyeon-seo

By John Redmond

The British Chamber of Commerce in Korea (BCCK) will host a talk by North Korean defector Lee Hyeon-seo at Aston Hall in the British Embassy in Seoul, Oct. 27.

The event will be moderated by the Wall Street Journal's Korea Bureau Chief Alastair Gale. It is part of the BCCK's new "Interview Night" series, which features interesting speakers on a range of important Korea-related topics.

Lee is known for her book, "The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story," which recounts her life and escape from North Korea and made the New York Times Best Sellers list in August 2016.

"Over 8 million people have viewed her TED Talk (including the cross-posting on YouTube) about her life in North Korea, her escape to China and struggle to bring her family to freedom. Oprah called it the ‘most riveting TED Talk ever,'" the event organizer said in a press release.

The author has also given testimony on human rights in North Korea in front of a special panel of the U.N. Security Council in 2014 and at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women in 2016.

Along with questions posed by Gale, Lee will focus on her life story and escape from North Korea, including her life in North Korea, the story of her family and why she decided to leave.

Lee will also speak about her experience in China after leaving North Korea, including how she had to adapt to a foreign culture to survive and the plight of North Korean defectors in China.

The author will also comment on life in South Korea after leaving China, including her rise to fame as one of the few North Korean defectors to speak out against the North Korean government.

The event is from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and costs 40,000 won for BCCK members, 45,000 won for nonmembers. A light dinner buffet will be available for attendees. The talk will be followed by an audience Q&A.