Norbert Vollertsen
Encyclopedia
Norbert Vollertsen is a German doctor and human rights
activist.
Vollertsen practiced medicine in North Korea
from 1999 to 2001 with the Cap Anamur Committee, a non-governmental cooperation organization
. In August 1999, he and Francois Large, another aid worker, donated their skin to Pak Jong Thae, a tractor factory worker in Haeju
, South Hwanghae, who had suffered burns over three-quarters of his body and underwent three skin grafting
operations. In recognition for his contribution, Vollertsen received the official Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Friendship Medal
for his humanitarian assistance later that same month, in a ceremony attended by Supreme People's Assembly
vice-president Yang Hyong Sop. He was also given a pass that allowed him to travel the country freely, which was very unusual for a foreigner.
As he traveled in his capacity as an emergency physician, tending to the illnesses and injuries of common North Koreans in the countryside, he struggled with a nearly non-existent healthcare system, abject poverty and growing proof of a network of prison camps and penitentiaries that enforced the flow of wealth from the citizenry to the Pyongyang
-based military
and the labor party
headed by Kim Jong Il. Using smuggled cameras, he obtained photos and films of flagrant, large-scale human-rights abuses
. In particular, mass starvation was used as a tool of political control. He became convinced that the North Korean government
was evil and began campaigning against it. He began collecting evidence of abuses, which he passed to a visiting United States Congress
man, an act for which he was forced to leave North Korea in January 2001. Soon after returning home, he gave an interview about his experiences there soon, which the North Korean government denounced.
The North Korean government has portrayed him as a dishonest media manipulator suffering from mental instability. His wife, reacting to his decision to stay in South Korea as an anti-Kim activist, divorced him and is raising their children with a partner. "My wife blamed me for not taking care of my family. She said my vision, my goals, my projects, were worth much more to me. And afterwards, I realised she was right. I do not want to sacrifice my family. But I know my wife and her partner are taking care of my children, and that they are safe and healthy. But the North Korean children are not", said Vollertsen in 2003.
In September 2006, Vollertsen claimed he had been attacked by a gang and had been run over by a taxi while in Seoul
prior to giving a speech on North Korea.
He has written the book Inside North Korea: Diary of a Mad Place, published in 2004. It was earlier translated into Japanese by Midori Segi and published in Japan in 2001.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist.
Vollertsen practiced medicine in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
from 1999 to 2001 with the Cap Anamur Committee, a non-governmental cooperation organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
. In August 1999, he and Francois Large, another aid worker, donated their skin to Pak Jong Thae, a tractor factory worker in Haeju
Haeju
Haeju is a city located in South Hwanghae Province near Haeju Bay in North Korea. It is the administrative centre of South Hwanghae Province. As of 2000, the population of the city is estimated to be 236,000. At the beginning of 20th century, it became a strategic port in Sino-Korean trade...
, South Hwanghae, who had suffered burns over three-quarters of his body and underwent three skin grafting
Skin grafting
Skin grafting is a type of graft surgery involving the transplantation of skin. The transplanted tissue is called a skin graft.Skin grafting is often used to treat:*Extensive wounding or trauma*Burns...
operations. In recognition for his contribution, Vollertsen received the official Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Friendship Medal
Order of Friendship 2nd Class
- North Korean Friendship Medal :...
for his humanitarian assistance later that same month, in a ceremony attended by Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
vice-president Yang Hyong Sop. He was also given a pass that allowed him to travel the country freely, which was very unusual for a foreigner.
As he traveled in his capacity as an emergency physician, tending to the illnesses and injuries of common North Koreans in the countryside, he struggled with a nearly non-existent healthcare system, abject poverty and growing proof of a network of prison camps and penitentiaries that enforced the flow of wealth from the citizenry to the Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
-based military
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
and the labor party
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
headed by Kim Jong Il. Using smuggled cameras, he obtained photos and films of flagrant, large-scale human-rights abuses
Human rights in North Korea
The human rights record of North Korea is extremely hard to fully assess due to the secretive and closed nature of the country. The North Korean government makes it very difficult for foreigners to enter the country and strictly monitors their activities when they do...
. In particular, mass starvation was used as a tool of political control. He became convinced that the North Korean government
Government of North Korea
The North Korean government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il....
was evil and began campaigning against it. He began collecting evidence of abuses, which he passed to a visiting United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man, an act for which he was forced to leave North Korea in January 2001. Soon after returning home, he gave an interview about his experiences there soon, which the North Korean government denounced.
The North Korean government has portrayed him as a dishonest media manipulator suffering from mental instability. His wife, reacting to his decision to stay in South Korea as an anti-Kim activist, divorced him and is raising their children with a partner. "My wife blamed me for not taking care of my family. She said my vision, my goals, my projects, were worth much more to me. And afterwards, I realised she was right. I do not want to sacrifice my family. But I know my wife and her partner are taking care of my children, and that they are safe and healthy. But the North Korean children are not", said Vollertsen in 2003.
In September 2006, Vollertsen claimed he had been attacked by a gang and had been run over by a taxi while in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
prior to giving a speech on North Korea.
He has written the book Inside North Korea: Diary of a Mad Place, published in 2004. It was earlier translated into Japanese by Midori Segi and published in Japan in 2001.
External links
- Norbert Vollertsen on the Institute for Corean-American Studies website.
- Interview with the blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
One Free Korea, October 28, 2005. - Lecture transcript, October 14, 2003.
- "Eyewitness to the Axis of Evil", Good News Magazine, May/June 2002 issue.
- "Diary of a Mad Place", Time Asia, January 22, 2001.
- "For the Masses, 'Nothing Has Changed,' Expelled Doctor Asserts", The International Herald Tribune, January 9, 2001.