Phillip Buck
Encyclopedia
Reverend Phillip Jun Buck (born John S. Yoon on January 6, 1941 in Hwang Hae Nam Do, Ong Jin Goon, North Korea
) is a Korean-American human-rights activist. He is a Christian
reverend and a leading supporter for human rights in North Korea. He has been awarded several awards for his work, including the Civil Courage Prize
and the Jefferson Award.
in the 1950s, he became separated from his family and fled to South Korea
, where he would live in an orphanage until immigrating to Seattle, Washington
in the United States in 1982. He eventually became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 1989.
of the Train Foundation. The award recognizes "extraordinary heroes of conscience".
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...
) is a Korean-American human-rights activist. He is a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
reverend and a leading supporter for human rights in North Korea. He has been awarded several awards for his work, including the Civil Courage Prize
Civil Courage Prize
The Civil Courage Prize is a human rights award which is awarded to "steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk — rather than military valor." It is awarded by the Trustees of The Train Foundation annually and may be awarded posthumously....
and the Jefferson Award.
Early life
Rev. Buck was born in North Korea. During the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
in the 1950s, he became separated from his family and fled to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, where he would live in an orphanage until immigrating to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
in the United States in 1982. He eventually became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 1989.
Missionary
Buck studied to become a reverend as a missionary at Khabarovsk and Vladivostok, Russia in 1992. He would later obtain a Bachelor's degree and then a Master's degree in theology from Han Sae UniversityArrest
On May 9, 2005, Buck was arrested by Chinese authorities while working to help Korean refugees in China. He was imprisoned for 15 months before finally being released.Recognition
In 2007, Buck was awarded the Civil Courage PrizeCivil Courage Prize
The Civil Courage Prize is a human rights award which is awarded to "steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk — rather than military valor." It is awarded by the Trustees of The Train Foundation annually and may be awarded posthumously....
of the Train Foundation. The award recognizes "extraordinary heroes of conscience".