A North Korean man in Brazil longs for home

Americas Now

Brazil is home to the largest number of Koreans in Latin America. Most of them arrived hoping to begin a better life and most settled in Sao Paulo.

Correspondent Stephen Gibbs talks to one North Korean man who relocated to the country’s largest city over 50 years ago. Now in his twilight years, he has a last wish…to go home.

Brazil’s Korean population is estimated to be around fifty thousand and a small number of them came over when the Korean War ended back in 1953.   About 75 prisoners of war decided not to return to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).   Kim Myeong-bok is one of those men. At age 80, he still lives in Brazil today.

Kim explains the reasons why he wants to make the difficult journey back to the country where he was born and raised. He is still waiting to hear if the trip is even possible. 

Take a look at Stephen Gibbs’ interview with Kim Myeong-bok. Stephen calls his life one of the most interesting he has come across in South America.

A North Korean man in Brazil longs for home

Brazil is home to the largest number of Koreans in Latin America. Most of them arrived hoping to begin a better life and most settled in Sao Paulo. Correspondent Stephen Gibbs talks to one Korean man who relocated to the country’s largest city over 50 years ago. Now in his twilight years, he has a last wish…to go home.