In a recent interview with the JoongAn Daily, Ha Tae Keung discussed his transition from left wing activist in the 1980’s, to his current fight for North Korean human rights with Open Radio for North Korea. Ha claims those who supported North Korea in the past had a lack of knowledge about the true situation in North Korea.
However, after more information became available, and as Ha and other South Koreans learned the reality of North Korea through defectors in late 1990s, Ha felt the situation was “unforgivable, unacceptable, and inhumane”.
Now Ha fights against those in the liberal camp who choose to ignore the human rights abuses in North Korea. Addressing the accusation that he has changed his political track, Ha claimed “I’ve always struggled for Korean democracy. I haven’t ever abandoned my beliefs.”