Filed Under: Human Rights, North Korea, Refugees, South Korea

Selected at age 24 to become an official state propaganda artist, Song Byeok’s faith in Kim Jong Il was ultimately betrayed when famine struck North Korea in the late 1990s. Millions of people-including Song’s father, mother, and sister-perished. Before finally escaping to South Korea in 2002, Song endured brutal torture at the hands of the regime he once praised in his work for attempting to cross into China to find food. Now, dedicated to promoting freedom, he paints pieces that satirize oppressive regimes worldwide.

On April 12, 2012, join the US-Korea Institute at SAIS and the Sejong Society of Washington, DC for a discussion with Song Byeok, about his transformation from North Korean propaganda artist into the world renowned Korean contemporary artist and satirist he is today.

Find event details and RSVP HERE.

Song Byeok’s exhibit of twenty acrylic paintings will also be showing at The Dunes gallery in Washington, DC (1402 Meridian Place, NW), from April 13-30. For more information about the artist, please visit www.songbyeok.com.