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Discovering Joy: Ten Years in North Korea
A surprising discovery in the unlikliest of places ... Joy Yoon and her husband spent more than ten years as humanitarian NGO workers in one of the world’s most mysterious and closed societies. In this book she shares observations and insights, offering readers the chance to re-evaluate understandings of the so-called “Hermit Kingdom.”
- GenresNonfictionTravel
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 13, 2020
This is a very short book that seemed written with the intent of humanizing and painting a more positive portrait of North Korea and its citizens than the world is usually given. For the most part, I think it served as a recap of the humanitarian work the author and her husband completed while in country as well as a very concise history/cultural lesson. I did find it a bit off-putting how purposefully glossed over certain aspects of life were and just how rosy of a portrait was painted. For example, the main drawback of the free healthcare, (being that it is largely not that great in quality overall), is only very briefly addressed, but the system itself is quite extensively praised. I understand the whole point of the book was to highlight the “joy” of things rather than the never-ending bleakness, but this discord really didn’t sit well with me.
I appreciated the perspective, and I could read all day about the acts of kindness and deep friendships formed between the family and the citizens of the regime. However, I do think it’s problematic in how it presents some of the information.
I appreciated the perspective, and I could read all day about the acts of kindness and deep friendships formed between the family and the citizens of the regime. However, I do think it’s problematic in how it presents some of the information.
September 19, 2023
Interesting book offering a different perspective on North Korea and I enjoyed learning about their ideology and history. However important to remember the privileged position in which she entered and stayed in the country, and that her views do not necessarily reflect those who haven’t been able to just leave at any time like her but have had to escape often in very traumatic circumstances.
July 3, 2021
I really liked this book and it was a bit of a surprise. I've read many books written by refugees from N. Korea. They suffered greatly.
This book is sympathetic toward N. Korea. Joy and her family lived in N. Korea for 10 years. She lived and worked with people who were very committed to their country and portrayed the leaders as caring for their people. She and her husband are Christians. She did write about the persecution of Christians in the past but implied that is not such a big deal now? There are a few churches in Pyonyang. She wrote about how Kim Il Sung's mother was a Christian and he rebuilt the church she attended. Since then a Protestant church and a Catholic church have been built. Hard to figure all that?
Joy and her husband started humanitarian work with children with disabilities and this has really taken off in the country. This shows that there is compassion there. She made a point to explain the "worship" almost of the leaders and how this is just another dynasty in a long line of Korean dynasties. Kim Il Sung freed N. Korea from the Japanese and that was a huge thing. Even S. Koreans have issues with Japanese because of the past, not so distant past, like just 100 years ago. She explained why the US is so hated and I was shocked to learn how much damage US bombs caused on N. Korea. Almost 400,000 bombs were dropped on Pyongyang and the population at that time was only 400,000. There are mass graves and pictures of those look like the graves of the Holocaust The country was ravaged. So the US really is seen as the great enemy.
She had grown up in S. Korea (although she is a Caucasian US citizen). The best chapter was the last one about how N. Koreans and S. Koreans view unification differently. There is a monument near the DMZ depicting unification. S. Koreans want unification but it would be more assimilation. In the 70 years since all this happened, the cultures of the two countries have really diverged. Not sure how unification could even work.
This book is sympathetic toward N. Korea. Joy and her family lived in N. Korea for 10 years. She lived and worked with people who were very committed to their country and portrayed the leaders as caring for their people. She and her husband are Christians. She did write about the persecution of Christians in the past but implied that is not such a big deal now? There are a few churches in Pyonyang. She wrote about how Kim Il Sung's mother was a Christian and he rebuilt the church she attended. Since then a Protestant church and a Catholic church have been built. Hard to figure all that?
Joy and her husband started humanitarian work with children with disabilities and this has really taken off in the country. This shows that there is compassion there. She made a point to explain the "worship" almost of the leaders and how this is just another dynasty in a long line of Korean dynasties. Kim Il Sung freed N. Korea from the Japanese and that was a huge thing. Even S. Koreans have issues with Japanese because of the past, not so distant past, like just 100 years ago. She explained why the US is so hated and I was shocked to learn how much damage US bombs caused on N. Korea. Almost 400,000 bombs were dropped on Pyongyang and the population at that time was only 400,000. There are mass graves and pictures of those look like the graves of the Holocaust The country was ravaged. So the US really is seen as the great enemy.
She had grown up in S. Korea (although she is a Caucasian US citizen). The best chapter was the last one about how N. Koreans and S. Koreans view unification differently. There is a monument near the DMZ depicting unification. S. Koreans want unification but it would be more assimilation. In the 70 years since all this happened, the cultures of the two countries have really diverged. Not sure how unification could even work.
July 23, 2024
Its not that was a terrible book - I did finish it. However, I was turned off by the messaging.
The issue for me (if we ignore the repetition) is how glossed over certain issues were in the book.
For example, religious freedoms in the country had been until recently (according to the narrative of this book) have been opened up - and that those visiting the churches (Christian) Mosque (Muslims) seemed to be mostly foreigners. Those who were living in the country as part of diplomatic and/or humanitarian missions.
The author glosses over a number of issues in North Korea - as an example for 10 years of living in Pyongyang the Capital city; Joy and her family were subject to minders/guides. They could not freely leave their home and pop to the shops (that in almost every other country on the planet people(specifically visitors and foreigners are free to do). Instead of discussing how restricting this is; instead it is painted as something incredibly beneficial to all parties.
I get the message of finding joy, and trying to change the narrative of the perception of North Korea - however, this book felt as though the author had massively drank the Kool Aid (so to speak); and it was disappointing in its lack of detail.
I feel as though if this wasn't a self published book on Kindle, it could of benefited from an editor and perhaps a ghost writer to tease out some of the detail and add a narrative. As it was, this book is a rambling mess which gives very little details. Clearly the author wants to return to North Korea in order to carry on with her work.
The issue for me (if we ignore the repetition) is how glossed over certain issues were in the book.
For example, religious freedoms in the country had been until recently (according to the narrative of this book) have been opened up - and that those visiting the churches (Christian) Mosque (Muslims) seemed to be mostly foreigners. Those who were living in the country as part of diplomatic and/or humanitarian missions.
The author glosses over a number of issues in North Korea - as an example for 10 years of living in Pyongyang the Capital city; Joy and her family were subject to minders/guides. They could not freely leave their home and pop to the shops (that in almost every other country on the planet people(specifically visitors and foreigners are free to do). Instead of discussing how restricting this is; instead it is painted as something incredibly beneficial to all parties.
I get the message of finding joy, and trying to change the narrative of the perception of North Korea - however, this book felt as though the author had massively drank the Kool Aid (so to speak); and it was disappointing in its lack of detail.
I feel as though if this wasn't a self published book on Kindle, it could of benefited from an editor and perhaps a ghost writer to tease out some of the detail and add a narrative. As it was, this book is a rambling mess which gives very little details. Clearly the author wants to return to North Korea in order to carry on with her work.
June 12, 2023
Positive Light
You don't usually get NK in a positive light but here you get a light that brings understanding. You get how the people are and why the people are. You get the parts where a school teacher carries a student to school everyday to get an education because they can't walk. You get the part where that child finally gets much needed care from our humanitarian author. The people are fascinating! Completely different from our extremely individualistic society! They are the complete other extreme! It was so refreshing after hearing so many "my life was a nightmare in NK" to finally get what they are truly trying to build. She didn't really talk too much about the negatives but she talked a lot about the side of NK that will bring understanding. We need a lot more of that and her saving and building relationships with this opposite extreme needs to be read to not only understand this collective beautiful heart warming people but to understand us as a human race. They shouldn't have taken your visa!!!!!
You don't usually get NK in a positive light but here you get a light that brings understanding. You get how the people are and why the people are. You get the parts where a school teacher carries a student to school everyday to get an education because they can't walk. You get the part where that child finally gets much needed care from our humanitarian author. The people are fascinating! Completely different from our extremely individualistic society! They are the complete other extreme! It was so refreshing after hearing so many "my life was a nightmare in NK" to finally get what they are truly trying to build. She didn't really talk too much about the negatives but she talked a lot about the side of NK that will bring understanding. We need a lot more of that and her saving and building relationships with this opposite extreme needs to be read to not only understand this collective beautiful heart warming people but to understand us as a human race. They shouldn't have taken your visa!!!!!
May 29, 2019
Drink the kool aid?
This woman is out of her mind. Was she paid by the N Korean government to write this rag? Glowing reviews on the healthcare system!?? Good PR pics of the yoga balls your CHRISTIAN church donated to the rehab center. You do realize those children would not have those afflictions if mothers had adequate nutrition and pre natal care? Read the accounts of cgi!green so constipated because they have eaten sawdust to survive- those are KOREANS telling their story. But the good white Christian woman goes over for a few years and can adequately sum up decades of horror in a 150 page book and make it cheery? This book is not only a waste of time but utterly offensive . Stop.
This woman is out of her mind. Was she paid by the N Korean government to write this rag? Glowing reviews on the healthcare system!?? Good PR pics of the yoga balls your CHRISTIAN church donated to the rehab center. You do realize those children would not have those afflictions if mothers had adequate nutrition and pre natal care? Read the accounts of cgi!green so constipated because they have eaten sawdust to survive- those are KOREANS telling their story. But the good white Christian woman goes over for a few years and can adequately sum up decades of horror in a 150 page book and make it cheery? This book is not only a waste of time but utterly offensive . Stop.
November 18, 2018
Really interesting story about life as an outsider in North Korea. That distinction is very important, as the author never was, nor did she pretend to be an actual North Korean. She was insulated by the Christian community, her minders and the fact that she had limited access to most North Korean people.
Having said that, I did like the book and learned a lot from it. It is truly terrifying how brainwashed the people there are...how they seem so sincere in their worship of Kim Jong-Un.
I have to remember that I'm looking at this from a very Western Westerner and I see all of this through my very nuanced point of view.
Something for me to think about and learn more about.
Having said that, I did like the book and learned a lot from it. It is truly terrifying how brainwashed the people there are...how they seem so sincere in their worship of Kim Jong-Un.
I have to remember that I'm looking at this from a very Western Westerner and I see all of this through my very nuanced point of view.
Something for me to think about and learn more about.
January 5, 2024
Hope inspiring
Very personal account of their experiences in NK. Reading the book felt a bit like hearing the stories from Joy herself over a cup of coffee. I am more hopeful after reading the book; for Korea in particular and the world in general.
Very personal account of their experiences in NK. Reading the book felt a bit like hearing the stories from Joy herself over a cup of coffee. I am more hopeful after reading the book; for Korea in particular and the world in general.
June 30, 2019
Great book that offers insight to North Korea that can only come from having trusted relationships.
June 12, 2021
great simple outlook
if anyone’s wondering about how to break any stigma or mindset on this subject read this!
love personal outlook
great read!!!
if anyone’s wondering about how to break any stigma or mindset on this subject read this!
love personal outlook
great read!!!
April 21, 2022
Interesting
This is a different view on north Korea, but it does also read a bit like a love letter to the country would recommend though
This is a different view on north Korea, but it does also read a bit like a love letter to the country would recommend though
September 4, 2020
Praise be to Supreme Leader 김정은. This book offers a new perspective into the daily lives of Koreans, opposed to the countless books from expats who talk of eating acorns and insects to avoid starving to death (clearly lies, nothing but Western propaganda). As I finish this book, I am left with hope that one day the imperialist Americans dogs will apologize for destroying the beautiful Korean peninsula and beg for forgiveness, so that we may see the reunification of the Korean people. To anyone who feels this book is nothing but lies to gloss over the nation's supposed humanitarian issues, I wish you an extended vacation in a 선선한 데.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews