Escape from North Korea

Through the twilight to Mokpo

The next day we set off on the fishing boat at 5am. The night had provided us with much-needed cover to protect us from possible discovery, and now, in the light of the new day, we felt a mixture of hope and nervousness. We were heading towards Mokpo, a city on the southwest coast of South Korea. Mokpo, known as the gateway to the country's southern islands, offered the advantage of a busy port, but it did not attract the same attention as larger ports such as Busan or Incheon. We chose Mokpo because it represented a strategic location for us: large enough not to attract attention, but also with a community known for being open to newcomers. The morning drive was quiet, and as we As we approached the coast we could see the outline of Mokpo on the horizon. Grandpa, who had maintained an unwavering calm throughout the journey, now showed a hint of relief. “Almost there,” he murmured, a faint smile playing on his lips. As we entered the harbor, our hearts were full of hope, but also fear of what awaited us. We knew that arrival would be just the first step in a new life, full of challenges but also opportunities. When we had approached within a kilometer, we could no longer contain our joy. “We did it!” I exclaimed as we gathered in a joyful group hug. A quiet smile, marked by a mixture of relief and pride, appeared on Grandpa's lips again. We docked secretly and quietly left the boat. For the first time we set foot on ground that wasn't part of North Korea  a strange, almost surreal feeling. Getting off the boat, we made our way into town and were immediately overwhelmed by the sight that greeted us. It really was an indescribably new world.