North Korean defector ‘nice guy who likes CSI’
Soldier known as ‘Oh’ also confesses love for Bruce Almighty
A North Korean soldier who made a daring dash across the South Korean border earlier this month is a “nice guy” who loves American films and TV shows, according to the surgeon treating him.
John Cook-Jong Lee told Reuters this week that the defector, a 24-year-old soldier known only as “Oh”, is recovering from serious bullet wounds after fellow North Korean soldiers shot at him as he fled to the South.
“Two major surgeries were required to remove the bullets and patch Oh back together”, The Guardian reports. Doctors needed almost 12 litres of blood transfusions to save him - enough to replace all his blood twice.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“He told me that he is so thankful for South Koreans for saving his life and giving him that much blood,” Lee said, before adding that Oh had admitted to liking Western films, TV shows and music, something severely frowned upon in his home country.
Oh revealed his fondness for the action thriller Transporter 3, religious comedy Bruce Almighty and the mystery TV drama series CSI, Lee recounted.
Lee said he had not shown Oh any news coverage regarding his defection.
Oh may receive South Korea's welfare plan for North Korean defectors, under which the government provides seven million won (£4,800) in cash over a year, as well as support in housing, education and job training, The Guardian adds.
The South Korean and US soldiers who led a rescue attempt to drag the Oh to safety after he was badly wounded have been awarded medals, Reuters reports.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published