티스토리 뷰
Website causes stir with nude defector photo
A local website claiming to highlight the plight faced by North Koreans has come under fire for publishing a nude photograph of a female North Korean refugee.
The website's manager, also a North Korean refugee, claims that the picture was posted to heighten awareness of poverty and human rights abuses suffered by North Koreans, but the woman insists that she was cheated.
Both their identities have been withheld for reasons of privacy. The website address has also not been disclosed.
The woman, who had been a well-known actress in the North, has requested the picture be removed immediately.
The website charges $25 for access to the picture.
All other posts, including pictures of starving North Koreans, scenes from a performing group's show and columns written on the hardships of North Korean defectors, can be accessed free of charge.
"There are many websites showing the crisis facing North Korean refugees and the hardship of the nation, but only a few people pay interest to them. I believe that the nude picture will play an effective role in arousing social attention," the website owner explained.
But the woman claims that she has been exploited.
"I took the picture because the manager said I could earn some money from it. I thought this would help me pay off my debts," she said.
The woman was an actress in North Korea best known for playing the role of Kim Jeong-sook, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's biological mother, in a play. She defected to South Korea in 2003.
She insists that the picture has nothing to do with human rights.
"The website manager had originally said that we should advertise the picture as 'Kim Jong-il's mom undresses,' only changing his words afterwards," she said.
"Although I told him that I wanted to give up on the project and that I no longer wanted my picture to be made public, he ignored me and posted it," she added. "But I am too afraid to press charges against him."
The website owner claims that it is unfair to ignore his side of the story.
"I have put money and effort into this project for over three years. It is not fair to scrap the project now," he said.
"Animal lovers hold nude protests to save endangered animals. Isn't it even more meaningful to hold a nude demonstration to save starving humans?" he insisted.
Proceeds from the picture go into a church account, with 70 percent of the earnings distributed to North Korean refugee salvation and missionary associations. But not many people have paid to see the picture so far.
"The account was opened for the church because I do not intend to profit from this project. only a small amount of money comes to me and the model takes 20 percent," the website owner said.
But the woman claims that the money is only going to the church because it had lent the website owner a large amount of money for the picture and other website-related projects.
(hayney@heraldm.com)
By Shin Hae-in