Across the Tumen: A North Korean Kkotjebi Boy’s Quest

YEONG-DAE IS A YOUNG BOY WHO HAS TO BEG ON THE STREETS AS A KKOTJEBI JUST TO SURVIVE. HE CROSSES THE TUMEN RIVER TO FIND HIS SISTER, HIS ONLY SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBER. As North Korea undergoes a devastating famine, Yeong-dae loses both his parents and is forced to beg on the streets. Soon, this young boy sets off on a desperate journey to China to find his sister—his last living family member. Captured by the authorities, he is sent back to the North, where he is thrown in jail and tortured. Once he is finally released, he crosses the Tumen River again, more determined than ever to find a place where he can live a decent life. This inspiring tale offers a glimpse into the horrors faced by North Korean children—and their indomitable will to survive.