Euna Lee

Euna Lee (Korean: 유나 리; born 1972) is a Korean American journalist.[2] While working for Current TV, Lee and fellow journalist Laura Ling were detained in North Korea after they crossed into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from the People's Republic of China without a visa. They were found guilty of illegal entry and sentenced to twelve years' hard labor in June 2009.[3][4] The United States Government protested the sentences, and implemented diplomatic efforts in order to secure the release of both Lee and Ling.[5] On August 4, 2009, Lee and Ling were pardoned by the North Korean government after a special humanitarian visit by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. She wrote a book on her experiences in North Korea titled The World Is Bigger Now: An American Journalist's Release from Captivity in North Korea ... A Remarkable Story of Faith, Family, and Forgiveness.[6]

Euna Lee (유나 리)
Born1972 (age 50–51)[1]
South Korea
NationalityAmerican
OccupationJournalist
Notable creditCurrent TV
SpouseMichael Saldate
Children1

Biography

Lee was born and raised in South Korea, and moved to the United States in order to attend Academy of Art University,[7] where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film and Broadcasting. She graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2012.[8] She is married to actor Michael Saldate; they have a daughter, Hana.[9]

On August 4, 2009, Bill Clinton visited North Korea in an attempt to free Lee and fellow journalist Laura Ling. The North Korean government pardoned both Lee and Ling after meeting with Clinton that day.[10][11] It is also said that the equipment and materials they used for their interviews were left behind in the North Korea, and that information about defectors and human rights activists who helped them in their interviews was obtained by the North Korean authorities, putting them in danger.[12] Human rights activists in South Korea accused Lee and Ling of placing North Korean refugees in danger through their actions.[13]

Awards and honours

In 2011, Lee and Ling received the McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.[14]

Published works
  • Lee, Euna; Dickey, Lisa (2010). The World is Bigger Now: An American Journalist's Release from Captivity in North Korea – a Remarkable Story of Faith, Family, and Forgiveness. New York: Broadway Books. ISBN 978-0307-716132.

See also

References
  1. "H.Res.555 – Expressing concern for the well-being of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee and urging the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to release them on humanitarian grounds". United States Congress. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  2. "Euna Lee resume". Act-edit.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  3. Lee, Jean H. (June 16, 2009), "NKorea: US journalists plotted 'smear campaign'", ABC News, archived from the original on June 19, 2009, retrieved August 3, 2009
  4. "KCNA Detailed Report on Truth about Crimes Committed by American Journalists", Korean Central News Agency, June 16, 2009, archived from the original on July 13, 2009, retrieved June 17, 2009
  5. Bosland, Katie; Netter, Sarah; Hinman, Katie (June 8, 2009). "U.S. Fighting North Korea Labor Camp Sentence for Laura Ling, Euna Lee". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  6. Lee, Euna (2010). The World is Bigger Now: An American Journalist's Release from Captivity in North Korea-- a Remarkable Story of Faith, Family, and Forgiveness. ISBN 978-0307716132.
  7. O'Donnell, Dorothy (December 10, 2015). "Telling Stories Behind the Headlines - Academy of Art University News". Academy of Art University News. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  8. "Euna Lee LinkedIn profile".
  9. Abdulrahim, Raja; Garrison, Jessica (June 11, 2009). "Friends speak up for L.A. journalists held by N. Korea". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 13, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  10. "N. Korean leader reportedly pardons U.S. journalists". CNN. August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  11. "North Korea: 2 US journalists pardoned". Associated Press. August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  12. 回顧録を出版するユナ・リー氏は“まず脱北者のことを考えるべき” daily nk japan
  13. Choe, Sang-hun (August 22, 2009). "In South Korea, Freed U.S. Journalists Come Under Harsh Criticism". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 18, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  14. "UGA Grady College honors former Current TV reporters with McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage - UGA Today". UGA Today. March 30, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
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