She first cultivated her interest in East Asia through a childhood infatuation with Japanese culture, which culminated in a one-year study abroad at Waseda University and an internship at a Tokyo-based humanitarian NGO. She currently works with North Korean defectors in Seoul, teaching them English to help them succeed at South Korean universities. A close follower of defector-run media, she strives to write about developments unfolding in North Korean society. All views expressed here are her own and do not reflect those of her employer.