Thae Yong-ho

North Korean defector and South Korean politician · North Korea · On the map · Politicians · Born 1961 · age 65

Thae Yong-ho, also known by his pseudonym Tae Ku-min (태구민), is a North Korean-born South Korean politician and former diplomat who served as a member of the National Assembly for the Gangnam district of Seoul.

Thae Yong-ho is read about 345 times a day, in 16 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 109 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2017“The reason why I gave up all the privileges and economic benefits was that I felt I could not let my sons lead a life like me, as a modern-day slave.”In their words1 November 2017Remarks to the U.S. CongressRead the whole statement

“I could not take back the happy smiles of my sons by bringing them back to North Korea.”In their words1 November 2017Remarks to the U.S. CongressRead the whole statement

“I often was asked questions by my British friends which caught me flat footed.”In their words1 November 2017Remarks to the U.S. CongressRead the whole statement

“While Kim Jong Un has already long had the tools to destroy South Korea effectively, he also believes it is necessary to drive American forces out of the peninsula.”In their words1 November 2017Remarks to the U.S. CongressRead the whole statement

“German reunification could not have been achieved if the Hungarian government did not open its border with Austria to provide an exit route for the East German people.”In their words1 November 2017Remarks to the U.S. CongressRead the whole statement

“The world was united to abolish the South African apartheid.”In their words1 November 2017Remarks to the U.S. CongressRead the whole statement

1961Born25 July 1961

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Family

Thae Yong-ho

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Spouse O Hye-son

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About this person

After studying abroad in Beijing, China, for a decade, he became North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, prior to defecting with his family to South Korea in 2016. In August 2016, the South Korean government confirmed that Thae and his family were under their protection.

Country

North Korea

Where to find them

Websitethaeyongho.com

Politicians from North Korea 6

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Cho Man-sik53.7 of 100

Kim Chaek56.1 of 100 Hyon Yong-chol53.0 of 100