Lee Ae-ran, North Korean refugees, defectors, International Women of Courage Award, Hillary Clinton

Poor. Isolated. Powerless.

That has been the lot of most North Korean defectors.  Without marketable skills, they often end up in low-paying jobs or on public support. Defectors do receive a period of adjustment training and a settlement payment from the government, but the latter often ends up in the hands of the "brokers" who helped them escape to South Korea or for a down payment on getting relatives out.

That is slowing changing. Defectors have started making their voices heard in South Korea and, using their connections in North Korea, are getting news to the outside world from a "man on the street" perspective from a previously totally isolated North Korean population. Services like the Daily NK have become value sources of information for people wanting to learn about the situation on the ground that western sources cannot provide. They do not pretend to be impartial, they openly loath the government they escaped, but they are the only show in town for news about North Korea aside official government pronouncements and reports from a few outside experts who are allowed to visit the country, many of whom compromise their objectivity by allowing themselves to be strung around by NK officials during their tours of the country.

Defectors have also taken the lead in getting information into North Korea by sending in videos and cell phones using the same routes that they used to escape. Less conventionally, they have sent leaflets via balloon launches across the border into North Korea to reach people in the southern half of the country.

One of those defectors, Professor Lee Ae-ran, was honored this week as an International Woman of Courage in a ceremony at the US State Department. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the award to Lee:

Speaking in honor of Lee, Clinton said, "She is being honored for spearheading initiative to improve the lives and education of the North Korean refugee community in South Korea, elevating the empowerment of women, and raising awareness of the dire human rights situation in North Korea."

Expect the ranks of defectors working to free their compatriots still in the North to grow as the flow of refugees continues and they expand their support network in South Korea.