nglish and helping me settle down," she said. "Until now, I have been working for the human rights of other defectors and now I want to work for all U.K. citizens."
However, her chances of winning are not high because Manchester is a staunchly Labour city and Holyrood has few Korean residents.
"I don't mind if I don't get elected," she said. "I just want to give hope to other defectors and refugees that they can do it too. I hope more people challenge themselves after I do."
Park was born in Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province and fled North Korea in 1998, when the reclusive state was ravaged by famine. She was sold off to a farmer in China for W750,000 and gave birth to his son (US$1=W1,121).
But then she was caught by police and sent back to the North in 2004, where she ended up in a labor camp. She fled the North again six months later to see her son back in China, and together they went to the U.K. where they were given asylum in 2008.
Good luck to her.
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