All these loose threads can be connected by reading her book , most of the stuff she said is the truth and with some minute exaggerations . She lied at the korean teen show because she was new to the country and didn't wish to consolidate a harsh image and wasn't at a stage to embrace her trauma . Its sort of dissapointing that a channel like Nightfall wouldn't do proper investigation whilst downplaying a woman who has undergone such difficult hardships.

Maybe realizing that this pays so well, she started to fabricate and spice things for more money, publicity? Who knows, but still sounds suspicious.

I can understand having a few slip ups with memory. It’s common she’s not perfect. But to have so many false claims or no possible way for it to even occur, during one of the most tragic moments in her life, seems a bit odd to me and makes me skeptical.

She isn’t really claiming to be a victim but more of a survivor.

What she said, especially in her book has the ring of truth.

I found her channel during the pandemic, and I was shocked by hearing those stories. When I then heard about the allegations that she might be lying, I listened to other defectors, and many things matched. So, I don't think her story is false, but I do think that some of the stuff she said might be exaggerated. She also mentioned many times that life is very different for people who live in Pyongyang and those who live outside of it. It's like a completely different world. She lived in the countryside and had a life of struggle."

Korean American here. Grew up in Paju which is a stone's throw away from North Korea. I also lived in Seoul, and I've met probably, without exaggeration, more than 200 defectors. They're more prevalent than you think. One guy was my coworker at a local coffee shop. His accent was very obvious.

Someone can be both a victim and a liar. Some can also have faulty memory..

She was a victim of the regime and now she is being attacked for not just surviving but thriving. It's sad to read the judgemntal comments from people who never walked in her shoes.

My opinion is that she is both,

As someone who has read her book, she explained that her family went from being wealthy to losing pretty much everything. Her father was running his own business and though he was able to bribe police to keep quiet for a long time, they started really cracking down on this. Eventually, he got caught and got arrested which in North Korea, if one of your family members gets punished, you all get punished. So they lost a lot of their money and their status and because there was no other income coming in, this meant that her mother had to travel miles away to find work, leaving Yeonmi and her sister at home to fend for themselves. I think they were 8 and 10 when this happened so they were living alone off of pretty much rice. And this was during the famine so while neighbors would help out every once a while, it quickly became every man for himself. That I can believe.

I think anyone who would defend a state like North Korea tells you everything you need to know about them. I believe her.

Don't share your personal life. People only care when you suffer. As soon as you start enjoying life, they stop supporting you.