North Korea: Jang In-sook
Born in 1941 in North Korea, Jang In-sook is one of the first North Korean women to receive a “Kim Jong II Commendation.” She began her education at the Pyongyang Higher Construction College in Pyongyang, North Korea, and holds a diploma from the Department of Transportation Engineering at the Pyongyang Kim Chaek University of Technology in Pyongyang. In North Korea, Jang In-sook worked as an architect at the Urban Design Office for 30 years, focusing on urban planning and bridge designs. She also worked at the Coal Mine Design Office in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, before defecting to South Korea in 1997. Jang In-sook has served as president of the Association of North Korean Defectors for Peaceful Reunification, and as president of Jindallaehoe, an organization for North Korean defectors. She earned ten commendations throughout her career as an architect in North Korea.
References
“‘Female Architect Who Defected from North Korea: Jang In-Sook.” Architectural Institute of Korea Association. Accessed March 4, 2024. https://www.ancnews.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1667.
“Home in South Korea: Civil Engineer, North Korean woman Jang-Sook.” [“남한의 보금자리 – 토목기사 출신 탈북여성 장인숙 — RFA 자유아시아방송.”] RFA. December 22, 2004. https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nest_nk-20041222.html.
“Jang In-sook, co-chair of the North Korean Defectors Association Preparatory Committee.” [“‘탈북인 연합회 준비委’ 공동대표 장인숙씨.”] Chosun. September 4, 2001. https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2001/09/04/2001090470256.html.
“North Korean Architecture and Its Inner Thoughts Seen throuh the Eyes of an Architect.” Architect Newspaper, accessed March 4, 2024. http://archinews.net/%EC%BB%AC%EB%9F%BC-%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94/%EA%B8%B0%ED%9A%8D%EC%97%B0%EC%9E%AC/13336?ckattempt=2.
“The Rose of North Korea.” 매일경제. “귀순건축가 장인숙씨 ‘北 진출 장밋빛 환상 금물,’” June 8, 2000. https://www.mk.co.kr/news/all/2327136.
“Who is Jang In-sook, the president of the North Korean Defectors Association?” [“장인숙 탈북자회장 누구인가.”] The Korea Daily, June 11, 2001. https://news.koreadaily.com/2001/06/11/society/generalsociety/139517.html.
