Sora Baek - SELL ME: I am from North Korea - Edinburgh Fringe Interview

As part of our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 coverage, we are running a series of interviews with artists and creatives that are taking part in the festival. 

In this interview, we speak to Sora Baek about their show SELL ME: I am from North Korea.

Where did your arts career begin?

When I got a free ticket for a play at a bus stop. I was 14 years old. 

Photo by Charles Yook

What can you tell me about your show?

Inspired by the true stories of incredibly courageous North Korean women defectors, “SELL ME: I am from North Korea” is a solo show that follows a North Korean girl, Jisun, who decides to sell herself to an old man to make money for her dying mother. However, after risking everything by crossing into China, she learns that no one wants to buy her and she finds herself on the streets. 

How would you describe the style of the show?
Innocent, raw and brutal

How have you approached developing the piece?

In 2018, I read a book called The Girl with Seven Names by Lee Hyeon Seo, a North Korean defector, and was completely blown away by the fact that how little I knew about North Korea even though I grew up in South Korea. Right away, I started a very intense research on North Korean defectors, especially women and children because I had this strong urge to educate myself. As I was getting deeper into my research, I just could not believe what I was finding and the fact that so many people were unaware of the unspeakable situation of people in the North. Soon, I started journaling about what I was discovering and also my responses to what I was experiencing. As a Korean native, writing in English was challenging. However, I felt a very strong urge to express myself and I sensed that it had to be done in English. I vigorously wrote for about a year. One day, I started putting all my pages of writing up on my walls to figure out what I had been writing and realised that I had written two separate solo shows that follow a North Korean woman defector’s journey to South Korea. I felt excited and honoured that I got to perform and share these incredibly important stories. 

How do/will you prepare yourself for a run at the Fringe?
I will remember what Maya Angelou said: I come as one but stand as 1000. 

Other than the show, what’s something you’re looking forward to doing in Edinburgh this year? 
I am bringing my family to Edinburgh and can’t wait to walk around and experience the beautiful city with my kiddos. 

What keeps you inspired?
Seeing inspirational work by other talented artists, connecting with other creative beings. 

Photo by Charles Yook

What do you hope an audience takes away from seeing the show?

Too often, when people think of North Korea, they automatically imagine nuclear weapons and military parades, forgetting the suffering of the average citizen and especially women. I hope that SELL ME helps its audience to rethink their preconceived notions of the country by sharing a unique personal perspective of a North Korean woman defector.

Where can audiences see the show?
SELL ME: I Am From North Korea is at Pleasance Below at 12:35, from 31 July - 25 August (not 7, 13, 19, 20). Hope to see you there!

Tickets are available from https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/sell-me-i-am-north-korea