It's sick how they live so lavishly while residents suffer so severely.

As a foreigner, living in South Korea… in the winter time, all I could think about is the North Korean people living there. It’s SOOO cold during the winter. And it’s DARK over there. It also saddens me that N Koreans when they do escape, are treated with such disrespect when they are in South Korea. It’s sad. It’s a dark vibe when you’re at the demilitarized zone. Quiet and cold.

Stephanie is it safe for u to make this video?😭

The only difference between me and those poor 13 years old little girls is where i was born , they have 0 control over that and it’s just so unfair

It’s so crazy how a group of people can actually punish their own people and have no respect for their lives.

The way you described the torture that involves staying in one position for a long time made me wonder if that 18 year old who came back brain dead from NK was forced to do that and it made him have those injuries that couldn’t be seen

Its so disgusting how much food they provide while letting their population is starve to death 😭 I can't believe how evil and selfish some people with money and power are. But it gets sooo much worse! I can't imagine being forced to hurt another person. You will be the one tortured if you don't participate. 😭

It's just awful that UKposts makes it necessary to censor the word "rape". Not using the word seems like it diminishes the horrible truth.

We watched a documentary on North Korea when I was in high school and it legit almost made the whole class cry. The atrocities that happen everyday there and are hidden by the government, it breaks my heart 😞😖

The amount of detail Stephanie puts into her case reports is insane. Respectful to the victims, well researched, and indeed, she doesn’t hold back on the information. I recommended this pod to my mother who doesn’t even like true crime. It’s somehow “good” to know how evil people can be, even if it doesn’t benefit me in the end.

I don't think I've ever felt so sick to my stomach and completely unsettled and disturbed in...probably ever. No empathy or compassion for any living creature. May God help North Korea.

You bring SUCH passion and energy to these recounts, Stephanie!!! Absolutely SUPERB. To give you an idea - I grew up in the USSR in the late 60s & the 70s. Our Pioneer Unit was sent on a "Friendship & Goodwill" tour of North Korea. We were SOVIET kids and WE got paranoid and spooked by North Korea. I remember one of my friends saying "This is how it must've been for our parents & grandparents during the Stalin days" - and our Unit Leader nodded & blew air out of his mouth with a "this is BIZARRE" look on his face. Literally the second our train crossed back into the USSR we all started hugging and laughing - and kids actually kissed the ground when we got off the train. In the USSR. Let that sink in. OH! There were 2 or 3 American soldiers who'd defected (!) across the DMZ and were huge stars in Korean films - they played the American bad guys. We saw 3 movies with them, and even got to meet one of them (James Dresnok) when we were taken on a tour of the film studios in Pyongyang.

Thinking about a 3 week old baby walking is very unsettling. What a strange idea. Lots of strange ideas in this case

The part where Eun-hee and director Shin reunite freaking brought me to tears!

I remember going into a rabbit hole with this case and was so upset by it. I can’t imagine being taken from everything you know and love, get trapped and everyone knows where you are but couldn’t do anything to help you. Thank god they were able to free themselves

I went through 2 weeks of torture in Vladivostok back in the late 90's. Starvation is a major function of the torture I went through, sleep deprivation another. Being forced to stand like a crucified Jesus's was a favourite. I was lucky to be released back home after such a short period of time. The Captain of the ship we were on spent 6 months locked up.

Every single time i hear something about the North Korean prison camps it always just pisses me off. No creature should go through what millions of those human beings go through. I pray for all of the people trapped in them. Thank you soo much for making this very important video ♥

Escape and later life The couple finally staged their escape in 1986 while on a trip to Vienna, where they fled to the U.S. embassy and requested political asylum. They lived in Reston, Virginia, then Beverly Hills, California, before returning to South Korea in 1999. On April 16, 2018, Choi died in hospital where she was due to have a kidney dialysis during the afternoon. Her death resulted in widespread mourning across South Korea.

I think when you’re in the true crime world one can quickly be desensitised to how traumatic the stories (reality) that Steph tell us about but this video really made me deeply sad as well as deeply grateful. There is nothing I have done that makes me deserve the life I live. I’m African and at times we can lose perspective on the privilege of life and life in freedom because of all the other disadvantages we face and have but the fact that I have a fridge full of full, warm water, electricity, clothing, ability to express myself freely, freedom to practice my Christian faith without fear and there’s the super luxuries such university education, cars, internet connection, digital devices, the ability to move from one country to another. Wow, I thank God every single day for the simple things.

Stephanie's narratives of the events was on another level. How can she talk nonstop maintaining the order of events on point and with side notes inserted in between w/o teleprompter or cue cards/scripts. Really interesting and mind blowing. Her chain of thoughts is on another level indeed. Been binge watching her vids since last week. 😂

In 1976, Choi divorced Shin after seeing news that he had fathered two children with the young actress Oh Su-mi. Choi's career began to suffer after her divorce, and she traveled to Hong Kong in 1978 to meet with a person posing as a businessman who offered to set up a new film company with her. In Hong Kong, Choi was abducted and taken to North Korea by the order of Kim Jong-il. While searching for Choi after her abduction, Shin was also abducted and taken to North Korea soon after. In North Korea, Choi and Shin were remarried, at Kim's recommendation. Kim had them make films together, including 1985's Salt, for which Choi won best actress at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival. Choi later said that the couple was able to make "films with artistic values, instead of just propaganda films extolling the regime," but that she could not forgive Kim for kidnapping her. While in North Korea, Choi converted to Roman Catholicism.

ROTTEN MANGO IS A MACHIIIINNNEEE!!! Stephanie, BABYGURL, your whole team should be so proud! It is obvious how hard you guys work, thank you for your dedication ❤❤ Also, North Korea makes me physically ill, my heart aches for the everyday people. I so badly want them to find freedom and happiness. It's MISERABLE in NK.

Is no one else confused by how she managed to put out so many videos so quickly??? Like all the videos are so detailed too how is she posting like three a week, the work ethic is crazyyy

Their real life as hostages sounds like a movie in and of itself! Wow! Kudos to them for surviving and emerging victorious!!!

Love how Stephanie is always able to explain a case to such depth

the fact that the world turns a blind eye to these atrocities is criminal.

Dude, rotten mango. You are literally the BEST story teller ever. The way you explain any story is so engaging. Oh my god you were meant to tell stories like bro. You're my fav true crime podcaster

19:01 the motorcycle pose was a punishment in my primary school in the 2010s for lateness. It was usually for 10 minutes and i found it so painful, i can't imagine doing that for 20 hours😭😭😭😭

The fact that I had NEVER heard the word "bespoke" (im not a native english speaker), and I learned it today watching Good Mythical More where they stopped a bit to define it, and then started watching this video and it was used too! Shook. It feels like the universe winks a little

What a story … I don’t usually comment .. but wanted to give Stephanie her flowers … your knack for storyteller is top tier.. how you memorise all the facts trips me out .

I found your tik toks I believe a year into the pandem... When I got a new phone and had to make a new account. Then I recently found your UKposts channels, and needless to say, I now NEED NEW CONTENT, cuz there is nothing left, lol!!! As your HUSBAND stated, I am concerned for your safety as well... But keep doing what you are doing. Fellow New Yorker, Staten Islander here!! Welcome, much LOVE and RESPECT to you and your entire family. ~ Joe

How does she tell these stories without so much as a stutter or stumbling over words…Nothing but mad respect for Stephanie Soo❤

Love the classical backdrop. Helps add to the mood of the video

I just spent 9 days in the hospital because I was throwing up and was dehydrated. I couldn’t even rinse my mouth without getting sick and I ended up in renal failure. They were giving me pain meds by IV because the pain was unbearable…I can’t imagine what these people went through

After everything that has been happening in Palestine, nothing in this life shocks me anymore

This story is truly shocking my mind was blown when I heard it on Spotify

The speed with which Stephanie is pumping these out is incredible! I hope she's taking care of her mental health. I know she's an adult and knows herself, but I also know content creators really push themselves for their audience. Edit: wasn't trying to get clout or likes for this comment but since it's had more interaction than expected... I was just expressing my current concern for Stephanie's mental wellbeing because it seems to me, a viewer, like she's diving into a lot of upsetting topics very quickly. I could be totally wrong, and she could have just pre-recorded a bunch of these videos and is just releasing them at a rapid-fire pace. I understand the frustration about feeling like victims aren't seen, or heard, or respected enough. Please try to understand that I don't care about the creator more than the victims. The victims and survivors who these events actually happened to is real life and not just a story to be passively consumed. I know that. I also know that I can opt out of watching these videos, but Stephanie will continue to make them, research topics, and write scripts. That can't be good on her mental health. Trauma and pain are not competitions. I was just expressing concern for something I'm seeing in semi-realtime. Hope y'all have a good day. ❤️

Thank you for covering this story. People need to know the hell these people live every day. Please cover more but protect yourself. They don't want the truth getting out.

I can't believe what's going on in North Korea is still going on. Truly. I got on a kick like a year ago and was obsessed with researching it, what goes on there, reading defectors stories, etc.. it's just sickening. Horrifying.. no words. I still haven't figured out if it's a good thing or a bad thing that they have no idea that people live differently than they do. It's all they all know. It's just so unfair, no one chose to be born there. Just the pick of the draw.. you happen to be born in this one small piece of land that happens to be the worst place on earth. I hope all the time that someone steps in and saves these people. 💔

My favorite thing about this podcast is I’m also learning about other cultures and pronunciations almost every single episode. Amazing content.

She is such a good story teller that i sat half way through an ad and realized i got caught up in her story about the product.😂😂

Ever since you mentioned this in one of your other videos I have been searching for this story everywhere (including your UKposts and was unsuccessful) but didn’t watch past 2 minutes because no one tells a story like you do!! Sooo happy to have opened UKposts and found you had uploaded this!!! Keep grinding ❤

This video has made me so thankful to be born in the country Im from

I subbed about 3 weeks ago I can't tell you how many vids of yours I've watched now ..... Too many?? Probably 🤷🏾‍♂️...... so thank you Stephanie and to your team for all your hard work❤

holy crap dude, i just found ur channel and im sad i havent watched before but i love ur cadence and the way u so genuinely talk abt problems clearly without sugar coating, keep it up its amazing!!

I stumbled onto your UKposts channel. You do such a great job, and the suspense you create is addictive. I can't stop watching. Good stuff !

This has refreshed a lesson I learned a while ago: You are the only person that can help you. No matter how badly you need something, it would be within your best interest to get it yourself, least you end up drugged on a boat waking up to Kim Il Sung staring down at you for eight days straight.

I love the disclaimer you give before every video. I feel like you actually care about the facts and getting the story correct. I appreciate that.

00:00:00 "I want you to star in North Korean movies" 00:04:17 [sponsor] 00:07:07 South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee missing (Shin Sang-ok (the director and ex-husband) suspect) 00:08:57 prison camps 00:23:07 mass games 00:27:40 [sponsor] 00:29:42 kidnap to come / lavish life / pleasure squad 00:41:49 autocracy and famine 00:43:58 Kim Jong-il quick intro (father: Kim Il-sung, sons: Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong Un) and legends 00:48:20 movie obsession / propaganda 00:52:37 the birth of Kim Jong Nam 00:55:02 (strange cut to some comedian story inspiring) abductions to teach spies 00:58:49 indoctrination of Director Shin, actress Eun-hee and the legend of Kim Jong-il's birth 01:03:00 reunion after brainwashing 01:07:16 the story of kidnap 01:11:50 flee attempts 01:15:25 [sponsor] 01:19:52 movie production / export culture / where to get proof of abduction 01:27:18 people's actress / stadium ex*cution 01:32:04 Kim Jong-il's personality / recording and smuggling audio tapes to Budapest / dangerously early publication 01:42:43 public denial of the tapes / Choi Eun-hee's and film making background 01:48:15 Vienna / embassy escape / change of supreme leader / movie smuggling epilogue

Oh, so cool and absolutely perfect timing. This morning I just finished listening to this one on Spotify (Started listening to everything from #1 on Spotify just over a month ago).

I watch your videos as they come out now. It’s something to look forward to! Thank you for being you!!!

I am in a binge habit of relaxing to Stephanie's stories. She's insanely great at this!

I always get worried when you speak on N Korea... That's terrifying

I found Rotten Mango a week ago and have been binge watching. So detailed. So well researched. Topics and cultural details I’ve never had a chance to hear about before. This one, I worry about your safety!

PERFECT TIMING, ready for my night time routine lmao

I usually can’t sit thru videos longer than 45-60 minutes, I listened to this entire thing! Super good. You’re growing on me lol.

My grandfather was the CIA agent who interviewed Eun-Hee when she was at the US embassy in Vienna and escorted her to America! We have a pic of her in his old apartment!

Amazing video!! Everyone needs to become aware of the atrocities happening there. You did great at the storytelling. 😌

I love everything about how you conduct this podcast; your philanthropic work and choices, sponsors and way you weave them in. And I'm also learning a second language so yay. And I do watch your other channels lol but for real, love your choices 100%. grazie mille ;)

Love your content Stephanie! Could you please cover more Latin American cases? I recommend researching the Gloria Trevi scandal, right up your lane. Thanks!

To all that read this, thank you for being you. I wish you all inner peace, love, and light❤ To Stephanie and her amazing team- thank you for having the courage to share these stories with the level of detail.

A 70-year-old man *“Israeli soldiers took me from my house in the neighbourhood of Al-Amal in Khan Yunis, I told them that I was sick and could not move, but they did not care. They forced me to take off my clothes."* He explained that the Israeli soldiers made more arrests later on and *“led us to a detention facility that was nothing more than an iron cage for severe torture”. He spent 10 days confined to the prison. “We were subjected to daily insults and beatings. We went four days without drinking [anything]. They poured water on the ground in front of us as a form of torture. We were made to sit on our knees, given little food, and only allowed to use the restroom once.”*

Watching this and hearing abt all the inhumane and cruel things north korea does to their citizens makes me baffled that some australians made a video saying that all that stuff is just propaganda. Like WHAT

being kidnapped period is terrifying.... I was held for 9 days and forced to do horrible things and had to allow people do things to me or else they beat me or drugged me! I am lucky to be alive and "free", I guess. The trauma around it is still with me 7 years later which is like prison at times. And this woman was being given extravagant beautiful expensive things to keep her happy but she still hated it.... *edit- (because some people aren't understanding what I am saying) when I said "she was given nice things and she still hated it". I mean it doesn't matter if your in a physically or mentally abusive situation or they treat you like gold - Kidnapped and held against your will is kidnapped and held against your will! It doesn't matter how different they can be they are all not right and horrible to experience. NOBODY has the right to control someone to hold anyone against their will. I hope this ends the ugly talk in the comment section. IDK why anyone would think I insinuated that she should like it because she's being spoiled, that's just sick! I was a victim myself WTH is wrong with some of you?

Steph, Steph, STEPHANIE!!! Oh muh goodness, my mind is blown 🤯!! Your research, input & storytelling truly brings HISTORY TO LIFE!!

Stephanie, thank you for this beautifully told story. Pls always be safe and more power!!!

i just listened to your podcast #342 and it was one of the most insane ones i’ve heard in a whilee you did an amazing coverage of an incredibly difficult story to tell and your continuous work in your channels i absolutely love to listen to your videos and podcasts at work and the gym!

9:56 WTH WHY and HOW is this allowed to happen. No wonder people walk around like zombies with no emotion or feelings after witnessing something like this....... Breaks my heart that they live in a world where they are not allowed to have a spirit......I'm sorry

Thank you to your team and you, for the commitment of giving us these stories. The work ethic is quite impeccable, especially considered the length of the stories

And now we've come full circle; I was introduced to your channel from the Kim/UKposts "prank" video and now that I'm finally subbed, you fill in all the details about this famous kidnapping that I only knew part of and tie it together with the UKpostsrs.. Amazing work, Team Mango 🥭

17:13 My parents used stress potions on us and we had to stay like that for hours and I remember my toes would always hurt and always be sore because of they’re favorite potion to put us in, it was so hard to walk, my siblings and I’d be would crawl everywhere in the house because it hurt much less. They only stopped when my grandma finally found something to get them to stop. I’m not sure how accurate this is but she came over with a news paper and she showed it to them and I remember her saying “it’s illegal in prisons, imagine what CPS would do if they found out your using punishments they were deemed so inhumane that it’s illegal in prison” So they actually stopped and that was a big day of celebration for my siblings and i, it really is inhumane and cruel.

❤Thank you for the new video Stephanie..I’ve had such a rough day..just thank you..your uploads have been getting me through the day recently

Been waiting for this this one!! Have been so curious ever since you brought it up!

Your storytelling is just incredible! Been watching you for a while and it's just getting even more immersive and incredible!

What happened with the visuals from the games? They are all blurred now, but when I saw them after this video was posted you could see the acts and what was happening? 🤔 Did youtube blur it?

Thanks for adding the points of view of those involved. I've read books and watched videos mentioning this case before.

You are an excellent racontrice🤩👍🏽!!! You always have my full attention and I think I'm hooked!!! On top of that, I'm also gaining insight into Asian customs and culture, which I hadn't until I came across Rotten Mango. I especially love to listen to you in the morning, when I'm getting ready for the day. Thank you for sharing your skills and long may it continue ❤❤🎉

Thank you for always telling us to stay safe, Stephanie! I hope you and your family stay safe too after showcasing all of these horror stories around the world. My favourite youtuber 💓

This is literally some of the worst things ive ever heard. Those poor people and animals. My heart aches.

This was fascinating. Loved it. Edge of my seat through the whole thing. The only book I've read about North Korea was My Holiday in North Korea. It was also fascinating. Now I'm going to order the book you recommended. Thank you for telling this one. I love your videos.

The fact that the whole rest of the world just sits back and allows these poor people to live in a country like this is upsetting. What a disgusting family having all that monet and wasting it on stupid things while their people are starving and they expect them to praise them. It's disappointing that these types of people exist, but I suppose they are no different from the other 1% rich people. They don't care about starving people. I'm glad that this couple was able to escape and live out the rest of their lives together.

It’s so important to tell stories like this in the time we live. You guys are awesome ❤

This couple is so lucky!! I'm not even religious but thank the GODS that Kim thought they were on his side. My god!!

Omg this was nearly 2 hours long, and I learned so much not just about the case itself but as always I also learned a lot about the world too. Thanks rotten mangoes (the mango team)! The last part about desperate housewives was hilarious but then you hit me with the squid games and I was feelin more yikes than "haha I remember the scandals of desperate housewives, my family loved watching that show when I was younger" (I love your videos so much! Thanks for another great episode, it's nice to "hang out" with you in a way when I'm gardening by myself and want a bit of low effort company to chat while I work)

I genuinely have not heard of such barbaric tactics on a large scale since I read about my own history (slavery in the USA)

I'm so glad you told this story!!! ITS INSANE.

this is so well researched and eye opening, thank you for this, we need this awareness❤

I had heard this story before, but this is such a better retelling and so much more thoroughly researched. thanks!

I’m not even gonna lie, North Korea sounds like hell in Earth….

HOW FREAKIN SAD! Thank you Stephanie for another well done, educational, emotional and devastating episode. Take care . Hugs to you both

Please keep safe and be cautious with this video out. Love your videos and I truly appreciate the hard work and detailed information you give in your videos.

Please do the Marianne Bachmeier case!! I would love it if you covered it! 🙏🙏🙏❤❤ I seriously love your videos so much! I was first introduced to you by Spotify and eventually i found out that you had a UKposts channel! Im a huge fan already and i love you so much! ❤❤❤ (A little context on the case: Marianne Bachmeier (a mother) killed her 7-year old daughters' r@pist/murder in the court room with a firearm)

it's really traumatizing to know things like these are happening in North Korea and I'm glad ppl are addressingthe issues.. but why is no one talking how Isreal doing nearly the same to Gaza

I doubt you’ll ever read this but if you do I just want to tell you how captivating you are to listen to! I never watched you before but I discovered this channel and I have literally never physically literally been on the edge of my seat listening to something but your videos like girlfriend you really have it going on! I was literally captivated lol I keep sharing that video about Kim Jong Un’s brother it was so WILD! Anyways you have a new subscriber cause I love your storytelling

I’ve heard this story but your story telling skills are TOP TIER!!! Thanks for sharing this story

Stephanie, at the end you and I said bizarre at the same time! That's the only word I could come up with after listening to this. I rarely comment on anybody but you are one hell of a story telle.r thank you.

I love how much you dive into these cases and give much detail! Thank you💖

Accented Cinema did a deep dive on the movies themselves. I really like your take on the direct case!

It’s crazy that this story hasn’t been made into a movie yet

Stephanie and the RM team never disappoint, EVER. Thank you for bring this topic/case forward.