By Gabe Segoine
Hi there—I’m Gabe Segoine. That’s S-E-G-O-I-N-E.
Why do I spell that out? Because as far as I know, I’m the last Segoine on earth. My dad (still alive and well) had one son—me—and I have only daughters. So unless you happen to know another Segoine, drop me a message. I’d love to hear from you.
But that’s not why you’re here. I want to talk about my favorite topic: North Korea.
Why North Korea?
Because I’m just crazy like that, I guess. I’ve traveled to North Korea 19 times doing humanitarian work—everything from drilling wells to distributing rice to organizing cultural exchanges, including introducing surfing to the country for the first time with Surfing the Nations.
After that many visits, I tend to get asked a lot of the same questions. I thought I’d share five of the most common ones here.
1. Have You Ever Met Kim Jong-Un?
Nope.
Kim Jong-Un isn’t exactly at the Pyongyang airport greeting random visitors with a big smile and a welcome flag. If you’re a head of state, maybe. But for the rest of us, that’s not how it works.
Now, if by some twist of fate I had the chance to meet him, would I? Probably, yes—even though my South Korean wife wouldn’t love the idea. Still, I’d take the opportunity. It’s not about endorsement—it’s about engagement. And I believe dialogue matters.
2. Are North Koreans Crazy?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: We need to distinguish between the people of North Korea and the government of North Korea. Most citizens are just ordinary people—farmers, students, workers—born into a system they didn’t choose. The actions of the government shouldn’t be confused with the hearts of the people.
As for the government itself? Not crazy—crafty. Sly, even. Their strategy is long-term survival, not short-term wins. I don’t agree with all of their decisions, but I don’t believe insanity is the driving force behind them. Survival is.
3. Is It Safe to Travel to North Korea?
Yes and no.
Unsafe if:
- You try to enter illegally (don’t).
- You’re a Korean War veteran (they see the war as ongoing).
- You plan to do anything hostile to their regime—inside or outside their borders.
- You attempt to spread religious material.
But if you follow the rules, have government invitation, and stay within clearly understood boundaries, then yes—it’s generally safe. I’ve never been threatened or mistreated by anyone there. The worst I ever experienced? A teenage boy flipped me the bird from a roadside. I waved back.
4. Why Can’t Americans Travel to North Korea?
The U.S. government implemented a travel ban in September 2017, largely in response to the tragic case of Otto Warmbier, an American student detained in North Korea and returned home in a coma.
His story—combined with the detainment of other Korean-Americans—became a turning point. Since then, all U.S. citizens have been prohibited from visiting unless granted a special validation passport, which is rare.
I have the special passport, but haven’t been back since the travel ban. It’s been frustrating because the ban itself hinders the humanitarian work I used to do—like well drilling and medical aid. I’m hopeful the situation will change, but for now, we wait.
5. Are the People Allowed to Have Religion?
Not in the way we think of it.
The only sanctioned belief system in North Korea is Juche—a political ideology centered on self-reliance and loyalty to the ruling Kim family. While there are churches and temples for show, freedom of religion as we know it doesn’t exist.
This is why attempting to bring in Bibles, tracts, or any kind of evangelism is a serious offense. I’ve been very cautious to respect the rules and avoid putting locals in danger.
Final Thoughts
North Korea is a paradox—deeply isolated and yet surprisingly human when you connect with the people. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do believe this: we must separate the people from the politics. The ordinary men, women, and children I’ve met deserve to be seen for who they are—not just as products of their system.
Thanks for reading. If you have questions, feel free to drop them in the comments. Maybe I’ll pick the series back up and answer more of the top 10 in a future post.
Gabe Segoine is the founder of LNKM and author of Surfing North Korea. He spent over a decade in Northeast Asia doing humanitarian work focused on the DPRK. Gabe now writes about culture, faith, and emerging AI from a deeply human perspective. His book Surfing North Korea and Other Stories from Inside can be found on Amazon.