Liberty in North Korea
We believe that the North Korean people will achieve their liberty in our lifetime.
Liberty in North Korea
EIN: 73-1710135
as of November 2024
as of November 11, 2024
Mission
Working with the North Korean people to accelerate change. We believe the North Korean people will achieve their liberty in our lifetime. We exist to empower the North Korean people to bring that day forward.
Ruling year
2005
President/CEO
Hannah Song
Main address
115 Pine Ave Ste 210
Long Beach, CA 90802 USA
EIN
73-1710135
Human rights
Population served
Immigrants and migrants
NTEE code
International Human Rights (Q70)
International Migration, Refugee Issues (Q71)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reportsWhat we aim to solve
North Korea represents one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. 25 million North Korean people are denied even the most basic rights of free speech, free movement, and information freedom, because the ruling elite prioritizes regime survival over all else. They use a brutally repressive system of political control to ensure their domination over society, employing extreme measures including collective punishment, public executions, and political prison camps. North Koreans who try to flee the country are not safe. If arrested in China they can be forcibly repatriated where they can face torture, forced labor, and years of internment in a political prison camp.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Refugee Rescues
Every year, thousands of North Koreans risk their lives to escape political and economic oppression. Even if they make it to China, they face grave danger because the Chinese government arrests and forcibly repatriates North Korean refugees. If sent back, they undergo interrogation and are at risk of extremely harsh punishments including torture, forced labor, forced abortions, and internment in a political prison camp. Even if they manage to evade the authorities in China, their illegal status leaves them vulnerable to exploitation by sex traffickers and unscrupulous employers. In these dire circumstances, many North Korean refugees do not have the resources or connections to get themselves out of China. That’s where we come in.
After hearing countless stories of North Koreans who have struggled to pay or even find brokers, or were exploited and abused by brokers and other individuals while in search of freedom, we committed to providing a way for North Koreans and children born in China to North Korean mothers to make it to safety and freedom without cost or condition. We garnered information about escape routes through China and Southeast Asia and established relationships with individuals on the ground who can help refugees safely cross borders. The free passage model ensures that refugees are treated with dignity and respect throughout the dangerous journey, and allows them to begin their new lives in freedom without the burden of broker loans.
Resettlement Assistance
Once North Koreans reach freedom, a new journey begins. Our team provides resettlement support, community, and access to resources to help North Korean refugees succeed in their new lives. Humanitarian Parole cases arrive in the U.S. without status and are ineligible for the usual refugee resettlement benefits from the government. As a result, LiNK provided full fiscal sponsorship and support for case management, housing and financial assistance, interpretation and translation services, and coordinating legal needs to receive status.
Changing the Narrative
North Korea represents one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today, but the international response has not matched its scale. We’re working to change the way the world sees North Korea, so the North Korean people get the international support they deserve. We do this by:
-Creating media and campaigns
-Speaking at schools, places of worship, community centers, and homes
-Mobilizing Rescue Teams, local LiNK chapters in schools and communities who fundraise and share the stories of the North Korean people
-Engaging media and policy makers
Research and Strategy
We engage in research and strategy that directly influences our ability to achieve our mission. Through interviews with North Korean refugees and ongoing research, we work to develop long-term, people-focused strategies that will accelerate positive change inside the country. By collaborating with a variety of stakeholders, we continue to develop a holistic understanding of the issue in order to create and implement the most strategic approaches possible. We also utilize this research to provide updated information and important insights to the public and in briefings to relevant governments and institutions.
Capacity Building
As North Korean refugees resettle and begin navigating their new lives, many aspire to not only find success, but also work towards impacting this issue. With access to the tools they need, North Koreans have unlimited potential. We work with them to build their capacity and confidence as leaders and agents of change. They’re sharing their perspectives and stories with audiences around the world, changing the narrative, educating people, and mobilizing global support. They’re sending money and information back to their families in North Korea, helping to accelerate change from the bottom up. Most importantly, they’re proving the potential of 25 million people inside North Korea still striving towards freedom and a better future.
Where we work
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Refugee Rescues
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These stats indicate the number of North Korean refugees and children born to North-Korean mothers in China that we have helped safely reach freedom each year.
Number of advocate or trained spokesperson citations in the media
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Changing the Narrative
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These statistics indicate the number of times we have been cited, featured and quoted through international media outlets.
Number of requests for advocate products or information, including downloads or page views of online material
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Changing the Narrative
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These statistics indicate the estimated number of people we have reached online through our website and various media outlets. Numbers prior to 2017 include only unique website visitors.
Number of participants engaged in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Resettlement Assistance
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These statistics indicate the number of North Koreans who have received resettlement support from us. NOTE: 2020 and earlier metrics also include Capacity Building program participant metrics.
Number of participants engaged in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Capacity Building
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These statistics indicate the number of North Koreans who have participated in our Capacity Building programs. NOTE: 2020 participant totals are included in the Resettlement Assistance metrics.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our vision is our name: Liberty in North Korea. We’re working towards the day that every North Korean can lead free and full lives.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
REFUGEE RESCUES
We rescue North Korean refugees and children born in China to North Korean mothers through a 3,000-mile modern day underground railroad, bringing them to safety and freedom without cost or condition. After resettling in South Korea or the United States, many refugees send back money and information, further accelerating grassroots marketization and eroding the effectiveness of the regime’s propaganda.
REFUGEE EMPOWERMENT
We support and invest in the long-term ambitions, potential, and strength of the North Korean people, encouraging and empowering resettled refugees in their new lives in freedom. Our programs focus on building a community that will equip them to pursue their dreams and become agents of change on this issue.
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE
We work to change the way the world sees North Korea, so the North Korean people get the international support they deserve. This work includes the creation of media and documentaries, engaging with international journalists and policymakers, and direct grassroots engagement.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Liberty in North Korea's team is strategically based in the United States, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. From these locations we work alongside the North Korean people as they affect change inside the country. Our fundraising capabilities allows us to provide a sustainable and effective refugee rescue program. Our staff also possesses the skills necessary to create important media and effective campaigns in order to change the narrative on North Korea.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
As of October 2019, we have:
-Rescued over 1,150 North Korean refugees and over 90 children born in China to North Korean mothers
-Reached over 80,000 people at over 4,000 speaking events
-Held prominent roles in meetings and events with policymakers in Washington D.C., Seoul, South Korea, and at the United Nations
-Created and released three documentaries
-Mobilized over 350 Rescue Teams in 19 countries
Successfully piloted an exciting new program that brought five resettled North Koreans to the United States for a 3-month intensive advocacy training program. In this program, they learned more about the North Korean issue and how to be dynamic and influential advocates. These advocated reached over 2,200 people at 19 in-person events and collaborated with major media outlets to share their unique stories.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
20.06
Months of cash in 2022 info
9.7
Fringe rate in 2022 info
22%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
Liberty in North Korea
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
This snapshot of Liberty in North Korea’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
Created in partnership with
Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $541,176 | -$151,228 | $290,966 | $1,700,313 | -$407,068 |
| As % of expenses | 15.5% | -4.2% | 10.9% | 57.4% | -10.2% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $506,786 | -$194,790 | $250,809 | $1,671,682 | -$419,457 |
| As % of expenses | 14.4% | -5.4% | 9.3% | 55.9% | -10.5% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $4,148,392 | $3,082,445 | $3,222,922 | $4,651,220 | $4,117,275 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 28.6% | -25.7% | 4.6% | 44.3% | -11.5% |
| Program services revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 1.0% |
| Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other grants and contributions | 99.2% | 99.8% | 99.9% | 100.0% | 98.9% |
| Other revenue | 0.5% | -0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $3,489,704 | $3,580,576 | $2,669,053 | $2,961,212 | $3,982,265 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 67.1% | 2.6% | -25.5% | 10.9% | 34.5% |
| Personnel | 42.3% | 52.9% | 73.4% | 67.8% | 60.9% |
| Professional fees | 4.6% | 6.0% | 5.4% | 4.7% | 3.0% |
| Occupancy | 5.2% | 5.7% | 2.6% | 5.6% | 2.2% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 33.7% | 26.0% | 12.1% | 6.9% | 14.5% |
| All other expenses | 14.2% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 15.0% | 19.4% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $3,524,094 | $3,624,138 | $2,709,210 | $2,989,843 | $3,994,654 |
| One month of savings | $290,809 | $298,381 | $222,421 | $246,768 | $331,855 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $238,600 | $0 |
| Fixed asset additions | $59,839 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $22,863 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $3,874,742 | $3,922,519 | $2,931,631 | $3,475,211 | $4,349,372 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 4.5 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 14.3 | 9.7 |
| Months of cash and investments | 4.5 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 14.3 | 9.7 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 5.4 | 4.8 | 7.7 | 13.7 | 8.9 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $1,299,233 | $1,416,859 | $2,080,231 | $3,527,935 | $3,228,657 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $676,705 | $96,365 | $217,527 | $276,632 | $712,336 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $213,328 | $222,374 | $191,934 | $188,754 | $197,224 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 41.0% | 57.1% | 70.4% | 76.0% | 71.7% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 2.1% | 2.3% | 12.6% | 3.6% | 4.8% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $1,709,098 | $1,514,308 | $1,765,117 | $3,436,799 | $3,017,342 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $453,338 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $453,338 | $106,435 | $369,338 | $359,033 | $875,600 |
| Total net assets | $2,162,436 | $1,620,743 | $2,134,455 | $3,795,832 | $3,892,942 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
President/CEO
Hannah Song
Hannah joined LiNK in 2006 as Deputy Director, managing day-to-day operations and coordinating overseas programs, including underground shelters, fact-finding missions and refugee resettlement. At the end of 2008, she took over management of the organization as she became President and Chief Executive Officer.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
Liberty in North Korea
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
Liberty in North Korea
Board of directorsas of 11/17/2023
Board of directors data
Aaron Werner
Miller Marriott
Term: 2023 - 2025
Jensen Ko
Hannah Song
Liberty in North Korea
Justin Wheeler
Funraise
John Park
Henry Bedford
Southwestern Company
Gloria Lee
Wonnie Park
Scott Sugino
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Aaron Werner
Miller Marriott
Joseph Kim
George W Bush Institute
Grace Chung
Automation Anywhere
Blaine Vess
Immeasurable
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/14/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Professional fundraisers
Fiscal year endingSOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G
Solicitation activities
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