Hello! Thank you for reading my story. 

I have been involved in community organizing with diasporic Koreans for 15 years as a queer-identified Zainichi Korean. Growing up in Japan, I was largely alienated from anything Korean, culturally or politically, until I moved to the US and began connecting with Korean Americans. A KEEP report-back event in 2008 was the first time ever that I met a group of radical Zainichi Korean women in the Bay Area, who taught me the unbiased history of my people and my ancestors. Participating in the KEEP delegation to the DPRK in 2011 was one of the life-defining experiences, and I joined Nodutdol in 2014. 

While supporting the previous delegations' logistics and study sessions, I have never been a participant for a KEEP-ROK delegation. This trip will give me a more comprehensive understanding of grassroots organizing in my homeland, equipping me with stronger sense of commitment to my community work. After 12 years since my first KEEP trip, I feel more prepared than ever to be a responsible delegate. 

Further, as a longtime member of Nodutdol, I hope to connect with newer members and mentor them intentionally while spending time together in Korea. I believe my participation will not only benefit my own political development but also help foster a sense of cohesion as an organization that is continually undergoing transformation and growth. 

It's not easy for any movement to sustain through multiple generations, but KEEP has been a cornerstone for the progressive Korean community in the Turtle Island. It has inspired generations after generations of committed Korean organizers. Please know that we will be representing YOU, a member of the grassroots community, and not just the organization, through this delegation. Please take this opportunity to learn about the legacy and the future of our diasporic struggle for the peace, reunification, and liberation of our homeland. 

Thank you!

Haruki