Can the Hometown Also Be the Ideology?

Exploring the Narrative of a North Korean Student Studying in Hungary

Abstract

This article chronicles the life of Choi Inhwan, focusing on his movements across North Korea, Hungary, Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia, and Switzerland in the 1950s. Choi’s North Korean background is traced, with scant details available after his return in 1960. Born in 1934 to ordinary farmers, Choi’s early education spanned from primary school to high school in Uiju, North Pyongan Province. His academic journey continued in Hungary (1953‒1957), where he faced language challenges but excelled in Hungarian and biology at Budapest Medical University. His involvement in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution is highlighted by multiple sources, confirming his active participation and subsequent escape to Yugoslavia, followed by relocation to Switzerland as a political refugee in 1957.

In Switzerland, Choi’s ideological stance fluctuated dramatically. Initially supported by local and international refugee aid organizations, he displayed anti-socialist sentiments. However, by late 1959 Choi approached both Chinese and Hungarian embassies, expressing a desire to return to North Korea via Hungary, showcasing a sudden ideological shift towards anti-capitalism. His eventual repatriation to North Korea in 1960 is documented through Hungarian diplomatic channels, marking the culmination of his complex and politically charged journey. The article underscores Choi’s multifaceted ideological evolution and his strategic navigations through the geopolitical landscapes of the Cold War era, reflecting broader patterns of defection and political realignment among North Korean students and intellectuals abroad during that period.