2024 Global Korea Award Recipient

Dr. Suzanne K. Scholte is considered one of the world’s leading activists in the North Korean human rights movement. She has spent nearly three decades promoting the freedom, human rights and dignity of the North Korean people and is currently President of the Defense Forum Foundation, a non-profit foundation promoting a strong national defense and freedom, democracy, and human rights abroad. In 1996, Scholte began a program to host the first North Korean defectors in the United States, giving them a voice to speak out about the atrocities being committed against the people of North Korea, including the political prison camps and the horrific treatment of refugees. She has led international efforts to pressure China to end their horrific repatriation policy and has been involved in the rescue of hundreds of North Koreans escaping their country.

Currently, Scholte also serves as Chairman of the North Korea Freedom Coalition, and Chairman of Free North Korea Radio. Most recently, in 2023, she launched Operation Truth which is modeled after the Berlin Airlift and Operation Jilli to ensure regular deliveries were getting to North Korea by land, by sea, and by air of the items that North Koreans request most. Thus far, Operation Truth has succeeded in successfully getting over $100,000 of radios, rice, ramen noodles, flash drives full of information, medicines, vitamins, and Bibles into North Korea to give critical help and hope. In recognition of her efforts, she has received numerous awards including the 2008 Seoul Peace Prize, the 2010 Walter Judd Freedom Award, the 2013 Order of Diplomatic Service Merit Sungnye Medal from the Republic of Korea, the 2014 Sanders Peace and Social Justice Award, and a Volunteer Service (Gold) Award from the President of the United States in 2014 and 2020.  She was made an Honorary Citizen of Seoul in 2008. 

Scholte has testified numerous times before the United States Congress and at the United Nations. As a frequent speaker at international conferences, she has also been a guest lecturer at Yonsei University (Seoul) and Koshin University (Busan) and has presented at the National Defense University, Harvard, Wellesley and Princeton, University of Virginia, University of Illinois, Liberty University and numerous other colleges. Scholte is also the Chairman and Founder of the U.S.-Western Sahara Foundation.

Scholte has appeared on numerous news segments including CNN, ABC, FOX, KBS, SBS and Arirang TV and has published OPEDs in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Washington Time, Chosun Ilbo, and DongA Ilbo. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and received an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Koshin University. She attends The Falls Church Anglican church where she considers she did her most important work: teaching Kindergarten Sunday School for 20 years.