The United States is considered the land of the free, but American journalist Laura Ling had to experience the loss of her freedom a world away before she truly appreciated its value.

Ling was captured and physically dragged into captivity by North Korean soldiers in 2009 after briefly crossing into the country while working on a documentary about North Korean defectors.

“I never truly understood what a luxury our freedom is until I went out into the world and met people who had risked their lives for greater freedom, and until I lost my own,” she said.

Ling spoke to the St. Thomas community Tuesday night in Woulfe Alumni Hall about her experience as a captive in North Korea and its lasting effect on her. After being taken into captivity, Ling and her companion Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in a prison camp for illegally entering the country and for their work as journalists.

“I had never felt more scared, confused and alone,” Ling said.

Ling and Lee were released months later when former President Bill Clinton made a surprise visit to negotiate their freedom.

Senior Ryan McMonigal said he was impressed with Ling’s resilience during her time in North Korea.

“Being in the most isolated country in the world, being totally alone in a tiny jail cell in total darkness and how she got through that,” he said. “Ultimately she got through by kind of just being grateful for what she had.”

Ling said she made it through the experience because of hope she gained from her own strength, her family and, unexpectedly, her guards. Ling said these women who often appeared cold showed her compassion and reminded her to “always have hope.”

“They’re a testament to what can happen when people from ‘enemy nations’ or opposite ends of the spectrum get a chance to interact and communicate,” she said. “If we only take that chance to engage with those that are different, we might find out how much we actually have in common.”

Although Ling said it’s odd to be known as the “North Korea girl,” she said the experience has allowed her to bring more attention to the issues close to her heart.

“If what happened to me finally allows me to tell the story I set out to tell I will gladly wear those designations,” Ling said.

Since her release, Ling has worked at E! News and is now working for Seeker Network on a program called “Rituals,” which looks at the different ways people find hope. Her new projects, in addition to her experiences in North Korea, have shown her the courage it takes to face adversity and how important it is to value freedom.

“Our unalienable right, our freedom, is a nonexistent concept for others,” she said. “Some risk their lives to experience the liberties we enjoy. Others will never know what freedom is.”

Ling said people must take ownership of their liberty and value it as a responsibility.

“Even the smallest action can have a huge impact,” she said. “Cherish the freedoms that you have and to be a voice for those who need it.”

Freshman Carmen Carballo said she agreed that freedom is a responsibility for everyone.

“We all have to fight for our own and for each other’s safety and liberty,” Carballo said.

Rebecca Mariscal can be reached at mari2162@stthomas.edu.