0/5

Insight: Apr 8

This week, Insight asks whether it’s possible to change a deep seated mindset.

insightThis week, Insight asks whether it’s possible to change a deep seated mindset.

Host Jenny Brockie hears from people whose beliefs were extreme and sometimes downright dangerous. She finds out how their ideologies came unstuck.

Yeonmi Park grew up in North Korea believing Kim Jong Il was a god who could work miracles and read her thoughts.

After fleeing the country as a teenager, she eventually went to South Korea where she spent three months in ‘Hanawon’ – a resettlement centre for defectors. She came to realise just how wrong her views had been.

Guests include:

Yeonmi Park was a teenager when she fled North Korea with her parents. She grew up believing North Korea’s leader was a god who could read her mind: anyone harbouring bad thoughts about him would surely die. Reaching South Korea, she was sent to the government-run ‘Hanawon’ resettlement centre, which aims to help defectors discard their old beliefs and integrate into South Korean society.

Shieun Yu is a South Korean psychologist who has counselled North Korean defectors. She says it’s hard getting some defectors to change their mentality because they have learnt not to trust people. Professor Yu has previously worked at the South Korean government-run ‘Hanawon’ and she is still an advisor there.

Tore Bjorgo is a professor at the Norwegian Police University College and author of several books about countering extremism. Many years ago, Tore was researching racist groups and says he discovered that some neo-Nazis wanted to leave the organisation but simply didn’t know how to – they were stuck.

Tom Olsen once plotted to kill Tore Bjorgo. He was a neo-Nazi, and in the 1990s was the leader of a violent right wing group. He eventually changed his views and now he works alongside Tore to try to get others to leave radical extremist groups. Tom and Tore consider themselves friends now.

Matthew Klein and daughter Tessa
Twelve Tribes is a commune on a farm at Picton, outside Sydney. Matthew Klein is a former member, who was attracted by the group’s reputation as a religious community based on bible teachings. He joined the group with his wife and kids after selling all his family’s possessions. However, he now believes that the group is a cult, and draws on his experience to help others who want to get out. Matthew’s daughter Tessa also left the group but her mother – Matthew’s wife – has refused to leave.

Mohamed Feisal
Mohamed Feisal is a member of Singapore’s Religious Rehabilitation Group, set up to counter extreme interpretations of Islam. Mohamed says the aim of the RRG is to steer people back towards what he calls the true nature of Islam. Mohamed and his fellow RRG volunteers mainly work with Jemaah Islamiyah members in prison, as well as their families. Mohamed and the RRG also run community engagement programs in schools to prevent people from becoming radicalised in the first place. He’s currently based in Melbourne.

Tuesday 8 April, 8.30pm on SBS ONE.

One Response

Leave a Reply