Oh Chong-song

Oh Chong-song is one of a few North Korean defectors who escaped North Korea via the Joint Security Area (JSA) to South Korea. He escaped from North Korea on November 13, 2017. During his escape, he drove a car directly up to the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) dividing North and South Korea and crashed, apparently losing a wheel. He then exited the car and sprinted across the MDL under close-range gunfire, collapsing on the South Korean side under cover of a low wall, meters away from the MDL. Oh was a driver working for the general staff of the North Korean military at Panmunjom and in particular for senior North Korean officer.

After being rescued by South Korean soldiers, Oh was transported with a US Air Force helicopter to a South Korean hospital. At the time Oh arrived at a hospital he had lost half of his blood. He was given multiple pints of blood. He was in a South Korean hospital where was recovering from shot five wounds obtain during his escape. North Korean soldiers violated the Korean Armistice Agreement during the incident by firing shots across the MDL into South Korea. Following these events, all North Korean soldiers were removed from the JSA. Additional measures were taken to prevent similar defections by the North Koreans. A trench was dug at the site where Oh's vehicle had broken down.

Health
Oh is also known for the exceptionally large parasitic worm in his stomach. Multiple flesh-colored parasitic worms were found in Oh, one of which was 27 cm long. Oh was treated by surgeon John Cook-Jong Lee at the Ajou University Hospital's intensive care. Oh was later transferred to a military hospital. The surgery and treatment of Oh costs the south korean government 65 million won ($60,800). South Korea's Channel A reported that an unnamed South Korea intelligence agent claimed that one of the four North Korean soldiers who defected in 2017 had anthrax antibodies in his system; however, the South Korean defense ministry did not confirm the report, and stating that none of the four soldiers are believed to have worked in North Korea's biochemical warfare unit. A South Korean intelligence officials familiar with oh's case reported to MBN Oh may be showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Oh could not recall his escape during interrogation.

In the media
The Washington Free Beacon called Oh Chong-song 2017 man of the year.

Family
Oh is believed to be the son of a ranking North Korean military official.