Promises: The Life and Love of an American Born in North Korea

Promises is an inspirational account of values, character, persistence, and—above all else—the power of love and faith.

In this remarkable memoir, Joon Bai, humanitarian and successful businessman, shares his extraordinary life story and the lessons he has learned about courage, challenges, and hope. From his early childhood years in what is now North Korea, living through the devastation of World War II and the Korean War, Bai learned the value and strength of love and persistence. Those were lessons he brought with him to the United States, where he earned his engineering degree and went on to a successful career in business, eventually opening his own factory in rural Pennsylvania, buoyed by the support of his beloved wife, Kyuhee, and his mother.

Hard-won success at hand, Bai returned to North Korea to offer help to farmers and children devastated by the country’s ongoing famine, spending millions of dollars and saving countless lives. It was an effort, Bai notes, that was inspired by his mother and wife, and the Christian faith they instilled in him. Along his eventful journey, Bai’s passion and devotion led him to write and produce a stirring movie, The Other Side of the Mountain, a wrenching love story with a message dear to Koreans on both sides of the border that has divided their country for decades—unification.

Promises is a unique and intimate look inside North Korea and into the character of a man that will serve as a guide to understanding commitment, faith, and the true meaning of life.