Background
Suh was born in 1945 in Kyoto, Japan to Zainichi Korean parents.
Suh was born in 1945 in Kyoto, Japan to Zainichi Korean parents.
He attended school in Japan until 1970, and then went to South of Korea to continue his studies at Seoul National University in 1971, during the regime of Park Chung-hee.
In March 1971, upon returning to South of Korea from a trip to Japan to see his family, Suh was arrested and put in prison for 19 years. While in custody and under heavy interrogation and torture, Suh Sung lit himself on fire, but survived. Suh is currently Professor of International Studies at Ritsumeikan University in Japan.
His autobiography Unbroken Spirit discusses his life as a political prisoner.