Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea

Sungju and his brothers hop on another train and get off in the port town of Eodaejin, but they find that this town is also already overrun with kotjebi. They decide to return to Pohwang to meet up again with Hyekchul and his gang. When they stop in Ranam to transfer trains, they witness even more gang violence and decide to walk the rest of the way to Pohwang.

Once they reach Pohwang, Sungju and his brothers are unable to find Hyekchul. Though they try to avoid gang fights with other kotjebi, it is impossible to avoid them. A tall man who insists on being called “Big Brother” tries to recruit the boys after running into them, remembering them from their epic fight in Rajin-Seonbong. Big Brother tells Sungju that he and his comrades are trying to escape military service, and that they could teach his gang better fighting skills and share food and shelter. Though Sungju and the brothers are wary, they follow him. In exchange they must steal food for Big Brother and his men from the market.

By the time the winter solstice of 1999 comes around, Sungju, his brothers, and the rest of the gang of men fleeing military service rule Pohwang’s streets.