Kenneth Bae

In 2017 Bae decided to found a NGO to help North Korean refugees and raise the awareness of people around the world about the situation in North Korea.

As of January 2014, Bae is the father of two children in Arizona and of another child in Hawaii, ages 17, 22 and 23. Bae also has at least one stepdaughter.

On January 20, 2014, Bae said in a statement that he had committed a "serious crime" against North Korea, and that the nation does "not abuse human rights." He asked the United States government "to make more active efforts and pay more attention." The United States then offered to send Robert R. King to North Korea.

On January 7, 2014, while in North Korea, Rodman was asked if he would raise the issue of Kenneth Bae during a CNN interview. He became agitated and said, "Kenneth Bae did one thing ... If you understand what Kenneth Bae did. Do you understand what he did in this country? No, no, no, you tell me, you tell me. Why is he held captive here in this country, why? ... I would love to speak on this." The next day, Bae's sister said of Rodman's comments, "There is no diplomacy, only games, and at my brother's expense." Rodman apologized for his comments about Kenneth Bae on January 9, 2014, saying he had been drinking and was stressed when he made the remarks.

Bae was released by North Korean authorities on Saturday, November 8, 2014 along with fellow American Matthew Todd Miller. In 2016, Bae published a book about his ordeal: Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea.

On April 30, 2013, North Korea's Supreme Court sentenced Bae to 15 years of hard labor.

On May 14, 2013, he was moved to a special prison. Bae would do eight hours of farm labor a day.

Bae sent hand-written letters to his family claiming that he was going blind and that help was needed. On July 3, 2013, an interview with Bae was released, in which he spoke of health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, and a back problem. When asked if prison life was bearable, he replied: "Yes, people here are very considerate. But my health is not in the best condition, so there are some difficulties. But, everyone here is considerate and generous, and we have doctors here, so I'm getting regular check-ups." A Swedish ambassador met with Bae in a hospital in August 2013; his sister reported that he was moved from the camp because of deteriorating health and after losing more than 50 pounds (23 kg). Bae's mother, Myunghee Bae, arrived in North Korea on October 11 to visit her son for five days. She was allowed three visits, totaling six hours. In February 2014, Bae left the hospital and returned to the work camp.

On the day he was sentenced, the United States called for the immediate release of Kenneth Bae on humanitarian grounds. During the 2013 Korean crisis, North Korea stated that the reason the country did not invite US officials to Pyongyang for Bae's release is that he is not a "political bargaining chip."

On July 3, 2013, an interview with Bae was released, in which he begged for forgiveness from his captors and for United States' help. Despite getting a weekly update from the State Department, Kenneth's family insisted that the United States government wasn't doing a good enough job bringing him back. It was confirmed later in July that Jimmy Carter had no plans to visit North Korea regarding Bae.

On May 7, 2013, after reading an article from The Seattle Times, former professional basketball player Dennis Rodman sent out a tweet asking his "friend" Kim Jong-un to do him "a solid" and release Bae.

On May 10, Rodman promised that he would go to North Korea on August 1 to rescue Bae. Rodman criticized United States President Barack Obama, saying, "We got a black president [who] can't even go talk to [Jong-un] ... Obama can't do anything, I don't know why he won't go talk to him." Rodman did not go to North Korea in August, but did go in September 2013. While in Beijing, Rodman said he was visiting North Korea again to create a basketball league there and to fix American-North Korean relations. Rodman declined to discuss Bae. The same month, Rodman returned from China and lost his temper when he was asked questions about Bae, saying that Bae was not his responsibility.

In December 2012, human rights activists in Seoul reported that an American had been held in North Korea for a month. On December 21, 2012, North Korea announced that it had charged an American identified as Bae Jun-ho with "hostile acts against the republic." Between January 7 and January 10, former UN ambassador Bill Richardson was unable to meet Bae and delivered a letter from Bae's son to North Korean authorities.

Kenneth Bae (born Pae Jun Ho; born August 1, 1968) is a Korean-American Evangelical Christian Missionary convicted by North Korea on charges of planning to overthrow the North Korean government, including setting up bases in China for the purpose of toppling the North Korean government. In April 2013, he was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. He was released on November 8, 2014, along with fellow American Matthew Todd Miller. In 2016, he founded the NGO named NGI - Nehemiah Global Initiative, whose goals consist of remembering, rescuing, and recovering North Korean refugees and rebuilding their lives in China and South Korea.

Bae was born in South Korea in 1968. Bae moved to the United States at age 18 with his family in 1985 or in 1986. Bae (as Jun Ho Bae) graduated from West High School in Torrance, California in 1988 when he was 20 years old. He studied psychology at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon for two years.