Chong Kim, an Asian American human trafficking survivor, is a renowned author and filmmaker. Her memoir, *Broken Silence*, inspired the 2013 film *Eden*. With over 20 years of advocacy, Kim works with law enforcement and uses filmmaking to highlight social issues and marginalized communities. Her efforts have earned recognition from the National Campaign for Tolerance, the LAPD, and an endorsement from John E. Douglas of *Mindhunter*. Kim remains a leading advocate in the fight against human trafficking, using her experiences to drive change and inspire hope.
2 reviews
Lisa J.
June 16, 2025Had I conducted a more thorough investigation into Ms. Kim’s background initially, these challenges might have been avoided. Below, I outline two significant incidents that illustrate these concerns, and I have also consulted with other organizations that reported similar difficulties with Ms. Kim.
I have requested reimbursement for the event ticket, which was not addressed in Ms. Kim’s email correspondence. I believe it was Ms. Kim’s responsibility to proactively resolve this matter. when breaching a contract using bogus concerns. Additionally, I raised concerns about her character prior to her signing the contract. Unfortunately, two months later, after she secured another speaking engagement, these issues resurfaced and became problematic.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, I made my fourth request for either reimbursement of the ticket or its transfer to my name, which remains unresolved.
https://www.thestranger.com/film/2014/06/04/19761366/chong-kim-the-woman-whose-allegedly-true-story-served-as-the-basis-for-megan-griffiths-film-eden-denounced-as-a-fraud/comments
Date Ms. Chong cancelled July 30, 2025 however system will not allow.
Hired as: Motivational Speaker
Chong Kim
Statement Regarding Recent Smear Campaigns:
It’s disheartening to see someone who claims to advocate for survivors resort to smear tactics simply because I chose to set a boundary and respectfully declined to speak at their event. The campaign against me appears to be rooted in the same systems of control and manipulation that traffickers and their enablers have used for years to silence survivors.
I find it deeply contradictory that someone who promotes a “believe all women” message would turn around and try to discredit a survivor they barely know. This behavior reveals more about their character than mine.
There has never been a lawsuit filed against me, and to resurrect false allegations in an attempt to damage my name is not only reckless — it’s abusive. Why would any survivor feel safe attending an event where dissent or autonomy is met with retaliation?
I stand by my decision to cancel. Survivors deserve spaces rooted in respect, not control or coercion disguised as advocacy.
Lisa J.
June 12, 2025I am writing to share a professional experience with Chong Kim to provide guidance for organizations considering engaging her for speaking events or related activities. While I cannot verify the full scope of Ms. Kim’s impact or the validity of claims regarding her background, I aim to outline our organization’s experience to inform your decision-making.
Approximately two months prior to a scheduled domestic violence and human trafficking training event, our nonprofit engaged Ms. Kim as a speaker. Her name was prominently featured in promotional materials, including a public service announcement video, graphics, and outreach to organizations, agencies, and community members. During this period, I raised questions about information from the producer of the film Eden and several journalists, which suggested discrepancies in her story. These inquiries were made respectfully, emphasizing our commitment to believing survivors while fulfilling our due diligence to our board and mission. Additionally, I gently advised Ms. Kim against referring to certain churches as “Black Churches” to ensure inclusive language.
Subsequently, Ms. Kim requested a change to the return destination of her airline ticket to accommodate a new speaking engagement immediately following our event. In an effort to accommodate her needs, particularly considering her reported mobility challenges, we made the mistake of issuing the ticket in her name, allowing her to modify travel arrangements directly.
Ms. Kim later canceled her contract with our organization, citing three reasons:
Our nonprofit’s inability to change the ticket’s return destination to accommodate her subsequent engagement.
My earlier inquiries regarding the producer’s and journalists’ statements, made nearly two months prior.
My suggestion to avoid labeling certain churches as “Black Churches.”
In her cancellation notice, Ms. Kim stated that these factors impacted her mental health and wished our organization well. However, she did not address the airline ticket issued in her name, offer reimbursement, or return the ticket. We suspect the ticket may have been repurposed for her new engagement.
This experience left our nonprofit with a decision: pursue legal action to recover costs or treat this as a learning opportunity and focus on our mission. After further research, we received feedback suggesting we “dodged a bullet,” .
Based on this experience, I recommend the following precautions when engaging Ms. Kim:
1. Avoid providing upfront payments or issuing airline tickets in her name.
2. Be prepared for the possibility that contracts may not be honored.
3. Conduct thorough due diligence before entering agreements.
Organization remains committed to advancing your mission to combat domestic violence and human trafficking however, follow your instincts and make informed decisions.
Your system will not let us put July 30th, 2025 date for Reston Virginia. It force us to use June 12, 2025. We were scheduled to fly her in July 29, 2025.
Hired as: Motivational Speaker
Chong Kim
I sent this email with my reasoning:
Chong Kim <ckim@iamchongkim.net>
Sun, Jun 8, 1:28 PM (4 days ago)
to Lisa
Dear Lisa,
I hope you're well. I want to begin by thanking you for the opportunity to be considered as a speaker at your upcoming event. After giving it considerable thought, I’ve made the difficult decision to respectfully withdraw from participating.
There have been a couple of recent interactions that left me feeling uncertain about moving forward. When I was asked about a past lawsuit—which was in fact a baseless smear campaign—it felt as though my integrity as a survivor and speaker was being questioned, even if that was not the intention. As someone who has worked hard to overcome significant trauma, it’s important for me to feel fully supported and championed by those I collaborate with.
Additionally, during our conversation about potentially adjusting my flight, I mentioned being invited to speak at a Black church. I sensed a shift in tone that made me feel uncomfortable. I want to clarify that I meant no offense; in fact, I have been honored to work alongside many Black and African American leaders and communities, including those who focus on culturally specific support networks such as all-Black churches, nonprofits, and schools. These are safe spaces for many, and I speak from a place of experience and respect—not exclusion.
Because of these concerns, I feel it's best for me to step back from this engagement. I believe in working with individuals and organizations where mutual respect, cultural understanding, and trust are foundational.
I wish you and your organization all the best in your mission and continued work to raise awareness on human trafficking. Thank you again for considering me, and I appreciate your understanding.
Warm regards,
Chong Kim
Price range: $500 - $5000
Languages: English
Gig length: 15 - 60 minutes
What to Expect When Hiring Ms. Chong Kim as Your Speaker
1. Key Takeaways:
Audiences will gain deep insights into human trafficking and exploitation through Ms. Kim's personal experiences and advocacy. Her presentations combine impactful storytelling with essential information and actionable strategies for addressing these critical issues.
2. Law Enforcement or Government Training:
Ms. Kim provides an in-depth analysis of criminology, victimology, and the dynamics of trafficking, offering valuable perspectives from a survivor's point of view.
3. Faith-Based or Church Community:
She shares her powerful personal testimony of faith, including how she experienced a profound spiritual revelation following a suicide attempt.
4. Colleges or University Faculty:
Her talks are adaptable to various academic contexts, including child development, social work, and law training. Ms. Kim also focuses on raising awareness about human trafficking and identifying warning signs of perpetrators.
5. Charitable Organizations or NGOs:
Ms. Kim assists in raising awareness and fundraising for specific causes such as women’s issues, health, sex and domestic violence, and human trafficking.
6. Additional Topics:
- Foster Care
- Adoption
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases & Teenage Pregnancy
- Living with Disabilities
- Writing & Poetry
- Community Awareness
Ms. Kim’s engaging and informative presentations promise to leave a lasting impact, tailored to meet the needs of diverse audiences and organizations.
Chong Kim is a renowned global speaker and activist, frequently featured on prominent talk shows and media outlets such as BBC, HuffPost Live, CNN, CNBC, and Montel. An accomplished writer and film/TV producer, she is best known for her film *Eden* (2012), which is loosely based on her own experiences and stars Beau Bridges and Jamie Chung. Her memoir, *Broken Silence*, is available in Kindle and paperback formats on Amazon and through Barnes & Noble.
Currently, Ms. Kim is developing a feature film series titled *Every40Seconds*, which follows a female human trafficking survivor working alongside with the ICE to rescue victims by going undercover as a trafficker herself in order to hone in on their tactics.
In addition to her advocacy work, Kim enjoys writing poetry, singing, and traveling.
Notes/Technical Information:
Ms. Kim's presentations are versatile and can be customized for keynote addresses, panel discussions, and workshops. To support her multimedia-enhanced talks, she requires basic AV equipment, including a projector and microphone.
Requirements:
Refreshments: Bottled water and finger foods such as cheese and crackers, fruit, and a vegetable medley.
AV Equipment: Wireless microphone and presentation monitor.
Comfort: A comfortable chair if the presentation exceeds 30 minutes.
Accessibility: Wheelchair assistance at airports (Ms. Kim uses a cane for walking but requests a wheelchair for flights).
International Flights: A must on business or 1st class in order to be comfortable due to Ms. Kim's disability.
Travel Support: A companion is essential for international travel and certain states, with specifics determined on a case-by-case basis.
These provisions help ensure a smooth and effective presentation experience.
Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Robin Williams, Christopher Titus, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Patrick Stewart, Vince Morris and most activist who stand for Justice.
Comfortable Chair on stage if speaking for longer than 30 minutes
Wireless microphone
3. Stage/Setup Requirements: A standard speaking setup with a podium or table, microphone, and projector screen is ideal. Ms. Kim prefers a well-lit stage with ample space for audience engagement and interaction.
**Stage and Setup Requirements** Ms. Kim requires a standard speaking setup, including a podium or table, microphone, and projector screen. She prefers a well-lit stage with ample space to facilitate audience engagement and interaction.
Author
