You may not recognize this tune. But in North Korea, it's as well known as any Bach or Beethoven piece. It's called Korea is One. It was adapted from a folk song that glorifies the nation's autocratic rulers. The pianist here is 34 year old Kim Chul- Woong.

Kim used to play in the Pyongyang symphony orchestra. He says the musicians have a strict play list, only patriotic numbers and Western music composed before the 20th century. Kim says before his defection in 2002, he didn't even know about the variety of music outside of North Korea.

KIM: "Rap, hip-hop, b-boy style, I never heard those things in North Korea. We've heard of salsa or Latin music from Cuba but when I heard rap and hip-hop for the first time I was shocked."

The Western music that really inspired Kim was jazz. He first heard it while studying at a Moscow conservatory in the 1990s. He says his love for jazz got him into trouble when he came back home.

KIM: "In Russia, I first heard some Western love songs. I knew this music was forbidden in North Korea, but I tried playing it for my girlfriend. I was overheard and reported to authorities and was forced to write a ten page self criticism. After that I felt betrayed by my country and decided to flee."

Like most North Koreans who try to escape, Kim travelled to the border with China. But most defectors have to swim across the Tumen River. Kim was able to bribe the guards to let him slip by.

He says once he got to China, life was difficult. He worked in a sawmill and had very little to eat. But he began playing piano at a Christian church, and a missionary there helped him get a fake passport. In 2003, Kim finally arrived in South Korea.

Kim now lives in Seoul. He teaches music and plays occasional recitals. Kim won over some new fans during this concert at a women's university. For many here, it was the first time they had ever seen a North Korean in person. One student says Kim humanized her impression of her northern neighbors.

PARK: "My name is Park Kyeon San, I am 22 years old. There are people in North Korea. Its surprise, because we think North Korea is North Korea, not people".

Kim might have continued to lead a privileged life if he'd stayed in North Korea. But he says he's glad to be here, even though he left his family behind in Pyongyang.

KIM: "If someone told me I could live there again, I would say no, because there is no freedom. I don't want to go back. And I'm eager to help the people living there get the same freedom that I have."

Kim also works at a North Korean human rights association and teaches other young refugees. And he started to compose his own music something he says he didn't have the freedom to do back home.