Bae había vivido en Seattle, Washington en el condado de Snohomish.<ref>httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20131213031147/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/video-shows-us-mans-life-nkorean-prison</ref><ref>httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20131211221846/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/53704142/ns/local_news-seattle_wa/#.UqQcPaWredA</ref><ref>http://www.kgw.com/news/White-House-renews-urge-for-N-Korea-to-release-Kenneth-Bae-233944681.html</ref> En 2005, Bae se trasladó a China con su esposa y sus tres hijos. Creó una empresa de turismo llamado "Nations Tour" para las visitas de la zona económica especial de Corea del Norte que eran viajes misioneros cristianos en secreto.<ref name=CBS>{{cita noticia|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57598066/kenneth-bae-moved-from-north-korea-prison-camp-to-hospital-after-losing-50-lbs-sister-says/|título=Kenneth Bae moved from North Korea prison camp to hospital after losing 50 lbs, sister says|editorial=CBS|fecha=12 de agosto de 2013|fechaacceso=13 de agosto de 2013}}</ref><ref name=Atlantic>{{cita noticia|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/05/ken-bae-north-korean-prisoner/64810/|título=How Ken Bae Went from North Korean Tour Operator to North Korean Prisoner|editorial=The Atlantic Wire|autor=Alexander Abad-Santos|fecha=2 de mayo de 2013|fechaacceso=12 de agosto de 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cita noticia|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-missionary-kenneth-bae-moved-to-hospital-in-north-korea-health-may-be-failing-102092/|título=Christian Missionary Kenneth Bae Moved to Hospital in North Korea, Health May Be Failing|autor=Nicola Menzie|editorial=The Christian Post|fecha=12 de agosto de 2013|fechaacceso=13 de agosto de 2013}}</ref>
