[2] Pencilo has written posts criticizing the military and the former military-backed government of President Thein Sein, which have occasionally come under fire.
[4] She joined the campaign supporting Aung San Suu Kyi's defense of Myanmar against genocide charges related to the Rohingya crisis at the UN's top court in The Hague in December 2019.
[8] On 13 February 2021, in the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, Pencilo, along with six other high-profile individuals,[9] Min Ko Naing, Kyaw Min Yu, Mg Mg Aye, Insein Aung Soe, and Lynn Lynn were charged and issued arrest warrants under Section 505 (b) of the Myanmar Penal Code by the State Administration Council[10] for inciting unrest against the state and threatening "public tranquility" through their social media posts.
Her first translation work into Korean, "Burma Spring Revolution" was published in February 2022, and recounts her escape, the democratic uprising, and the resistance of the Myanmar people.
In March 2022, she spearheaded the major fundraising campaign called "Project Dragonfly", aimed at countering military aircraft.
In March 2023, she launched Rangoon Grocery Market in Sacramento, U.S., drawing both criticism from Burmese people and military backers.
[27][28] In January 2024, she faced severe criticism from the Myanmar political community for purchasing a substantial residence at 6369 Garland Way, Roseville, California, valued at one million dollars, just two years after resettling in the United States.