- Kim Jong-un’s mother, Ko Yong-hi, was born in Osaka in 1952 to Korean immigrants.
- Their origins contradict the propagated Paektu bloodline and are considered an absolute taboo subject in North Korea.
- Former diplomat Ryu Hyun-woo warns that the revelation would “destabilize the foundations of the succession system.”
North Korea Ruler Kim Jong-un (42) has never mentioned his mother’s name publicly in his 15 years at the helm of the isolated country. According to experts, this is no coincidence. Their origin could be the basis of legitimacy the Kim dynasty question, as the BBC reports.
The ruling family bases its power on the so-called Paektu bloodline. This goes to the founder of the state Kim Il-sung back and is portrayed as almost sacred in North Korean propaganda. According to the defected diplomat Ryu Hyun-woo, his grandson Kim Jong-un owes his power exclusively to this lineage.
Daughter of Korean immigrants
However, his mother Ko Yong-hi does not fit into this picture. She was born in 1952 in Osaka, Japan born to Korean immigrants. The family later moved to North Korea and was one of the so-called Zainichi Koreans. This population group was considered politically unreliable and disadvantaged in the strict North Korean society.
Ko Yong-hi was a dancer with the renowned Mansudae art troupe and later became the preferred partner of Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un’s father. Although she had three children with him, she was never his official wife. The couple lived separately from the official family for a time and their relationship was never recognized by the regime. She died of breast cancer in Paris in 2004. Ko Yong-hi was only 51 years old.
She effectively became First Lady
After Kim Il-sung’s death, Ko Yong-hi effectively became First Lady and accompanied Kim Jong-il on official appointments. However, her name was never mentioned in the state media. According to experts, a documentary in which she appeared was withdrawn after a short time after it was over smuggled USB sticks was circulating among the population.
Despite their origins, Kim Jong-un succeeded his father. His older half-brother Kim Jong Nam According to experts, fell from grace because of his pro-reform stance and was assassinated in Malaysia in 2017. His brother Kim Jong-chol was therefore not considered as a successor because of a severe opium addiction.
“Effect of an atomic bomb”
To this day, the origins of Kim Jong-un’s mother are considered an absolute taboo topic. Experts suspect that this is why his birthday was never declared a national holiday.
“If it became known that his mother was an ethnic Korean from Japan, it would not only shake his legitimacy, but also destabilize the foundations of the succession system,” says former diplomat Ryu Hyun-woo. He is certain: “That would have the effect of an atomic bomb on North Korean society.”
Jonas Bucher is a publisher and deputy co-head of the news desk at 20 Minutes. He has been working in the media industry for 25 years and has always remained loyal to 20 Minutes.
