"North Korea's Kim Jong-il, How Much He Cherished South Korean Actress Choi Eun-hee Whom He Ordered to Kidnap... Implies He Had Long Been Interested" (Iman Gap)

In Channel A's entertainment program 'Now Going to Meet,' the story of actress Choi Eun-hee's love for Kim Jong-il, the Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, was told. / Photo by Channel A broadcast capture

[Asia Economy Online Issue Team] It is known that the late Kim Jong-il, former Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, once cherished actress Choi Eun-hee.

On the 20th, the Channel A variety show "Now, We Go to Meet" depicted the story of top 1960s actress Choi Eun-hee and director Shin Sang-ok being abducted to North Korea under Kim Jong-il's orders.

According to the broadcast, Choi Eun-hee and her husband, director Shin, were kidnapped in Hong Kong on January 11, 1978. The two abductees were confined on a cargo ship heading to North Korea. The man who kidnapped Choi Eun-hee reportedly said, "We are going to General Kim Il-sung's embrace," and upon hearing this, Choi Eun-hee fainted.

Upon arrival in North Korea, Choi Eun-hee was said to have received a warm welcome from Kim Jong-il. At the time, Kim Jong-il made friendly jokes toward Choi Eun-hee, saying things like, "Are you feeling a bit relieved of your fatigue?" and "Look at me. Don't I look like a dwarf's scrotum?" He also invited Choi Eun-hee to family events.

On the day, Han Su-ae, a defector from Pyongyang, explained Kim Jong-il's affection for Choi Eun-hee during the broadcast.

Han Su-ae said, "Even a slight misalignment of a collar in front of Kim Jong-il would result in punishment," and added, "(For Kim Jong-il) to personally visit Nampo Port means he had been waiting a long time and had his eyes on them. It seems he was expressing joy."

She continued, "I heard that Kim Jong-il cherished Choi Eun-hee so much that he gifted her cosmetics similar to those used in South Korea," surprising the cast.