[New Release] Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedy Brothers: The Door to Their Secrets

An Icon of Her Era and a Victim of the System: Marilyn Monroe
Fascinating Stories Entwined with the Secrets of Her Sudden Death
Lee Sangdon: "The Truth Emerges Only When Someone Seeks to Reveal It"

Marilyn Monroe, a 'sex symbol' and 'Hollywood star,' was an icon of her era. She visited Korea in 1954 to perform for U.S. troops stationed there, and died in 1962 at the age of 36. Her sudden death, after having relationships with numerous prominent figures of her time?including President John F. Kennedy, his brother Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, playwright Arthur Miller, and top American entertainer Frank Sinatra?left behind many suspicions. Although 63 years have passed since her death, the enduring fascination with her passing may stem from the public's interest in the themes of sexuality and power, desire and conflict, and the era itself, all symbolized by 'Marilyn Monroe.' Outwardly glamorous but inwardly lonely, she both represented and fell victim to her times.

Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedy Brothers (Editor), authored by Lee Sangdon, who previously served as Dean of the Law School at Chung-Ang University and as a proportional representative in the 20th National Assembly, is an unusual book coming from someone known as a 'conservative liberal' and an explorer of the essence of conservatism. The book has attracted attention since Lee began serializing it on his social media, thanks to its dazzling cast of characters.

The author states, "As someone deeply interested in American politics, I became aware of discussions suggesting that the Mafia was involved in the Kennedy assassination, and that the Kennedy brothers were connected to Marilyn Monroe's death." He adds, "I have long thought that our society lacks a proper understanding of modern history because there are no books in Korea that thoroughly address America in the 1960s and 1970s." He goes on to say, "The process of uncovering the truth behind Marilyn Monroe's death offers us an important lesson: while the truth is bound to come out, it only does so when there are people determined to reveal it." He calls for intellectuals and the media to play an active role in this process.

This book narrates, in chronological order, Monroe's difficult childhood, her entry into Hollywood as a model, her tearful efforts to survive in a male-dominated industry, her rise as a cultural icon, and the drama of meeting President Kennedy amid new challenges and disappointments. The book vividly depicts the circumstances of her death, the mysterious crime scene, and the process leading up to the opening of the door to the truth, almost like a painting.

At the end of the book, the author shares that the house where Monroe last lived was designated by the Los Angeles City Council as a historical and cultural monument. Even now, people continue to lay flowers at the door of this mansion. The book also notes that Westwood Park, where she is buried, has become such a famous cemetery that the price of a plot has risen beyond the reach of most people. The stories of those buried beside and above her in the mausoleum are also intriguing.