First Photo of Kim Jong Un's Maternal Grandmother Revealed
Ko Yong-hui, His Mother, Was a Zainichi Korean
The family background of Ko Yong-hui, the biological mother of Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, has been revealed for the first time. Ko Yong-hui was a Zainichi Korean, and it has been confirmed that her maternal family has roots in Jeju.
Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, with his maternal grandmother (left). Channel A "Now Going to Meet," Yonhap News Agency.
Gomi Yoji, former editorial writer for the Tokyo Shimbun in Japan, disclosed details about Ko Yong-hui's family on Channel A's "Now Going to Meet" on the 28th. Gomi, a Japanese non-fiction journalist, has tracked Ko Yong-hui's family for ten years and is also the only journalist to have directly interviewed Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong Un's half-brother. In June, he published a book titled "Ko Yong-hui: The Zainichi Korean Who Became Kim Jong Un's Mother," based on interviews with Ko Yong-hui's half-brother and other research into her life and family relationships.
According to Gomi, Ko Yong-hui was born in 1952 in Osaka, Japan, and spent her childhood in the city's Koreatown. In 1962, she moved to North Korea through a repatriation project for Zainichi Koreans and became a dancer with the Mansudae Art Troupe. Later, she caught the attention of Kim Jong Il, then Chairman of the National Defense Commission, and had three children with him: two sons, Kim Jong Chol and Kim Jong Un, and one daughter, Kim Yo Jong.
However, any mention of Ko Yong-hui has long been taboo in North Korea. Gomi explained that Ko Yong-hui's status as a Zainichi Korean has been a source of insecurity for Kim Jong Un. In North Korean society, Zainichi Koreans are perceived as having relatively low social status, which made the mention of his mother's background a sensitive issue. Gomi also pointed out that Kim Jong Un's frequent public appearances with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter, Kim Ju Ae, are related to this background.
A photo of Lee Maengin, Ko Yong-hui's mother and Kim Jong Un's maternal grandmother, has also been released for the first time. In the photo, Lee Maengin bears a strong resemblance to Kim Jong Un.
According to the family registry obtained by Gomi through Lee Maengin's relatives, Lee Maengin was originally from Jeju. She moved to Japan during the Japanese colonial period and gave birth to Ko Yong-hui there. Gomi stated, "Kim Jong Un closely resembles his grandmother's face and aura," adding, "It appears that Lee Maengin, who was known for her outgoing personality, decided to follow her husband to North Korea."
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