Kim Jong-il’s birth is surrounded by myths, with tales of a double rainbow and a new star marking the occasion on North Korea’s sacred Paektu Mountain in 1942. This event is celebrated as the Day of the Shining Star, a national holiday. However, the truth is that he was born in 1941 in a Siberian village. Kim Jong-il followed his father, Kim Il-sung, as the leader of North Korea, living a life of luxury while the people of North Korea suffered under oppressive conditions and widespread hunger.
Today, Kim Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-un, continues to rule North Korea, a nation isolated from the rest of the world. The Kim family has established a powerful cult of personality, controlling the flow of information in and out of the country. This control is maintained by one of the largest standing armies in the world. In North Korean schools, children are taught that just as flowers need the sun, they need the love of the Great Leader to flourish. This system of indoctrination is both astonishing and terrifying.
Visitors to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, are required to pay respects at the statues of Kim Jong-il and his father. Foreigners cannot travel independently, and even North Korean citizens need permits to leave the capital. While the citizens faced famine, Kim Jong-il enjoyed lavish meals like sushi, shark fin soup, and fresh lobsters, often accompanied by fine wines. The average North Korean earned less than $2,000 a year, with limited food options. Breakfast was usually corn porridge, and meat was a rare luxury. In fact, Kim Jong-il’s dogs had a richer diet than the average citizen.
In 2000, Kim Jong-il wanted to try McDonald’s, which was not available in North Korea. He sent his chef to Beijing to buy hamburgers, but they were cold by the time they returned. He later started a campaign to serve university students a dish similar to hamburgers. Kim also tried to solve food shortages by breeding giant rabbits, but the first batch was consumed at a birthday banquet. Official records exaggerated his achievements, portraying him as a prolific writer and a talented golfer.
Kim Jong-il was a huge movie fan and even directed films. He had a vast collection of movies and wanted to improve their appeal. To achieve this, he abducted South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee to help create films that would resonate with international audiences. Meanwhile, entertainment options for North Koreans were limited. Pyongyang had only a few cinemas, and the films shown were heavily propagandist. Access to phones and foreign media was restricted, and power outages were common, leaving many citizens without reliable electricity.
For nearly two decades, Kim Jong-il ruled North Korea, embodying the image of a despotic dictator. When he died, the people publicly mourned, but this was often out of necessity. In a regime where loyalty to the leader was crucial, showing the right emotions was a matter of survival.
Research and create a timeline that highlights the major events during Kim Jong-il’s rule from 1993 to 2011. Include both domestic policies and international incidents. This will help you understand the historical context and the impact of his leadership on North Korea and the world.
Examine examples of North Korean propaganda, focusing on how the Kim dynasty is portrayed. Identify the techniques used to create a cult of personality around Kim Jong-il. Discuss how these techniques compare to propaganda in other historical contexts.
Engage in a class debate about the ethical responsibilities of a leader. Consider Kim Jong-il’s leadership style and its consequences on the North Korean population. Discuss whether the ends justify the means in maintaining control over a nation.
Conduct a research project on the daily life of North Korean citizens during Kim Jong-il’s rule. Focus on aspects such as food scarcity, education, and access to information. Present your findings to the class to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the population.
Watch and analyze a North Korean film produced during Kim Jong-il’s era. Discuss the themes and messages conveyed in the film and how they reflect the political and social climate of the time. Compare this with films from other countries to understand the role of cinema in propaganda.
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**Kim Jong-il vs. the Starving Masses of North Korea (1993-2011)**
On the day of Kim Jong-il’s birth on North Korea’s cherished Paektu Mountain in 1942, a double rainbow appeared along with a bright new star in the heavens. This day, known as the Day of the Shining Star, is celebrated as a national holiday. However, the reality is that Kim Jong-il was born in 1941 in a Siberian village. He followed his father, Kim Il-sung, as the second leader of North Korea, living an extravagant lifestyle while the ordinary people faced oppression and starvation.
Today, his son Kim Jong-un rules, and the population continues to live in poverty and fear in a country isolated from the world. The Kim dynasty has built a significant cult of personality in North Korea, heavily censoring information that enters or leaves the country. This is supported by the strength of the nation’s armed forces, one of the largest standing armies in the world.
In North Korean schools, children learn that while flowers need the sun to grow, they need the love of the Great Leader to thrive. The system of indoctrination and control is both frightening and astonishing. Visitors to Pyongyang must lay offerings at the foot of giant statues of Kim Jong-il and his father. Independent travel for foreigners is impossible, and even citizens require permits to leave the capital.
While citizens faced famine, Kim Jong-il indulged in extravagant meals, including sushi, shark fin soup, and fresh lobsters, often washed down with fine wines. The average North Korean earned less than $2,000 a year, with food choices severely limited. Breakfast typically consisted of corn porridge, and meat was a rarity. In fact, the diet of Kim Jong-il’s dogs was richer than that of the average citizen.
In the year 2000, Kim Jong-il famously wanted to try McDonald’s, which was forbidden in North Korea. He sent his chef to Beijing to buy hamburgers, but by the time they returned, they were cold. Shortly after, he initiated a campaign to feed university students a dish resembling hamburgers.
Kim also attempted to alleviate food shortages by breeding giant rabbits, but the first batch sent to North Korea was quickly consumed at a birthday banquet. Official records portray Kim as a prolific writer and a talented golfer, with exaggerated claims about his achievements.
Kim Jong-il was also a passionate movie fan and director, with a vast collection of films. He believed his movies lacked appeal and sought to improve them by abducting South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee to help create films that would resonate more with international audiences.
In stark contrast to Kim’s lavish lifestyle, entertainment options for North Koreans were limited. The capital had only a few cinemas, and films were heavily propagandist. Access to phones and foreign media was restricted, and power outages were common, with many citizens lacking reliable electricity.
For nearly 20 years, Kim Jong-il led North Korea, embodying the image of a despotic dictator. Upon his death, the people displayed grief in the streets, but this was often a matter of survival, as expressing the right emotions was crucial in a regime where loyalty to the leader was paramount.
Myth – A traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, typically involving supernatural beings or events. – The myth of Romulus and Remus explains the legendary founding of Rome and its cultural significance.
Reality – The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. – The reality of the Great Depression was far harsher than many Americans had anticipated, leading to widespread poverty and unemployment.
Dynasty – A line of hereditary rulers of a country. – The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural brilliance and the expansion of Chinese influence during its reign from 1368 to 1644.
Famine – An extreme scarcity of food, often leading to widespread hunger and mortality. – The Irish Potato Famine of the mid-19th century resulted in the death of approximately one million people and the emigration of many more.
Indoctrination – The process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically. – During the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese government used indoctrination to instill communist ideologies in the population.
Luxury – A state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense. – The palaces of Versailles epitomize the luxury and opulence of the French monarchy before the Revolution.
Propaganda – Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. – During World War II, both the Allies and Axis powers used propaganda to boost morale and demonize the enemy.
Citizens – Legally recognized subjects or nationals of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized. – The citizens of Athens were among the first to practice direct democracy, participating actively in the decision-making process.
Dictator – A ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force. – Julius Caesar’s rise to power marked the transition from the Roman Republic to a dictatorship, altering the course of Roman history.
Legacy – Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor from the past. – The legacy of the Enlightenment includes the promotion of reason, science, and individual rights, which continue to influence modern societies.
