From boy to dictator: ‘My Friend Kim Jong Un’ traces life of North Korean leader | NK News
September 27, 2024
NK News Logo

Get behind the headlines
Features

From boy to dictator: ‘My Friend Kim Jong Un’ traces life of North Korean leader

Keum-Suk Gendry Kim discusses far-right anger at her graphic novel and challenges of writing about man she couldn’t meet
Anton Sokolin September 20, 2024
Copy Icon COPY LINKMastodon Icon MASTODON
From boy to dictator: ‘My Friend Kim Jong Un’ traces life of North Korean leader
An illustration of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and former ROK President Moon Jae-in shaking hands | Image: Keum-suk Gendry-Kim, edited by NK News

Living on an island just miles from North Korea, Keum-suk Gendry-Kim regularly hears the booming artillery fire, roaring helicopters and howling sirens, a reminder of the inter-Korean conflict that never truly ended.

And that experience has helped shape the direction of the acclaimed author’s latest work exploring the fragility of peace, a graphic novel provocatively titled “My Friend Kim Jong Un.”

Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.

© Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved.
No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group.

Never miss a beat. Try the new mobile app.
© 2024, Korea Risk Group (NK Consulting Inc.). All Rights Reserved