Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un (Hangul: 김 정은; Gim Jeong-eun) is a Chosonese politician and serves as the mayor of Pyongyang. Kim Jong-un is from an aristocratic family which has many political connections. Before his rise to politics, Kim was a businessman and ran a successful restaurant chain. He is also a human rights activist and makes yearly donations to South Vietnamese defectors, as well as other refugee chairities and programs.

In late October of 2014, Kim began his run for Mayor of Pyongyang, his competitor was Moon Tae-jin. Although initially he wasn't quite popular with Pyongyang residents, Kim used his wit and charm to win them over, and in March of 2015 he was sworn in as mayor of the city. Kim began his position as mayor by initiating a series of reforms throughout the city. Pyongyang was known for being on of the most poverty-stricken cities within Choson, with a large fifteen percent of the population being homeless. By the year 2017, under Kim Jong-un's guidance, Pyongyang became one of the most popular tourist destinations for foreigners and domestic peoples alike.

Early Life
Kim Jong-un was born on January 8, 1984 in Pyongyang, Choson in Gwongseong Hospital. He was the second-born to three children, his oldest brother Kim Jong-chul (Hangul: 김 정츨; Gim Jeong-cheul) and his younger sister Kim Yo-jong (Hangul: 김 요정; Gim Yo-jeong). He also had a half-brother, Kim Jong-nam (Hangul: 김 정남; Gim Jeong-nam), but Kim Jong-nam later died during a vacation in Nasantaran in 2017.

Kim's parents, Kim Jong-il (Hangul: 김 정일; Gim Jeong-il) and Ko Yong-hui (Hangul: 고 용휘; Go Yong-hwi), were exceedingly wealthy. Due to their parent's wealth, Kim and his siblings lived quite lavishly, and had access to a higher education. During his teenage years, Kim, and his younger sister Yo-jong, attended school in Germany. Kim Jong-un also had an interest in basketball and was noted by teachers and classmates as being kind and friendly. Kim's siblings and parents have also noted him as being compassionate. It was later reported that Kim attended Liebefeld-Steinhölzli public school under the pseudonym "Pak-un" or "Un-pak", it's rather unclear, as records state that both were used. The reason that Kim used a pseudonym is because, during his teenage years, Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, was exposed for making gracious donations to the Soviet Union, as well as supporting the Soviet Union during the Choso-Soviet War. While Kim was noted as being an ambitious, well-integrated and intelligent, his attendance and grades were quite poor. He attended Liebefeld-Steinhölzli public school from 1988 until his abrupt departure in the autumn of 2000.

Kim later attended Hanseong National University in Hanseong, the capital of Choson. He graduated with a masters degree in Political Science in 2006. From there, Kim's interest in politics began to rise, and he became involved in local government.

Rise to Politics
From 2002 to 2006, Kim Jong-un attended Hanseong National University and graduated with a degree in Political Science. Shortly after graduation, Kim sought involvement in local government, he became motivated and ambitious in local government, as well. In 2012, Kim's father had died from a heart attack, during this time his participation in local government declined. He briefly entered a state of depression and suffered severe weight gain. In 2013, he later lost the weight.

In July of 2013, Kim Jong-un made a guest appearance on television during which he answered questions pertaining to local and national politics. From his initial appearance on television, Kim gained popularity all across Choson, even the president stated that Kim seemed intelligent and charming. Later in October, Kim joined the Pyongyang City Council as an assistant secretary to Son Dong-pyo who only had minor connections to the mayor and his personal entourage. Throughout the remainder of 2013, Kim Jong-un quickly, and surprisingly, rose to prominence within the government, as well as all of Pyongyang. In October 2014, Kim began his campaign to run for mayor against his competitor, Moon Tae-jin. Kim wasn't popular amongst Pyongyang residents initially, but over time gained increasing popularity by utilizing his charisma. Months later, in March of 2014, he was sworn in as mayor of the city and immediately initiated a series of reforms.

Mayor of Pyongyang
Upon being sworn in as mayor, Kim Jong-un established a plan for major reforms throughout the city. Homelessness, poverty and crime were major issues that he sought to eradicate. Kim's style of leadership was considered quite modern and westernized, as many of his predecessors were considerably traditional.

Kim established a tradition of parades in the city. The first parade was held in 2016 to increase moral amongst Pyongyang residents. Yangsang Dance was the first parade held in Pyongyang in recent history. The parade consisted of parade floats and a mass dance in Anneung Square. These parades and dances have amassed a large number of domestic and international tourists. Many tourists who have visited Pyongyang have noted that ever since Kim took office that Pyongyang is a much more vibrant and lively city. Residence have stated that many of the reform implemented have greatly improved their financial situation.

Role in Government
As mayor of Pyongyang, it is Kim Jong-un's responsibility to oversee all city functions, education, standard of living, health, etc, as well as the overall wellbeing of Pyongyang residents. As mayor, Kim takes part in functions of the Pyongyang City Council, as well as the Board of Education in the city. It is the mayor's role to maintain a decent standard of living and uphold the best quality of life possible for Pyongyang residents.

A New and Improved Pyongyang
In July 2016, Kim Jong-un's personal chef, Kenji Fujimoto visited Pyongyang and said, "I recall a few years ago when I would see homeless and poverty-stricken elderly on the streets and criminals running amuck, but now Pyongyang is like a brand new place! It's brimming with cheer and positivity. Pyongyang has changed a lot since Kim Jong-un assumed mayorship!" Kim Jong-un is also a heavy activist for climate change. In February of 2019, Kim Jong-un, his family, as well as a climate change activist group in the city, all spent two entire days cleaning the plastic and garbage from the Taedong river, Taedong river being the river than separates Pyongyang into east and west. Ever since then, the city has been a lot more clean and environmentally friendly, press and media all across Choson have praised Kim Jong-un for his efforts to make Pyongyang an environmentally friendly place.

Events in 2020
In August when the central-eastern coast of Choson was horribly afflicted by Typhoon Maysak, Kim Jong-un traveled to Baegnyeong, Ongjin, and Haeju to inspect damage and help evacuate civilians. He also donated $2,856.78 (₩3,776.66) to relief teams in those areas.

Media also reported that in November Kim Jong-un and his family, including his sister, went on vacation to Hawaii. Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju, was also spotted attending a BLACKPINK concert in Hanseong with her daughter, Kim Ju-ae, in the same month.

Personal Life
Little is known about Kim Jong-un's personal life, but when he is seen with his family, he appears to be kind and loving to his wife and daughters. Kim commonly avoids questions about his personal life so much so that no one, except those in Kim's family, knows the name of her second daughter, and it's even speculated whether or not Kim has a son.

Kim and his family live a comfortable and lavish lifestyle. He runs a successful food chain conglomerate, his estimated $40,000,000.00 (₩52,880,000,000.00).

Personality
Kenji Fujimoto, a Japanese chef who was Kim Jong-un's personal cook, described him as "a chip off the old block, a spitting image of his father in terms of face, body shape, and personality". Kim is a fan of basketball, and his favorite teams include Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

On 26 February 2013, Kim Jong‑un met Dennis Rodman, which led many reporters to speculate that Rodman was the first American that Kim had met. During Rodman's trip, Vice magazine correspondent Ryan Duffy said that Kim was "socially awkward" and avoided eye contact.

According to Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute, Kim Jong-un has greater visible interest in the welfare of people and engages in great interaction with them.

Other Koreans who saw Kim described him as straightforward, humorous, and attentive. After meeting him, Donald Trump said, "I learned he was a talented man. I also learned he loves his country very much." He added that Kim had a "great personality" and was "very smart".

Wealth
Kim is said to have 17 luxury palaces around Choson, a fleet of 100 (mostly European) luxury cars, a private jet, and a 100-foot (30 m) yacht. Rodman described his trip to Kim Jong-un's private island: "It's like Hawaii, Ibiza, or Aruba but he's the only one that lives there."

In 2012, Business Insider reported that there were "Kim and his family are constantly seen dressed luxuriously" and that his "wife Ri Sol-ju (Hangul: 리 설주; Li Sol-ju) was photographed holding what appeared to be an expensive Dior handbag, worth almost $1,594. According to media sources, "Kim Jong-un likes to drink and party occasionally, and sometimes used saunas to help him beat hangovers and fatigue."

Health
Kim has always been quite active and athletic throughout his life. Former-childhood friends of Kim's have stated that as a child, he would often play soccer or basketball. As a toddler, Kim loved to play games of tag, hide 'n seek, or any game that involved physical activity in general. During his time in Germany, Kim was part of his school's basketball team.

Kim Jong-un is said to be quite athletic and engage in an active lifestyle, unlike his father and grandfather. During his freetime, Kim states that he likes to play a quick game of basketball, go on a quick jog or maybe walk around the building. Kim has gone to gyms on occasion. In 2018, Kim went to a gym in Haeju, during his workout session, Kim received many intrigued looks.

Family
On July 25, 2012, Kim Jong-un married Ri Sol-ju. Ri, who was believed to be in her early 20's at the time, had been close with Kim for years. In 2010, Ri Sol-ju bor the family's firstborn son, Kim Yunho, although it's speculated whether or not Kim Yunho even exists. In 2013, Dennis Rodman reported that Kim and Ri had had a newborn daughter, Kim Ju-ae. Media has also reported that Kim and Ri had another child two years later in 2015, the third child is a girl, but her name is unknown.

Kim is accompanied by his younger sister Kim Yo-jong, who he is said to be extremely close to. Kim Jong-un and Kim Yo-jong aren't close to anyone in their family particularly.

On February 13, 2017, Kim Jong-un's half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, suffered a fatal heart attack while on vacation in Nasantaran. Kim and his family where seen attending Jong-nam's funeral, as well as consoling Jong-nam's son, Kim Han-sol (Hangul: 김 한솔; Gim Han-sol). Han-sol had been seen accompanying Kim and his family while on vacation in Halbin in January 2020.