Kim Han-sol

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Kim Han-sol
Born Kim Han-sol
16 June 1995 (1995-06-16) (age 18)[1]
Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Residence Le Havre, France
Nationality North Korean
Parents Kim Jong-nam (father)
I Hyegyeong (mother)
Relatives Kim Jong-il (grandfather)
Kim Jong-un (uncle)
Kim Solhui (sister)
Gim Geumsol (half-brother)
Kim Han-sol
Chosŏn'gŭl 김한솔
Hancha 金韩率
Revised Romanization Kim Han-sol
McCune–Reischauer Kim Han-sol
This is a Korean name; the family name is Kim.

Kim Han-sol (Korean: 김한솔, born 16 June 1995)[1] is the eldest son of Kim Jong-nam and the grandson of the former North Korean ruler, Kim Jong-il. His father was the heir-apparent until 2001, when he fell out of favor with the regime following a failed attempt to secretly visit Japan’s Disneyland in May 2001.[2] His uncle, Kim Jong-un, was named the heir apparent in September 2010,[3] and succeeded Kim Jong-il upon the latter's death in December 2011.[4]

Biography

Kim Han-sol first came to public attention in 2011 when he was accepted by Li Po Chun United World College, a member of the UWC movement, to study in Hong Kong. Later, he was denied a student visa by the Hong Kong government.[5] In late 2011, due to an admissions announcement by the United World Colleges' (UWC) United World College in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina campus, it was discovered by the South Korean media that one of the newly admitted students to the college was Kim Han-sol, about whom very little had been previously known. The South Korean media tracked down several online accounts maintained by Han-sol. The content of the accounts were widely spread online, providing stark contrast to his grandfather’s regime. In various posted messages on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, he expressed guilt for his family’s role in the suffering of the North Korean people. He expressed guilt about having enough to eat when his people in North Korea were starving, and he appeared to criticize his uncle - the heir apparent - Kim Jong-un.[6][7]

In October 2012, Kim made his first ever televised interview (in English) with Finnish TV network YLE, making several comments about his desire for Korean reunification, and not disputing the interviewer's disparaging characterizations of Kim Han-sol's grandfather's and uncle's rule over North Korea.[1]

As of 25 April 2013 (2013-04-25) Bosnian Media had reported that Kim Han Sol had been missing from classes at UWC. On 5 June 2013 Australian media reported that Kim Han Sol had graduated from UWC.

Kim is currently in his first year of study at the Le Havre campus of France's Sciences Po university. Following the execution of his uncle Jang Sung-taek in December 2013, he was placed under police protection.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Kim Han-sol interviewed by Elisabeth Rehn (1/2)". YouTube. Retrieved 19 October 2012. 
  2. ↑ Huffington Post article: "Kim Jong Nam, North Korean Leader's Son, Denies Plans To Defect."
  3. ↑ Christian Science Monitor article: "Kim Jong-un confirmed North Korean heir ahead of massive military parade."
  4. ↑ McCurry, Justin (2011-12-19). "Rwanda: Kagame's power struggle". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  5. ↑ Telegraph (6 October 2011). "Hong Kong snubs North Korea leader's 'lovely' grandson". Retrieved 19 October 2012. 
  6. ↑ Sabina Niksic (30-09-11). "Kim Han Sol, Kim Jong Il's Grandson Enrolls In United World College". Huffington Post. 
  7. ↑ Choe Sang-Hun (6-10-2011). "Web Postings Stir Interest in Teenager’s Relation to North Korean Leader". The New York Times. 
  8. ↑ James Rothwell (2013-12-18). "Kim Jong-un's nephew 'under police protection' at his exclusive university in France". The Independent. 

External links

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