Song Hye-rim
| Song Hye-rim | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 성혜림 |
| Born |
24 January 1937 Changnyeong, Japanese Korea (now South Gyeongsang, South Korea) |
| Died |
18 May 2002 (aged 65) Moscow, Russian Federation |
| Spouse(s) | Kim Jong-il |
| Children | Kim Jong-nam |
| Song Hye-rim | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 성혜림 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 成蕙琳 |
| Revised Romanization | Seong Hye-rim |
| McCune–Reischauer | Sŏng Hyerim |
Song Hye-rim (Chosŏn'gŭl: 성혜림; 24 January 1937 – 18 May 2002)[1] was a North Korean actress, best known for being the one-time favored mistress of Kim Jong-il.
Early life and education
Song was born in Changnyeong, when Korea was under Imperial Japanese rule. She entered Pyongyang Movie College in 1955, but left the following year to give birth to a daughter. She later re-enrolled and graduated, having her film debut in 1960. She became a popular actress in the 1960s, appearing in movies including Onjŏngryŏng (Chosŏn'gŭl: 온정령) and Baek Il-hong (Chosŏn'gŭl: 백일홍).
Most accounts of Song are drawn from the memoirs of her sister, Song Hye-rang. Her former friend Kim Young-soon published her memoir I Am Song Hye-rim's friend, and revealed she and her family were sent to a concentration camp for ten years after she found out Hye-rim's secret, which resulted in the death of her children and parents and her husband being taken away and never seen again before she managed defected to South Korea in 2003.[2][3][4][5]
Personal life
Song began dating Kim Jong-il in 1968, after divorcing her first husband; she is believed to have been his first mistress. In 1971, she gave birth to Kim Jong-nam, who at one time was believed to be favored to succeed Kim Jong-il. The birth of this son is said to have been kept secret from Kim Il-sung until 1975.[6]
Defection and death
Starting in the early 1980s, Song travelled to Moscow frequently for medical care. In 1996 Song was reported to have defected to the West, but intelligence officials in South Korea denied the story. She is reported to have died on 18 May 2002.[1][7] Some reports say she died in Moscow.[8][9]
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- History of North Korea
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 北 김정남 생모 '성혜림의 묘'를 찾아
- ↑ "North Korean defector says Kim Jong Il stole her life". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "A N.Korean life shattered by Kim Jong-il's secret". Reuters. 3 February 2010.
- ↑ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hx-Dxwu2aXlb3LGcp3VozEgmzmlw?docId=CNG.541f67cfc8bccc2a7627aee90771b001.251
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/12/north-korea-defector-yodo_n_4088122.html
- ↑ Lee (2005), par. 6
- ↑ Empas (n.d.)
- ↑ Lee (2005), sect. 4 par. 1
- ↑ Rank, Michael (18 February 2012). "North Korean secrets lie six feet under". Asia Times Online.
References
- "김정일의 동거녀 성혜림과 고영희". DailyNK. 2005-07-15. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
- "성혜림". Empas 인물검색. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
- Lee, Ki-dong (이기동) (2005-01-26). "김정일, 외모닮은 김정운 칭찬". NKChosun.com Choongang Monthly Magazine. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
External links
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