About Kim Young-sook
Born 1947. Kim Young-sook is a North Korean politician.
Kim Young-sook (; born 1947) is the second wife and widow of Kim Jong Il. She was the daughter of a high-ranking military official, and was a switchboard operator in North Hamgyong Province before moving to Pyongyang. Kim Jong Il's father, Kim Il Sung, handpicked her to marry his son.
Song Hye-rang, the sister of Kim Jong Il's first mistress Song Hye-rim, mentioned that she is "insignificant to Kim Jong Il, apart from being a legitimate wife in front of Kim Il Sung. She did not even have an identity card in North Korea" as noted in her memoir Rattan house.
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Important facts
People in Kim Young-sook's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Kim Young-sook?
wife of Kim Jong-il, ruler of North Korea
When was Kim Young-sook born?
Kim Young-sook was born in 1947 in North Korea.
What is Kim Young-sook's occupation?
Kim Young-sook is a politician.
What nationality is Kim Young-sook?
Kim Young-sook is North Korean.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kim Young-sook. https://biography.guide/kim-young-sook-politician/
MLA: "Kim Young-sook." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kim-young-sook-politician/.
Chicago: "Kim Young-sook." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kim-young-sook-politician/.
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