＜Inside N. Korea＞ Mockery and Jeers about Kim Jong-un's Daughter 'Ju-ae' Become Trending: "Some People Can Even Inherit a Country..." Seems to Reflect Dissatisfaction with Overwhelming Disparity

Kim Jong-un's daughter, whom South Korean authorities speculate is named 'Ju-ae', continues to appear in state media wearing luxurious attire. It has been reported that among North Korean middle and high school students, expressions mocking the daughter have become popular as they recognize the extreme disparity between their lives and hers. (By KANG Ji-won / HONG Mari)

◆ Leather Coat and Sheer Fabric... Appears in Luxurious Attire

Kim Jong-un's daughter first appeared in public in November 2022, wearing red shoes while holding her father's hand at a missile launch site. Since then, images of the young girl participating in official events have occasionally been reported in state media. She has been introduced with honorific titles such as "respected beloved child." Recently, on January 1, several photos were released showing her attending a New Year's celebration performance in Pyongyang, holding hands tightly with Kim Jong-un.

The South Korean government estimates that this daughter was born in 2013. She appears with a round face, sophisticated adult-like hairstyle that is always neatly styled, and luxurious clothing including leather coats and sheer fabric materials.

While the regime's method of exposure is clearly meant to put the daughter in the spotlight, it seems to be having unintended consequences in North Korean society. Among ordinary children, expressions of lamentation, mockery, and jeers about the enormous gap between their lives and Kim Jong-un's daughter's life have become popular.

◆ "Some People Can Inherit a Country Just Because They Have Good Parents"

Reporting partner A, who lives in the northern region of North Korea, shares:
"The phrase 'Some people can inherit even a country because they have good parents' has spread like a trend among children, referring to the daughter. When schools ask for various monetary contributions, parents can hardly afford it due to difficult living conditions. That's when they say this. As broadcasts frequently show someone eating well, dressing well, and receiving abundant parental love, children disparage their own circumstances and resent their parents, but even getting caught saying these things could cause problems for their parents."

*Note: While education is supposed to be free in North Korea, in reality, parents must bear a significant portion of educational costs and school expenses.

A continues: "Before the daughter appeared, when peers or friends asked for favors, the joke 'Are you the General?' spread like a catchphrase, but now that the daughter appears, jokes mocking her like 'Do you need something? Just say the word' have become common.

Adults limit themselves to saying things like 'She's lucky to be born to good parents,' but since children are immature, these expressions seem to have spread because they envy the daughter who can have everything she wants."