Kim Jong-suk 1917 – 1949

Biography

Kim Jong-suk was born on December 24, 1917, in Hoeryong, where she spent her early years before her life became intertwined with the pivotal events of Korean history. She would become known as the first wife of Kim Il Sung, the founding president of North Korea, sharing in both the challenges and transformations of a nation in its formative period.

Though her time on earth was brief—she passed away on September 22, 1949, in Pyongyang at just thirty-one years of age—her legacy endured in the historical record of Korea’s modern era. She died of disease during a time of significant political and social change in the newly established Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

In recognition of her place in history, Kim Jong-suk was laid to rest at the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery in Pyongyang, an honor reflecting her connection to the nation’s revolutionary period. Her memory remains preserved in this significant burial place, marking her contributions during a critical chapter in Korean history.