Jean-Baptiste Kim
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Kim is a political defector-refugee
from South Korea
in Europe
.
He was born in South Korea
which he fled as a teenager following incarceration
and torture
against him and his family members by the South Korean authorities leading to the death of his father. (His father was a political activist of the then-military dictatorship in South Korea
.)
After becoming a French citizen he was opened to North Korean connections in Europe
by meeting a North Korean agent Oon Yung
. This led to his political defection
from South Korea to North Korea, becoming an associate of Kim Jong-il
whom he met and says was like a father figure for him. He actively worked for the North Korean authorities for 11 years, visiting Pyongyang
several times. He served time as a foreign correspondent of Rodong Sinmun
.
In 2007 he announced his dissociation with Pyongyang
and that he is no longer working for the North Korean state. This led to the cancellation of the Rock for Peace Festival that he was in the middle of organising in which a Norwegian rock band among others was to perform in Pyongyang
.
Since his retirement from politics
, he is thought to be living in France
or Switzerland
with his family.
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
from South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
He was born in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
which he fled as a teenager following incarceration
Incarceration
Incarceration is the detention of a person in prison, typically as punishment for a crime .People are most commonly incarcerated upon suspicion or conviction of committing a crime, and different jurisdictions have differing laws governing the function of incarceration within a larger system of...
and torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
against him and his family members by the South Korean authorities leading to the death of his father. (His father was a political activist of the then-military dictatorship in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.)
After becoming a French citizen he was opened to North Korean connections in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
by meeting a North Korean agent Oon Yung
Oon Yung
Oon Yung is a North Korean diplomat in Europe. In the 90s he served time at the North Korean embassy in France. He was responsible for recruiting South Koreans such as Jean-Baptiste Kim to Pyongyang.- References :...
. This led to his political defection
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
from South Korea to North Korea, becoming an associate of Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
whom he met and says was like a father figure for him. He actively worked for the North Korean authorities for 11 years, visiting Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
several times. He served time as a foreign correspondent of Rodong Sinmun
Rodong Sinmun
Rodong Sinmun is a North Korean newspaper and the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, published by the Rodong News Agency. It is the most widely read newspaper in the country...
.
In 2007 he announced his dissociation with Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
and that he is no longer working for the North Korean state. This led to the cancellation of the Rock for Peace Festival that he was in the middle of organising in which a Norwegian rock band among others was to perform in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
.
Since his retirement from politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, he is thought to be living in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
or Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with his family.