Ri Han-yong
Encyclopedia
Yi Han-yong, birth name Ri Il-nam (d. 15 February 1997), was a North Korean defector
. His mother Song Hye-rang
's younger sister Song Hye-rim
was a mistress of Kim Jong-il
; Ri's mother raised Kim Jong-il
's and Hye-rim's son Kim Jong-nam
alongside Ri and Ri's sister Nam-ok at a secluded villa outside of Pyongyang
in order to keep Jong-nam's parentage a secret from Kim Il-sung
. He went abroad to Moscow
for university, and then defected to South Korea
in 1982 while studying at a language school in Switzerland
. After defecting, he initially attempted to keep his identity a secret, changing his name and even going as far as undergoing plastic surgery. His life in the South was troubled. He first studied drama at Hanyang University
, and married in 1989; however, in 1991, a construction company he started went bankrupt, and he was jailed for 10 months on charges of embezzlement.
In 1996, due to his ongoing financial difficulties, Ri made his identity as Kim Jong-il's nephew known publicly, selling the story of his aunt Song Hye-rim's exile in Moscow to South Korean newspapers, and then publishing a book about his experiences entitled Taedong River Royal Family. He was shot on 15 February 1997 near his home in Bundang
, Gyeonggi-do
by two assailants who were never caught; they were suspected to be members of the Korean People's Army
's Special Forces based on analysis of the bullets taken from Ri's body, which were fired from a Belgian
-made Browning
pistol. He was taken to hospital and kept on life-support, but succumbed to his wounds on 26 February. South Korean prime minister
Lee Soo Sung initially stated that the attack was an act of retaliation for the defection of Hwang Jang-yop
, who at the time was living in the South Korean embassy in Beijing
. The publication of his tell-all book and the defection of his mother in Switzerland the previous year may have served as additional factors in making him a target of the regime in the North. Others speculated at the time that his murder was not politically-motivated, but was instead related to his gambling debts or a dispute with a lover.
North Korean defectors
A number of individuals have defected from North Korea. Since the division of Korea after World War II and the end of the Korean War , many people have defected from North Korea, mainly for political, ideological, religious and economic reasons...
. His mother Song Hye-rang
Song Hye-rang
Song Hye-rang is a North Korean defector and author. Her father was a wealthy South Korean landowner who moved to the north for political reasons, while her mother was an editor of the official North Korean newspaper Rodong Shinmun...
's younger sister Song Hye-rim
Song Hye-rim
Song Hye-rim was a North Korean actress and one-time favored mistress of Kim Jong-il. She was born in present-day South Korea, in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang.-Biography:...
was a mistress 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...
; Ri's mother raised 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...
's and Hye-rim's son Kim Jong-nam
Kim Jong-nam
Kim Jong-nam , is the eldest son of Kim Jong-Il, ruler of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. From roughly 1998 to 2001, he was widely considered to be the heir-apparent to his father and the next leader of North Korea...
alongside Ri and Ri's sister Nam-ok at a secluded villa outside of 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...
in order to keep Jong-nam's parentage a secret from Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
. He went abroad to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
for university, and then defected to 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 1982 while studying at a language school in 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....
. After defecting, he initially attempted to keep his identity a secret, changing his name and even going as far as undergoing plastic surgery. His life in the South was troubled. He first studied drama at Hanyang University
Hanyang University
Hanyang University is one of the most prestigious universities in South Korea. In particular, Hanyang's School of Engineering is one of the oldest engineering schools in Korea. The main campus is Hanyang University at Seoul, located in the Seoul, with its branch campus, the ERICA campus , located...
, and married in 1989; however, in 1991, a construction company he started went bankrupt, and he was jailed for 10 months on charges of embezzlement.
In 1996, due to his ongoing financial difficulties, Ri made his identity as Kim Jong-il's nephew known publicly, selling the story of his aunt Song Hye-rim's exile in Moscow to South Korean newspapers, and then publishing a book about his experiences entitled Taedong River Royal Family. He was shot on 15 February 1997 near his home in Bundang
Bundang
Bundang is the southernmost district of Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. In addition to being the most populous part of the city, it also has the status of being one of the wealthiest regions in Gyeonggi Province...
, Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
by two assailants who were never caught; they were suspected to be members of the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
's Special Forces based on analysis of the bullets taken from Ri's body, which were fired from a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
-made Browning
Browning Arms Company
Browning Arms Company is a maker of firearms, bows and fishing gear. Founded in Utah in 1927, it offers a wide variety of firearms, including shotguns, rifles, pistols, and rimfire firearms and sport bows, as well as fishing rods and reels....
pistol. He was taken to hospital and kept on life-support, but succumbed to his wounds on 26 February. South Korean prime minister
Prime Minister of South Korea
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea is appointed by the President with the National Assembly's approval. Unlike prime ministers in the parliamentary system, the Prime Minister of South Korea is not required to be a member of parliament....
Lee Soo Sung initially stated that the attack was an act of retaliation for the defection of Hwang Jang-yop
Hwang Jang-yop
Hwang Jang-yop was a major politician in North Korea who defected to South Korea in 1997, making him to date the highest-ranking defector from the isolated state. He was largely responsible for crafting the Juche Idea, North Korea's official state ideology.-Early life and career:Hwang was born in...
, who at the time was living in the South Korean embassy in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. The publication of his tell-all book and the defection of his mother in Switzerland the previous year may have served as additional factors in making him a target of the regime in the North. Others speculated at the time that his murder was not politically-motivated, but was instead related to his gambling debts or a dispute with a lover.
Publications
|year=1996|isbn=8970901108|publisher=Donga Ilbo}}-
- Republished as