My Friend Kim Jong Un

http://www.renaud-bray.com

http://www.renaud-bray.com

A bold, intimate portrait of one of the world’s most enigmatic leaders—told through the art of award-winning cartoonist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim.From her studio on Ganghwa Island, just miles from the North Korean border, Keum Suk Gendry-Kim lives within sight—and sound—of a divided homeland. The distant rumble of artillery, the echo of military drills, and the ever-present border inspire her latest work, My Friend Kim Jong-Un, a daring graphic exploration of the man who looms over Korea’s present and future.In this deeply researched and deeply human account, Gendry-Kim retraces Kim Jong-Un’s rise to power—his privileged upbringing, his years in Switzerland, his obsessions, relationships, and the cult of personality that sustains his regime. Interwoven with these depictions are the artist’s own reflections and interviews with figures including former South Korean president Moon Jae-in, North Korean defectors, Kim’s former chef, and others who have glimpsed the man behind the myth.Following the international success of Grass and The Waiting, Gendry-Kim turns her gaze from historical trauma to contemporary power, offering an unflinching yet empathetic look at the human machinery of dictatorship. My Friend Kim Jong-Un is both a cautionary tale and a meditation on peace, identity, and the invisible line that still divides one people.Translated by award-winning translator Janet Hong.