President Kim Meets with Daughter of Communist Partisan

President Kim Dae-jung met with the daughter of the head of a Korean partisan group, on June 13 in Pyongyang. Lee Sang-jin is the only daughter of Lee Hyun-sang, who served during the Korean War as a commander of Nambugun, a major communist partisan group based in Mt. Chiri.

Lee Sang-jin led President Kim on his visit through the Mansudae Assembly Hall, where she is both vice president and manager.

She was raised in the Stalinist state, receiving special attention from former North Korean President Kim Il-sung, after going to North Korea with her mother during the Korean War.

After the death of her father, who was killed by South Korean authorities on September 18, 1953, Kim Il-sung is known to have taken responsibility for her as the daughter of a revolutionary patriot.

Lee Sang-jin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il both graduated from Kim Il Sung University, majoring in politics and economics.

Kim Jong-il's writings refer to Lee's school days - among other things, noting that as a university student she was often absent from lectures due to poor health. According to his notes, Kim Jong-il brought her medicine after talking to his father and allowed her to study from his lecture notes.

After graduating from university, Lee Sang-jin was put in charge of international businesses and diplomatic offices abroad for North Korea, with her husband, Lee Hyung-yon, who is a diplomatic official.

by Yi Yong-jong