The Great Successor: Kim Jong-Un | A North Korea Graphic Novel

A graphic novel about power, propaganda, and life under North Korea’s ruling dynasty.

The Great Successor: Kim Jong-Un is a serious historical graphic novel examining the rise of Kim Jong-Un and the transfer of power inside one of the world’s most secretive authoritarian states.

Grounded in real historical accounts, reporting, and perspectives connected to North Korean refugees, the book uses graphic storytelling to make a complex political history more visible, readable, and human. It explores the machinery of dictatorship, the cult of personality, state propaganda, military-first politics, and the human cost of repression.

For readers interested in:

North Korea and Korean history
Human rights and refugee testimony
Graphic nonfiction and historical comics
Dictatorship, propaganda, and political power
Accessible introductions to modern North Korean leadership

This is not a humor title. It is a visually driven work of graphic nonfiction for readers who want to understand the background, symbolism, and consequences of the Kim dynasty’s succession.

Award note: International Book Awards Illustration Award, 2016.

Available formats

Paperback
Digital edition

No other translation.

FROM THE SERIES: Dictators of the DPRK

AUTHOR(S): Tae Keung Ha
Byeong-Seon Choi

PUBLISHED BY: Hungry Dictator Press an imprint of Exile Press on 20121212

EAN: 9781936342471

ISBN: 9781936342471

SUBJECT:

CGN007010-COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Biography & Memoir
BGHA-Autobiography: historical, political & military
DNBH-Biography: historical, political & military,DNBH1-Autobiography: historical, political & military,XQA-Graphic novel / Comic book: memoirs, true stories & non-fiction
English
Kim Jong-Un,DPRK,North Korea,north korea kim jong un,north korea in transition,propaganda,propaganda,dictator,politics,military first,GreatSuccessor,GreatDictator,Trump,Juche,KimIlSung,KimJungIl

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THE GREAT SUCCESSOR: KIM JONG-UN by Ha Tae Keung details the realities of the recent succession of Kim Jong-Un as leader of the DPRK.

From propaganda engines to "trusted" news sources, many of us will never know what really goes on in the Dark Kingdom. THE GREAT SUCCESSOR provides a rare glimpse at the new face (and belly) of leadership in the North.

Anyone who wants to keep up on current events will want to read The Great Successor, as it gives the historical context for the current turmoil in North Korea and its consequences on the rest of the world. Originally written in Korean in an easy-to-read format designed for all citizens to understand, Liptak translated the text into easy-to-read English. Anyone fascinated by dictators throughout history and their position in modern times will devour this book in an all-too-short time.

"I hope this book makes at least a small contribution to accurately publicizing the true nature of the young successor, of whom little is known."
Ha Tae Keung

Written by Ha Tae Keung

Born in Busan on March 29, 1968, Prof. Ha graduated from the Department of Physics of Seoul National University, then studied at the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation of Pusan National University and the Graduate School of International Studies of Korea University. He received a doctorate in economics from Jilin University in China and also served as a Reagan Fellow at the US Democracy Research Institute. Since his college years, he has been highly interested in North Korean and unification issues.

While working as a senior researcher at the SK Telecom Business and Economy Research Institute, he conducted volunteer activities related to North Korea. In November 2005, he established Open Radio for North Korea and fully immersed himself in North Korean human rights issues. As the CEO of Open Radio for North Korea, which provides radio broadcasts for the North, he delivers information on the rest of the world to North Korean residents. He is actively using newspapers and television broadcasts to inform residents in South Korea and the rest of the world about the seriousness of North Korean human rights issues. He also wrote the book, Analysis of Actual Human Rights Conditions in North Korea and Issues Regarding North Korean Human Rights Movements. Ha is currently an elected member of the Republic of Korea's National Assembly.

Illustrated by Choi Byeong-seon

Born in Pyongyang on March 22, 1946, Mr. Choi survived the Korean war and later traveled to the US where he majored in design at the New York Art School in 1961. He is now a researcher at the Global Artists Association and a director of the Korea Cartoonists Association.

With inborn talent in drawing and writing, he demonstrated his ability at an early age. He has worked on cartoons, calligraphy, drawings, and genre paintings, and made caricatures of intangible cultural properties. He has been continually acting as a cultural envoy in each area of politics, economics, and society with works that include Cartoon Korean History, Cartoon World History, Encyclopedia for Learning, and A Child from Pyongyang. He announced countless works through magazines, newspapers, and books, including When Dad Was Little, which was published serially on Sports Chosun.

Lawmaker pens graphic novel on N.K.'s 'Great Successor'

""Ha Tae-keung, a National Assembly representative for the Saenuri Party, delivers polemical punches against Kim, North Korea's knighted Great Successor... Ha's portrayal of Kim is reminiscent of a Hitlerian clone in Franklin Schaffner's sci-fi thriller 'Boys From Brazil.'"
Philip Iglauer The Korea Herald

"The Great Successor" is a 2016 Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal Winner in the Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic category and an Illustration Award Winner!
Reviewed By Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

"The Great Successor - Kim Jong Un: A Political Cartoon is a comic book detailing the succession to power of the present North Korea leader, written by Ha Tae Keung, president of Open Radio for North Korea, which broadcasts educational, cultural and personal message programming into North Korea. This book is illustrated by artist Choi Byeong Seon, a researcher at the Global Artists Association and a director of the Korea Cartoonists Association.

Perhaps this is the most serious and thought-provoking comic book that I've ever read. Reading or listening to any news about the self-isolated North Korea is sporadic at best. This book gives us insight into the North Korea dictator's past, present, and the sentiments towards him and his ruling. Readers will also learn about Jong Un's half older brother, Kim Jong Nam, who was once widely considered to be the next leader of North Korea. Jong Nam's capitalist nature and his desire for reformation of the country, however, were opposed by his father. His much-publicized botched attempt to secretly enter Japan using a fake passport and visit Tokyo Disneyland in 2001 was his ultimate downfall with his father and North Korea's elite.

The illustrated feelings of the North and South Koreans regarding the succession give us a rare and informative glimpse into this particular event. All in all, this is a great read and ultimately, the North Koreans are hoping for a better future. Hopefully that day will come soon.

A great read!...
A well illustrated and captivating read about the new leader of North Korea. A work of art in every sense of the word.
Fuebuzz
Amazon Reviews

Absolutely eye opening!... Obviously a political book, but [it's also] incredibly enlightening. I came away from it shaking my head and believing Jong-Un is a power-mad, cruel despot.
Nicola Mannsfield
Amazon Reviews

2550000 Autobiography: historical Best seller Biography & memoir Biography: historical Byeong-seon choi Comic book: memoirs Comics & graphic novels Dictator Dprk General/trade Graphic novel Greatdictator Greatsuccessor Juche Kim jong-un Kimilsung Kimjungil Military first Nonfiction North korea North korea in transition North korea kim jong un Political & military Politics Propaganda Tae keung ha True stories & non-fiction Trump