Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.
North Korean leader's mom 'born in Mokpo,' now part of South
Ko Young-hui, birth mother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, is pictured in an article in The Mainichi in this file photo. / Korea Times file
By Kim Bo-eun
Ko Yong-hui, the birth mother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was born in the southwestern city of Mokpo, a local report claimed Tuesday.
Ko, who passed away in 2004, was believed to have been born in Osaka, Japan.
The report by “The Fact” was based on testimonies from relatives of Ko, including a woman surnamed Hyeon. However, the report did not disclose the full name or photo of the relative.
Ko's father was born in 1913 and moved to Japan at age 16 in 1929. He died in 1999 according to his tombstone.
Ko is widely believed to have been born in Osaka in 1952 and her family moved to North Korea in 1961 or 1962.
However, Hyeon said Ko's father moved to Mokpo and lived with his older brother there. She said he ran a milk factory there and Ko was born in Mokpo.
Hyeon said Ko's parents took their daughter with them to Japan between 1957 and 1960. She said he sold milk to Korea from Japan.
Another unnamed relative also said Ko's mother gave birth to her in Mokpo and then went to Japan.