『조선녀성』 기사 제목에 등장하는 “김정숙” 호칭의 의미구조 분석

Abstract

North Korean society places special meaning on the name Kim Jong-suk, who is Kim Jong-il’s birth mother. Before the division of Korea, ‘Kim Jong-suk’ was simply an average Korean girl’s name. Afterward, however, in North Korea the name became one that holds special meaning and symbolizes much more than the average female name. What was the North Korean regime’s purpose of placing such meaning behind a name? What message were they trying to send, and to whom were they directing said message? This article seeks answers to such questions. Through a study of numerous articles that mention Kim Jong-suk’s name in North Korea’s Joseon Nyeoseong [The Women of Korea] magazine between the years 1956 and 2016, I analyze and uncover the impact and implications that Kim Jong-suk had on North Korean society. First, the gradual change in her status since 1956 holds great significance as it reveals much about the role of power within the regime. Second, when Kim Jong-il held power, he attempted to give honorary male status to his mother. Third, analysis shows that the North Korean regime changed the story and meaning of Kim Jong-suk from that of a communist fighter to an anti-Japanese hero during that time. Presently, under the supreme leadership of Kim Jong-un, the government appears concerned with reevaluating how to portray her role in North Korean history. Their reexamination has become particularly more acute since 2017, as it marks the 100-year anniversary of Kim Jong-suk’s birth.