A claim that Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, touched his daughter Ju Ae’s buttocks has sparked intense debate among online users.
On Sunday, multiple online communities shared a screenshot of a Channel A News video along with the claim that Kim had touched his daughter inappropriately.
The footage, originally aired by North Korea’s Korean Central Television on April 16, shows Kim Jong Un attending the completion ceremony for 10,000 housing units in the third phase of the Hwasong district project, accompanied by his daughter Ju Ae the day prior.
In the video, Ju Ae appears with a distinctive half-up hairstyle reminiscent of her mother, Ri Sol-ju, wearing a white blouse, black pants, and a brown leather jacket. Looking more mature in her appearance, Ju Ae takes the stage and sits next to her father to watch a performance. She is also seen clapping from behind him as he cuts the ceremonial ribbon, remaining close by his side throughout the event.
One particular scene — when they get into the car — caught the attention of viewers. Kim is seen placing his hand on Ju Ae’s waist as if to assist her and then gripping the end of her jacket briefly before letting go. As Ju Ae gets into the back seat, Kim walks around to enter from the opposite side.
Online users expressed divided opinions at the time. Some argued that he touched her buttocks, noting that habits like this are concerning, and questioned why he would be grabbing the hem of his daughter’s clothes. Others observed that his hand seemed to instinctively move downward before he realized and grabbed the jacket instead. There were also remarks suggesting he might have mistaken her for someone else, or that it could be an unconscious bad habit slipping out.
Some online users contended that Kim merely grabbed his daughter’s clothing, not her body. They pointed out that the hand’s position appeared too high to be her buttocks and suggested he was simply holding her jacket. Others believed he might have intended to grab the jacket but missed, asserting that, regardless of his behavior, he wouldn’t act inappropriately toward his daughter, especially in public.
Meanwhile, observers noted that, unlike her previously reserved demeanor, Ju Ae was seen interacting directly with North Korean citizens for the first time during the event, including shaking hands and whispering to attendees. This has renewed speculation that her status is rising, possibly positioning her as Kim’s successor.
Professor Im Eul-Chul of Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies suggested that Kim Ju-ae’s public engagement during the ceremony could be interpreted as her stepping into the role of First Lady or as an early indication of being designated the successor. He noted that North Korea appears to be elevating her status in various ways.