In the early days of the DPRK, many Soviet Koreans — ethnic Koreans that were born and raised in the Soviet Union but spoke fluent Korean — made important contributions to the country’s cultural foundations. 

Among them was Cho Ki Cheon (1913-1951), a prominent poet killed during the Korean War. Despite his death, though, Cho’s works and name lived on — even though his image, like those of numerous other historical figures, has been twisted to serve the needs of North Korea’s propagandists.