Two women accuse North Korean defector-poet Jang Jin-sung of rape

Investigation

Two women accuse North Korean defector-poet Jang Jin-sung of rape

Prominent "Dear Leader" author denies allegations of rape, blackmail and sexual coercion

Jeongmin Kim | Kelly Kasulis | Won-Gi Jung February 16, 2021

Two women accuse North Korean defector-poet Jang Jin-sung of rape

AP Photo/Sylvia Hui, June 28, 2012 | Former North Korean poet Jang Jin-sung, who wrote propaganda poems for Kim Jong Il before he defected to South Korea, speaking in London during an Olympics-tied poetry festival.

Editor’s note: The following article includes detailed claims of rape and sexual harassment.

Two women are accusing Jang Jin-sung, a prominent North Korean defector and best-selling author who wrote propaganda for the DPRK government, of several counts of rape and sexual coercion over the course of several years.

About the Authors

Jeongmin Kim

Jeongmin Kim is the Lead Correspondent at NK News and Editorial Director at KOREA PRO, based in Seoul. Kim covers inter-Korean relations and North and South Korean foreign and military affairs. Kim has covered the 2022 ROK presidential election on the ground, and prior to joining NK News, she worked for the CSIS Korea Chair in Washington D.C. and Reuters news agency’s Seoul bureau. Follow her on Twitter @jeongminnkim

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Kelly Kasulis

Kelly Kasulis was the Managing Editor of NK News, based in Seoul. She previously covered North and South Korea for Public Radio International, Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg Industry, Mic and many others. Follow Kelly on Twitter: @kasulisk.

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Won-Gi Jung

Won-Gi Jung is a reporter based in Seoul. He previously worked for the CSIS Korea Chair and East Asia Institute. Follow him on Twitter: @jungwongida.

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