North Korea's "Goebbels" Ri Il-hwan, Secretary of Propaganda and Agitation Department, Involved in Traffic Accidents and Unlicensed Driving

North Korea's Use of Influential YouTubers to Promote Regime Propaganda

North Korea adopts new propaganda strategies by employing bilingual women proficient in English and Chinese, shifting from traditional media to platforms like YouTube.

The YouTube channel believed to be operated by North Korean authorities, known as 'Echo of Truth,' has been showcasing the daily life and culture of Pyongyang through the "Un-a's Pyongyang Tour" series since May 2020. They have also made appeals for support in response to typhoons, floods, and disaster recovery efforts. Recently, a North Korean YouTuber named 'Yu-mi,' fluent in Chinese, has emerged and introduced innovative forms of content such as 'mukbang'.

Kim Jong-un's emphasis on "innovative propaganda and agitation" during the 2nd Party Propaganda Workers Contest in March 2019 revealed North Korea's utilization of a new generation of female YouTubers for their propaganda purposes. Playing a pivotal role in this media transformation is Ri Il-hwan (age 63), the propaganda secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), often referred to as the "second-generation North Korean Goebbels." The Propaganda and Agitation Department, along with the Organization and Guidance Department, forms the core of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Kim Jong-il highlighted the importance of the Organization and Guidance Department and the Propaganda and Agitation Department, equating them to doctors and pharmacists. He personally initiated the first successor class at the Propaganda and Agitation Department, while Kim Yo-jong held the position of the 1st Deputy Director in the same department.

Hailing from the Prestigious North Korean Academy: The Mangyongdae Revolution Academy

Ri Il-hwan, born in Pyongyang in 1960, graduated from the prestigious "Mangyongdae Revolution Academy," a top military school for North Korea's elite. Despite losing his father at a young age, he excelled in his studies at the academy. In January 1974, Ri Il-hwan had the privilege of presenting a bouquet to Kim Il-sung, representing the academy at a national agricultural conference. Later that year, in December, he played a role in welcoming President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire alongside Kim Il-sung as a representative of the academy.

After completing his university studies, Ri Il-hwan dedicated himself to youth-related activities. In January 1998, he was elected as the successor to Choe Ryong-hae, becoming the First Secretary at the 14th General Conference of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League. While reports claimed that Choe Ryong-hae was dismissed due to issues with new recruits, it is widely known that his reckless behavior led to his punishment. In January 1999, Ri Il-hwan led a delegation from the Youth League on a visit to Syria.

5 Years of Revolutionary Labor from Unlicensed Driving Accident

On October 3, 2001, Ri Il-hwan was relieved of his duties as the First Secretary at the 23rd General Conference of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League and went into hiding, making way for Kim Kyong-ho. Ri Il-hwan's dismissal was a consequence of a fatal accident. While on a business trip to South Hamgyong Province, he was driving without a license and the vehicle overturned on a cliff, resulting in the tragic death of a student secretary from the Socialist Patriotic Youth League who was accompanying him. Fearing the repercussions, Ri Il-hwan falsely reported that the accident was caused by the driver, rather than admitting his own responsibility. However, he was eventually exposed for his dishonesty, leading to his demotion as punishment. For five years, he was assigned to perform labor duties in the Deokseong Mine in South Hamgyong Province. According to North Korean defectors from the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, Ri Il-hwan insisted on driving without a license due to a promise made by Kim Jong-il to gift him a car. It is said that when Kim Jong-il found out about the false report, he expressed his anger by saying, "Today, you have caused the deaths of two people."

Flourishing Under the Close Ties with Ko Yong-hui during Kim Jong-un's Leadership

Following the completion of his five-year revolutionary labor, Ri Il-hwan returned in 2007 to serve as the Deputy Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the WPK. He actively engaged as a regional leader in South Hamgyong Province for the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea. He made significant progress, particularly under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, who favored individuals with strong connections to his mother, Ko Yong-hui. One notable event was the construction of the Youth Hero Motorway between Pyongyang and Nampho in 2000, where Ko Yong-hui provided care and support to young workers. Ri Il-hwan, who was the 1st secretary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League at the time, built a close relationship with Ko Yong-hui by providing assistance with clothing and food.

As a result of these connections, Ri Il-hwan's career advanced further. In April 2013, he was appointed as the head of labor organizations responsible for the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, Socialist Women's Union of Korea, General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea. He continued to climb the ranks, becoming a member of the Political Bureau in April 2014. In December 2019, he achieved significant promotions, assuming the positions of a political bureau member, deputy director of the party, and director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the WPK. Since 2021, he has frequently accompanied Kim Jong-un to key events.