North Korea has been ruled by one family for three quarters of a century, the Kim family. The Kim's have maintained power for so long through a combination of brute force

and a propaganda machine that's been very, very effective.

All of North Korean society is built around fealty for the leader.

I mean, they would literally throw their bodies down in front of a speeding train, right, to save the leader.

It's Kim family is sort of the rocket engine for North Korea. North Korea is an

information repressed society. Things are not good there. People don't have enough

food, the economy struggling, they're hit with sanctions. So the way that the Kim

family is able to maintain its grip on power is through this power of persuasion.

And throughout the history of the Kim Family Dynasty, one man has largely been responsible for creating that mythology, Kim Gee Nam.

So his role was, he was the architect for North Korea's vitriolic and mythological propaganda.

He spanned the entire history of the country.

He served all three Kim leaders,

and he's really one of the people who's left the most indelible mark

North Korea as it is today.

Last week at the age of 94, Kim Guyanam died. During his life, he was one of the most important forces keeping the North Korean dictatorship in power.

Welcome to the journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knutzen.

It's Tuesday, May 14th.

Coming up on the show, The Mastermind

behind North Korea's propaganda machine. If just thinking about your bills makes you feel confused and disorientated, like your head is full of raspberry,

then you need Monzo. Download your new favorite bank and pay bills from custom pots.

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