Kim Jong-Un Looking at Things by Jaeyoung Lee

The popularity of “Kim Jong Un looking at thing” meme originated from Kim Jong Il’s version of “Looking at things/stuff”. People’s interest and perception of dictatorship towards to North Korea were always strong that North Korea is the one and only existing communism country since the unification of Germany in 1990. Considering the recent death of Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un’s appearance as successor became important issue not only within the North Korean society but also as global world.

I was able to find many videos and photos of Kim Jong Un Looking at things on the internet. I have strong idea that this “meme” became so popular that not just because people’s general interests and overall curiosities about Kim Jong Un (North Korea) but also it represents the media maker’s intension to show off Kim Jong Un’s political engagement to every aspects (education, military, science and technology) in North Korea as former successor of Kim Jong Il. Last but not least, not to be offensive towards to North Korea, in my opinion, Kim Jong Un’s (including Kim Jong Il and general North Korean governors) funny physical appearance such as sunglasses, chubby figure, and double-chinned face may be one of the other sub-reasons why this had become a famous meme.

The photos are mostly Kim Jong Un looking at something (object or person). Unlike Kim Jong Il’s meme, we can easily find Kim Jong Un’s smiley face when staring the things. The location of photo varies, however in most of photos, Kim Jong Un is usually accompanied by few of his henchman. As mentioned previously, the series of image connotes (implies) his active political movement in North Korea. Moreover, in most cases, Kim Jong Un is Looking at things while he is listening to explanation from his man which also suggests his authority and power as a leader. The images often released by North Korea media maker and its goal is to emphasize Kim Jong Un’s humanistic characteristics and his suitability as a new leader of North Korea.

According to “Google Insight” interest research, starting with Kim Jong Il’s version of meme, Kim Jong Un’s Looking at things began to gain its media attention since the November 2011. Public interest on this particular meme peaks in December, the month that former leader, Kim Jong Il passed away. And its interest did not last very long but gradually faded out.