Contact: Joy Walter, International Studies and Programs, walte196@msu.edu, (517) 884-2135, cell: (517) 899-2854

EAST LANSING, Mich.-- Attendees of Kim Hyun-Sik's lecture Friday were able to catch a rare glimpse of the hermit culture and strict regime of North Korea through the eyes of Kim, a professor at George Mason University and once-tutor to North Korean ruler Kim Jong Il.

Hosted by the Asian Studies Center and VIPP, faculty, staff and students were able to learn about the hereditary tyranny in the guarded country as well as discuss ways to aide in opening the kingdom from the outside in a session entitled "Life Inside the Hermit Kingdom: North Korean Ideology, Worldview and Mindset."

Kim, a wounded war veteran for the Korean Army, said the main political ideals held up by Kim Jong Il included that the ruler be glorified as a personal god by all citizens, North Koreans remain cut off from all outside media to encourage loyalty and that the national mentality should be centered against one supreme enemy--the United States.

Although Kim served as Russian tutor to the now supreme ruler of North Korea, he said his own loyalties to the North Korean government were questioned when he met with his sister who had moved to Chicago to discuss possibly moving himself. Facing trial and possible death as a suspected traitor, Kim said he fled the country, never to return again, and lost his wife, children and grandchildren when authorities discovered his defection.

Still Kim wants to help citizens of his former home country. He encouraged audience members to send school supplies and medical teams, English teachers or even food products, obviously labeled as from the United States, as ways of suggesting openness and cooperation.

The lecture was held in 115 International Center at 3 p.m. For information on upcoming lecture series and other events, visit http://isp.msu.edu/ or http://vipp.isp.msu.edu/ or check with the various are studies centers.