David Cox
Kim Jong-un is a man of many talents, primarily causing global chaos and collecting headlines. But believe it or not, he’s also a boon for two unlikely characters: Howard X, an aspiring political satirist from Hong Kong, and Seoul’s very own Minyong Kim, who prefers the moniker Dragon Kim. Together, they make up the exclusive Kim Jong-un Impersonators Union, a club that no one else seems to want to join. How charming.
For six years, these two have milked their uncanny resemblance to the North Korean leader, raking in the cash— reportedly up to £10,000 a day— for gigs as diverse as video game roles to entertaining at lavish billionaire birthday bashes. Who knew Kim’s likeness could fill wallets as well?
“Whenever Kim does something outrageous—like firing missiles or calling someone a ‘dotard’—my phone starts buzzing,” Howard explains. “The calls often come with a mere 24 hours’ notice. Honestly, it’s like a last-minute party,” he added, almost as if he were discussing a dinner invitation rather than a gig as the Supreme Leader.
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Currently, Minyong is in talks with a certain chicken franchise about a new commercial, while Howard prepares to make a spectacle of himself in Macau, sharing the spotlight with impersonators of Trump and Putin. Apparently, they’ll even smash a cake shaped like a missile together. What could possibly go wrong?
When Kim first stepped into power back in December 2011, a young Minyong was navigating military service— his peers, apparently, took every opportunity to jab, “Look, it’s you!” After he finished his service, Minyong had an awakening: why not embrace his Kim-like appearance? With a signature haircut, a cheap black suit, and a Halloween outing in Hongdae, he quickly became a local celebrity. Thousands mobbed him. Apparently, looking like a dictator is akin to wearing a sweater vest at a renaissance fair—everyone’s intrigued!
Howard’s rise to fame was equally amusing; he posted photos of himself impersonating Kim on Facebook one April Fool’s Day, and the world collectively lost its mind. However, the biggest challenge was mastering that iconic bowl-cut style. “Finding a decent picture of Kim’s hair from the back is a Herculean task,” he joked. But practice makes perfect, and now his stylist is trained in the ‘how to make it look ridiculous’ technique.
However, the duo approaches their work in strikingly different ways. Minyong focuses on nailing Kim’s accent and quirks— the true essence of imitation—while Howard opts for shock value with comments that would make a seasoned stand-up comic blush. Minyong might get scorn from North Korean refugees for allegedly glamorizing their tyrant leader, while Howard revels in the potential backlash, thinking it a compliment. In a strange twist, being a Kim Jong-un impersonator comes with perks— like free food, drinks, and entry to hot clubs for Minyong. Meanwhile, Howard’s motto seems to be, “I do it for the dollars.” Talk about differing priorities!
