Yi Poik
Yi Poik was the grandmother of Kim Il Sung and great-grandmother of Kim Jong Il. She was a farmer from Pyongyang, South Pyongan Province, North Korea, and the wife of Kim Pohyŏn, who was also a farmer.
Life
She was born on May 31, 1876 in Pyongyang, Pyongan Province, Joseon.She eventually married Kim Pohyŏn, a farmer, and gave birth to three sons and three daughters: eldest son Kim Hyong-jik, second son Kim Hyongnok, third son Kim Hyŏnggwŏn, eldest daughter Kim Gu-il, second daughter Kim Hyong-sil, and third daughter Kim Hyong-bok.
On June 4, 1937, the Battle of Pochonbo occurred in Kapsan County, South Hamgyong Province. Later, Kim Yong-ju, who worked as an interpreter for the Japanese army, learned that the mastermind of the attack was his brother Kim Il Sung. In order to gain Kim Yong-ju's cooperation, Japan handed over his grandmother.
On August 15, 1945, her grandson Kim Il Sung returned to China from the Soviet Union.
Death and legacy
She died on October 18, 1959, at the age of 83 and a statue in her honor stands at the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery.Yi Poik and Kim Pohyŏn were likened as "patriots" by the Editorial Committee for the Short Biography of Kim Il Sung.
On 19 August 2013, wreaths were sent by various North Korean organizations to the tombs of Yi Poik and Kim Pohyŏn.