Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
POLITICS RELIGION & IDEOLOGY, cilt.26, sa.3, ss.430-457, 2025 (AHCI, SSCI, Scopus)
This paper explores the transformation of Juche, North Korea's state ideology, into a political religion characterized by a shift from a monotheistic to a tri-polytheistic structure under the leadership of Kim Jong-un. The study posits that Kim Jong-un has pursued a deliberate strategy of sanctifying himself and strengthening his authority by invoking the legacies of his grandfather Kim Il-sung and his father Kim Jong-il. Through an examination of political texts, speeches, and Kim Jong-un's 2016 publication Aphorisms, this paper demonstrates how Juche has evolved into a tri-polytheistic framework that venerates all three generations of the Kim dynasty. The analysis highlights how materialistic sanctification, combined with traditional symbols and rituals, has cemented the continuity of North Korea's totalitarian regime. This study aims to elucidate the political-religious foundations of Kimjongunism, concluding that North Korea's political stability hinges on the symbiotic relationship between the leader, the ideology, and the people.