Ghostwriter seeks to publish Kim Jong-il ‘autobiography’

A project to write an autobiography of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has appeared on Kickstarter.com, a popular U.S. website to raise funds from netizens.

Michael Malice, a U.S. ghostwriter on celebrities, is looking for sponsors on Kickstarter for his project to ghostwrite the Dear Leader and publish “Kim Jong Il: The Unauthorized Autobiography.”

The crowdfunding campaign for his publishing project was launched on Feb. 27, and as of 2:45 p.m. Sunday Korean time, 182 backers pledged $8,119. Malice aims to raise $30,000 by March 29.

“Welcome to the bizarre world of North Korea. It is a nation where politics is religion, and religion is the worship of an odd little man by the name of Kim Jong-il,” he said in introducing his project. “Taken directly from primary sources spirited out of the ‘Hermit Kingdom,’ this book will expose the life and lessons of Kim Jong-il from his own unique perspective.”

Kim ruled North Korea from 1994 to 2011, during which time he became notorious for his idiosyncratic sensibilities, absurd propaganda and brutal repression, Malice said.

Kim Jong-il’s alleged accomplishments were also cited, including shooting a hole-in-one in every round of golf, being the authority on the internet and inventing the hamburger.

Malice said that if he succeeds in securing sponsorship, he will use it to pay his rent for the seven months that it will take to write the book as well as for production, marketing and copy editing expenses.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)