Kim Jong-un's Birthday in North Korea Date in the current year: January 8, 2025

Kim Jong-un was born in 1982, 1983 or 1984 (his official biography states 1982 as his birth year, but foreign intelligence services believe he is younger) and assumed power after the death of his father Kim Jong-il on December 28, 2011. For a long time, Kim Jong-un was the youngest serving head of state in the world.

Kim Jong-il began preparing Kim Jong-un for succession when Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son, fell from grace in 2001 after he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport to visit Disneyland in Tokyo. In 2009, Kim Jong-un was officially named Kim Jong-il's successor. In 2010 Kim Jong-un became vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and in April 2012, he became the first chairman of the National Defense Commission. In December 2011, he became the Supreme Leader of North Korea.

Before his death, Kim Jong-il began a propaganda campaign to promote his youngest son as his successor and designated his birthday as an official holiday. Today Kim Jong-un's birthday is celebrated as a major holiday in North Korea.