Kim Ju-ae’s increasingly frequent public appearances and unconventional fashion choices have prompted outside observers to speculate on her potential status as successor. However, given her status as a minor, the institutional barriers to her entry into the formal political sphere have been further heightened, particularly following the decision at the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in 2026 to raise the minimum age for party membership to 20. Furthermore, no official party, government, or military position—nor any distinct organizational power base—has yet been confirmed. Accordingly, rather than prematurely drawing conclusions about her succession, this article focuses on the political functions that her public image and fashion serve within North Korea’s domestic governance.
