5. Kim Il-sung
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Years in Power: 1948-1994
Kim II-sung ranks 5th in our list of most evil and hated dictators of all time. He was declared President immediately upon the formation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 1948, and since then, he has been given the titles of the Supreme Leader and Eternal President even after his death. The highlight of his rule is the Korean War in which he led the invasion into South Korea. He then imposed an aggressive cult of his personality onto the country, meaning that even the remotest disagreement with him would result in being sent to a labor camp. He also paved the way for his son to take over after his death. What’s unique about his dictatorship is that he succeeded in granting himself godlike status, evidenced by the fact that his birthday is celebrated as “Day of the Sun” and is a public holiday. Furthermore, his body has been embalmed and is on display in Pyongyang.
