The recent viral video of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un engaging in a discussion about extending human life, specifically through organ transplants, offers a glimpse into the persistent human fascination with immortality.
This pursuit of a never-ending life has been a recurring theme among those in power. The following details some of these leaders who relentlessly tried to defy the inevitable.
1. Qin Shi Huang: A Deadly Gamble for Eternal Life
Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, possessed a deep desire for immortality. He invested his life in searching for a magical elixir. He organized expeditions to fantastical places to get the elixir. In addition, he built a huge mausoleum and the famous Terracotta Army to protect himself even after death. Ironically, the pills he ingested, believing they would grant immortality, contained mercury, leading to his death at 49.
2. Kim Il-sung: Extraordinary Measures to Prolong Life
Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s founding leader, also craved a long life. He directed his physicians to keep him alive for a century. He turned to peculiar and concerning treatments.
His personal doctor, Kim So-yeon, who sought asylum in South Korea in 1992, revealed that a research center was established for the sole purpose of extending his life.
Despite all his efforts, Kim Il-sung died at 82. He was fond of blood transfusions from young individuals in their twenties, who were first given nutritious food. Also, Kim Il-sung loved watching children play. Doctors believed laughter improved health, which might explain why he often smiled in his official pictures. In North Korea, he is still considered to be alive eternally.