Juche

Anne Goossens
Secretary-general,
Belgium-Korea Friendship Association

President Kim Il Sung founded the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Korean People’s Army and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

After the revolutionary wars against the imperialists, the Korean people once trampled and ruthlessly mistreated as a stateless colony have become the revolutionary people who manifest to the face of the world their heroic spirit, the powerful and dignified people who firmly safeguard their sovereignty.

President Kim Il Sung created the Juche idea, stating that the popular masses are the masters and the motive force of the revolution and construction.

On September 7, 1968, President Kim Il Sung wrote in his report on the celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK:

“Proletarian democracy entails finally liquidating the exploiting classes, fully guaranteeing true political freedom and rights as well as material and cultural prosperity to the working class and other sections of the working people, and enhancing comradely cooperation and mutual assistance between them in every way.”

In our regular trips to DPRK we observed how these principles were realized in the everyday life in the DPRK.

The Juche idea represents the guiding idea of the Korean revolution and the building of the Korean society.

This is symbolized by the Tower of the Juche Idea which is 170 meters high. From the very top one can see the whole city, such as the central Kim Il Sung Square, the Ryugyong huge triangle-shaped hotel that has 105 floors and the May Day Stadium for 150 000 spectators, where the Arirang celebrations were held.

What are also very noticeable for us are the subways: there are signs where you push on a button and directly it shows you the direction to take because it lights up! Impossible to get lost. In this metro with its brilliant mosaics everything is clean and you will not find any paper on the ground and the daily newspaper is suspended from where you can read it freely.

We were very impressed while visiting the Okryu Children’s Hospital and other hospitals in the countryside. Visiting the hospitals, whose all medical cares are free, it was necessary to put covers at the feet and to disinfect the hands. This regulation, required at the entrance, was very important to avoid contagions.

Which is also remarkable for us: if a child has to stay a long time in the hospital, the mother can be present night and day! The hospital will give pajamas and the mother can sleep near her child. This is great: the mother can participate in physiotherapy exercises and be present all the time. If a sick person in the provinces has to be transported to the capital, he can be driven with a helicopter to the center, which will be the place of care adapted for him. There is always a floor track next to the hospital which facilitates the emergency transport. The child who is long in the hospital will also be able to attend school within the hospital, so as not to lose his schooling during illness.

We were also able to visit the facilities for disabled people. We observed and learned that high dedication and high professional level of daily care for deaf, blind and motorically disabled people are followed.

Leaving the capital, we went to countryside. In a village, the peasants grew rice collectively and efficiently. In this village there is a school of 600 students. There is also a medical center with 4 doctors who are there to help this population for free.

We were also able to visit a silk factory. We were impressed by the excellent conditions for the workers in the plant. If for example there is too much dust in the air, there is a device that detects this electronically and then it sends steam into the air. All around the factory trees are planted to purify the air. In the factory there is also a library where workers can study and rise in rank in their jobs. There is also a creche in the factory which is free, and mothers can nourish their children during working hours. These people work 6 days a week and 8 hours a day.

We were able to see a report on the floods in the north of the country, where the whole army had been mobilized to repair the 14 000 houses demolished, but in 3 months all the houses were built. This is tremendous!

Armed with the Juche idea the Korean people emerge victorious in the revolution and construction, surmounting all difficulties and trials!