The Juche IdeaDPRK is an isolated country run on hardcore Communist principles. But DPRK is dominated by the ‘Juche Idea’, a political and social philosophy created by the deceased and still revered Kim Il Sung. The Juche Idea resembles a strong civic religion. Kim Il Sung is considered a god to North Koreans. Kim Il Sung was, and is today, referred to as the Great Leader and was crowned as Eternal President of DPRK upon his death in 1994. This means that he remains the President of DPRK, forever. Kim Il Sung’s successor – and favourite son – Kim Jong Il is only the Chairman of the DPRK and the Dear Leader, but neither President or Great Leader. Kim Jong Il and his Communist Party simply guide DPRK by the principles set out by Kim Il Sung and the Juche Idea.
The Juche Idea maintains that people must assert and defend their independence, sovereignty, and national pride through self-reliance. It is a nationalistic philosophy that asserts self-sacrifice for the benefit of society. The individual must surrender himself or herself to the group in order to become self-reliant on a personal, and more importantly, on a social level. The ultimate aim is therefore to develop and maintain self-reliance of DPRK. Unlike the Soviet Union, DPRK never intended on exporting its brand of Socialism. DPRK never had any pretensions of dominating the world or sending its Juche Idea to other countries. The Juche Idea was made specifically for the Korean people and no one else.
The following picture is of the Juche Tower and the Taedong River's massive fountains.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the current capitalist reformation of China and Russia, North Korea has become politically remote and militarily defensive. For instance, it is one of the most difficult countries to get a visa. Many political analysts and diplomats believed that the severe food famines of the late 1990s and early 2000s – coupled with economic crisis – would put a great strain on the Juche Idea and lead to reform, implosion, or war. Despite its recent woes, DPRK has maintained a strong and steadfast attitude towards its commitment to the Juche Idea and Socialism. Although it is plagued by internal famines, continued economic crises, and international pressures, DPRK remains a strong state that does not appear to be bending to the strains…yet.
Juche Symbols
The main symbol of the Juche Idea - the Juche Tower - as seen from my hotel room window.
The Juche Idea is associated directly with Kim Il Sung. The two enjoy a symbiotic relationship. Even though he died thirteen years ago, the respect and reverence for Kim Il Sung lives on. Kim Il Sung is ‘the’ North Korean god. The North Korean consider him as their god that gave them freedom, self-reliance, and pride. Kim Il Sung is therefore the ultimate symbol of Juche. There are special Juche towers in every city, town, village, and collective farm across North Korea. Similar to a Christian church in every corner of England or a Muslim mosque in every corner of Saudi Arabia, a Juche tower is located in every corner of North Korea. It is a long pillar made of white stone, some half a torch-flame on top (as a replica of the giant torch-flame on top of the main Juche Tower in Pyongyang, North Korea’s answer to the Eiffel Tower or CN Tower), others do not. Along the sides of the white pillar is a message written in large, red Korean letters. I can’t recall the exact message of these messages, but I’m sure they are along the lines of ‘Kim Il Sung is the hope of humankind’ or ‘Kim Il Sung is the most brilliant leader in the world.’ Next to these pillars is usually a massive wall mural with a Socialist Realist depiction of Kim Il Sung or of Kim Il Sung with Kim Jong Il.
Kim Il Sung (1912-1994), the Great Leader and Eternal President of DPRK
Juche ‘Time’
North Korea even measures its years in Juche ‘time’. Juche ‘time’ began with Kim Il Sung’s birth in 1912. This means that 1912 was Juche 1. I would have been born in Juche 67 (or 1979). Today, North Korea is in Juche 95 (or 2007).
Juche Tower
The Juche Tower – or the Tower of the Juche Idea – is the architectural embodiment of North Korea’s Juche Idea. It is another dominant feature of the Pyongyang skyline. Emily and I had a fantastic view of the Juche Tower from our hotel room’s view. The tower was particularly stunning at night with its lit torch and the entire edifice lit as though the sun was shining on it. It was quite beautiful.
The Juche Tower is a massive monument on the eastern bank of the Taedong River opposite Kim Il Sung Square. It was built to commemorate Kim Il Sung’s 70th birthday in 1982. It is 170 metres and made of white stone with seventy dividers (one for each year of Kim Il Sung’s life) and capped with a 20 metre high illuminated metal torch. The torch is lit in a strong red-orange light. At the base of the monument, facing the river, there is a 30 metre high statue consisting of three figures: one with a hammer, one with a sickle, and one with a paint brush (the Communist symbol of workers joining together as one). There are also smaller statutes, each 10 metres high, symbolizing the Juche Idea.
The following is a photo of myself and our female guide, Ong-Nim (or Miss Chae), with the Juche Tower in the background.
Despite Pyongyang’s constant rolling blackouts, the Juche Tower remains completely lit. The idea is to preserve symbolic strength, even though the people may not have any electricity or heat on any given night. That being said, around 10PM or 11PM, the Juche Tower, along with other lit-up monuments, has its lights shut off. Apparently even symbolism can’t sustain that much power usage all night.
We went to the top of the tower one windy afternoon to enjoy the views of Pyongyang. The views are indeed wonderful, with a complete panoramic view of every corner of the city. We could see the Taedong River stretching through the city, Kim Il Sung Square, the Grand People’s Study House, and the May Day Stadium. That day was the only one with sunshine and blue skies, yet still cold, so our observations were clear and crisp. The elevator took forever to get to the top, but once there, it was well worth it. I bought a mini-replica of the Juche Tower at the small shop at the base of the tower.
The Juche Tower – or the Tower of the Juche Idea – is the architectural embodiment of North Korea’s Juche Idea. It is another dominant feature of the Pyongyang skyline. Emily and I had a fantastic view of the Juche Tower from our hotel room’s view. The tower was particularly stunning at night with its lit torch and the entire edifice lit as though the sun was shining on it. It was quite beautiful.
The Juche Tower is a massive monument on the eastern bank of the Taedong River opposite Kim Il Sung Square. It was built to commemorate Kim Il Sung’s 70th birthday in 1982. It is 170 metres and made of white stone with seventy dividers (one for each year of Kim Il Sung’s life) and capped with a 20 metre high illuminated metal torch. The torch is lit in a strong red-orange light. At the base of the monument, facing the river, there is a 30 metre high statue consisting of three figures: one with a hammer, one with a sickle, and one with a paint brush (the Communist symbol of workers joining together as one). There are also smaller statutes, each 10 metres high, symbolizing the Juche Idea.
The following is a photo of myself and our female guide, Ong-Nim (or Miss Chae), with the Juche Tower in the background.
Despite Pyongyang’s constant rolling blackouts, the Juche Tower remains completely lit. The idea is to preserve symbolic strength, even though the people may not have any electricity or heat on any given night. That being said, around 10PM or 11PM, the Juche Tower, along with other lit-up monuments, has its lights shut off. Apparently even symbolism can’t sustain that much power usage all night.
We went to the top of the tower one windy afternoon to enjoy the views of Pyongyang. The views are indeed wonderful, with a complete panoramic view of every corner of the city. We could see the Taedong River stretching through the city, Kim Il Sung Square, the Grand People’s Study House, and the May Day Stadium. That day was the only one with sunshine and blue skies, yet still cold, so our observations were clear and crisp. The elevator took forever to get to the top, but once there, it was well worth it. I bought a mini-replica of the Juche Tower at the small shop at the base of the tower.
3 comments:
This is a wonderful blog. Thank you for taking the time and writing it. It's very interesting and illuminating
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I was not shocked because this was old news -- practically ancient, in fact. In R. Microsoft Office Emmett Tyrrell, Office 2010 Jr.'s most recent book The Clinton Microsoft Office 2010 Crack-
Up, page fiv Office 2007 e, paragraph two, we learn that in Bill Clinton's "first four years out of the White H Microsoft Office 2007 ouse, he ea Office 2010 key rned over Office 2010 download $43 million Office 2010 Professional after
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The next Outlook 2010 page directs Windows 7 us to Appendix Microsoft outlook 2010 I, a list of the conniving couple's fees for speeches and book royalties and other income. The first
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