People’s Paradise

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the people’s country as its name indicates.

Its people do not know about school and doctor’s fees, tax and unemployment.

Since several decades previously the DPRK has enforced the free compulsory education system in which the state takes full responsibility for the education work. At present the 12-year compulsory education, the highest level of its kind in the world, is being enforced there: all forms of education―the pre schooling, primary, secondary, tertiary, social and adult education―are financed by the state. Wherever there are school-age children, schools are set up in a remote mountainous village or a far-flung island.

The universal free medical care system now in force in the DPRK is perfect and thorough as all forms of medical treatment service are free of charge. Everybody in the country is entitled to free medical service, regardless of sexes, ages, places of residence, occupations, and property status. Medical services for outpatients and inpatients, doctor’s sick calls, medical checkups, laboratory tests, functional-diagnosis, operations and diets, delivery assistance, medical examination, vaccination, prosthetic devices for those with disability and dental prosthesis are given gratis. Even the round-trip fare to a sanatorium is borne by the state and social, cooperative organizations. Under a regular checkup or medical care system as well as a section doctor system doctors visit patients to give medical treatment.

There are not a few countries in the world that claim to be an advanced nation or a welfare state, but none of them has abolished taxation. However, the DPRK abolished it once and for all over 40 years ago, so its people do not know about the term tax.

What is also surprising is that the unemployed are not found in the country. People with working ability can choose their jobs according to their hope and aptitude and are provided with stable jobs by the state. Holiday camps and resorts are built across the country to promote the working people’s health. Especially, women are granted with special treatment. The state has taken steps for female workers with several children to have shorter working hours and built nurseries, kindergartens, children’s hospitals and other necessary facilities for their convenience in work.

The dwelling houses are built at state expenses and provided to the people free of charge. It is a good example that ordinary educationists, scientists, technicians and workers moved into new flats modernly built on Changjon Street, Unha Scientists Street and Wisong Scientists Dwelling District and in apartment blocks for educationists of Kim Il Sung University and Kim Chaek University of Technology, without paying even a penny.

All the state activities are geared to improving its people’s living standards.

It was only a few years ago when a CNN anchor televised live a nocturnal scene of a renovated amusement park in Pyongyang, struck by actual reality completely different from the distorted Western propaganda, saying, “Your eyes are not deceiving you. This is socialist north Korea.”

The cultural and emotional life of the Koreans, enjoying the latest amusement facilities laid out in the park with dazzling illuminations, has further improved; the Rungna People’s Recreation Ground, Munsu Water Park, Mirim Riding Club, Masikryong Ski Resort, Meari Shooting Gallery, Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, May Day Stadium and other establishments for leisure activities of the people were newly built or renovated on the world standard. Besides, the Okryu Children’s Hospital, Ryugyong Dental Hospital and other new medical centres were built in a modern fashion.

It should be noted here that all these modern structures and high-end facilities, equipment and apparatuses that cost the huge sum of fund are enjoyed by ordinary working people, not by any millionaires or the privileged.

Every member of the Korean society is enjoying his or her political freedom and rights to the full. This is illustrated numerically by the make-up of the Deputies (MPs) to the Supreme People’s Assembly. Workers account for 12.7 %, farmers 11.1 % and women 16.3 % of the Deputies to the present 13^th SPA. It shows eloquently that the state administration is bound to be enforced as the working people wish and like.

It should also be pointed out that the country, its political power and army are all named after the people, i.e. People’s Republic, People’s Government and People’s Army. The intellectuals, sportspeople and artists who have rendered distinguished services to the country and people are awarded the titles of honour, like People’s Scientist, People’s Athlete and People’s Actor. The most magnificent structures in the country are called in such a way as the People’s Palace of Culture, Grand People’s Study House, People’s Theatre and so on.

The DPRK with the people-first Juche idea as the guideline of its activities is, indeed, a genuine people’s country that fully guarantees all the rights and dignity of the people.