PRIDE OF THE KOREAN WOMEN

Over a century has elapsed since the women workers in Chicago staged a strike and demonstration demanding sex equality and freedom.

However, a great number of women are still suffering from deprivation of socio-political rights and inequality in various parts of the world. The problem of women still remains a serious matter of international concern.

Greeting March 8, the international day of women all over the world, the international community is showing interest in the realities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, where women are leading a dignified life.

In retrospect, until the first half of the last century, women were subjected to maltreatment and contempt in Korea. They suffered a terrible misfortune owing to the fetters of feudal society that had lasted for a long period and the military occupation of their country by Japan (1905-1945). The number of the Korean women who were drafted as “comfort women” for the Japanese soldiers reached 200 000. They lost their chastity, before meeting a miserable death.

Korea’s liberation (August 15, 1945) brought about a turn in their status.

The Law on Sex Equality promulgated in July 1946, a year after the country’s liberation, put an end to the centuries-old miserable destiny of the women.

They became the fully-fledged masters of the country and society, exercising the same rights as men.

They are empowered to freely take part in state administration including election to power organs, and to elect and be elected irrespective of occupation, property status and academic qualifications. Many women have been elected deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly and other power organs at all levels, and they exercise their right to express their opinions on state administration.

Particular concern has been paid to talented women and women officials in Korea; the number of women, who work at important positions in several fields and units including state and economic organs, scientific, educational and public health organs and cultural institutions, is increasing day after day.

Several laws including the Socialist Constitution, Law on Family, Public Health Law, Socialist Labour Law and Law on the Nursing and Upbringing of Children provide a legal guarantee for the positions, roles and rights of women.

The erstwhile victims of all kinds of class and personal constraint and the targets of maltreatment and contempt have become fully-fledged masters of the state and society at present.

The Korean women are leading a worthwhile life under the concern of the state and society.

They are free from taxation and fear for unemployment, and do not worry about child delivery, education of children and medical treatment under the free medical care system and free education system.

The Pyongyang Maternity Hospital is an epitome of the privilege the Korean women are enjoying. At this hospital, which is fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, perfect sterilizing system and centralized oxygen supply system, women receive free of charge not only medical services such as delivery and treatment of female disorders but also necessary tonics and nutritive foods. Newly-born triplets and their mothers are presented with ornamental silver daggers, gold rings and other gifts.

It is not accidental that many foreigners, who visited Korea, gave unstinted praise, calling the DPRK the “heaven of women,” the Korean women “blessed ones.”

Under the close concern of the state and enjoying the social benefits, many women have earned fame as patriots, heroes and pacesetters of the era.

Among them are soldiers, scientists, a world marathon champion, football players, and meritorious workers and farmers.

Today the Korean women are giving free rein to their talents and resourcefulness at the major sites for defending socialism and building a thriving country, thus emerging as a force that cannot be slighted in society.

In the sector of light industry many women workers carry out their production plans ahead of schedule. Mun Kang Sun, weaver at Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill, has overfulfilled her yearly production plan by 200% in the past ten years. She operated five times more machines than her work norm. Once she fulfilled her two-year production quota in six months. For her feats of labour she was conferred the title of Labour Hero and elected in 2014 as a Deputy to the 13^th Supreme People’s Assembly.

In the agricultural sector, too, many women are working as senior officials in the units that are standing in the vanguard of grain production.

It is said that not a few women scientists were involved in the launching of four artificial satellites, which drew the attention of the world.

In recent years hundreds of People’s and Merited scientists, doctors and professors have been produced from among women working at the scientific research and educational sectors, more than a hundred women athletes, including Kye Sun Hui, quadruple world judo champion, and women football players, who emerged as world football stars, were conferred the titles of Labour Hero, People’s Athlete and Merited Athlete.

Last year women pilots of supersonic jet fighters were born for the first time, demonstrating the mettle and pride of the Korean women.