Life of Great Man Viewed in Numbers

Mar 11, 2015

KIM IL SUNG  (1912-1994) of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, founder of the socialist Korea and the eternal President of the Korean People, is well remembered by many people of the world for his lifelong exploits.

President KIM IL SUNG  dedicated his whole life to saving and defending the destiny of the country and the people. In the past when Korea was under military occupation of Japanese imperialism from 1905 to 1945, KIM IL SUNG  set out on the road of revolution early in his teens, solemnly pledging himself not to return home unless it was freed from the Japanese. It was in his twenties, on April 25, 1932, that he organized the Korean people’s Revolutionary Army and began to wage an all-out war against the Japanese imperialists; he accomplished the historic cause of Korea’s liberation on August 15, 1945, when he was in his thirties. The United States, much bragging that they were the “strongest in the world,” unleashed a war against the DPRK. But they had to sign the armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, with the Korean people who defended their country under the brilliant command of KIM IL SUNG, who was in his forties at that time. His outstanding achievements-defeating two imperialist powers-haves now secured the prominent position in the world’s history of struggle against imperialism. He dedicated all his life to establishing a country for the people and developing it into a socialist power.

After Korea’s liberation he had to pave the way for the new-nation building. Now as it was to him, the President successfully carried out the anti-imperialist, anti-feudal democratic revolution, the socialist revolution, and several stages of socialist construction. In the whole process he visited more than 20 600 units of political, military, economic, cultural and all other fields to provide on-the-spot guidance, covering 578 000 km equivalent to 14.5 times as long as the earth’s circumference. Over 2 530 of his Sundays and holidays and even his birthdays were spent working to make his country prosperous and his people well off.

His noble devotion gave rise to miraculous achievements recorded in succession. In a matter of one year after liberation democratic reforms, including the land reform, nationalization of major industries, and the enforcement of the equal rights of women with men, were carried out. Witnessing the reality of Korea reduced to ashes in the Korean War, American politicians asserted it likely would take 100 years or more for Korea to regain its feet; however, the Koreans rehabilitation project was finished in a short span of time-less than three years. It was only five years after the Korean War that a socialist system was established in the country, providing everyone of its people with equal happy life. When other countries of the world had performed the difficult and gigantic task of industrialization for a full century or several centuries on, Korea accomplished it in 14 years.

President KIM IL SUNG  enjoys worldwide admiration and praise for his lifetime achievements in the ideological and theoretical domains as well as in diplomatic field. He wrote more than 10, 800 works in his life, all of them being ideological and spiritual wealth greatly conducive to the struggle of the world’s progressives in defense of independence and sovereignty, justice and peace. His works have so far been rolled off the press in 110-odd countries, amounting to 26.7 million copies in over 60 national languages.

During his days as the Korean leader for nearly half a century, President KIM IL SUNG  visited 87 countries in total, on 54 occasions-spanning 685 days and covering the distance of 522 460km. he met over 120 heads of state on the total of 1 982 occasions, more than 200 party leaders on 2 236 occasions in total, and also 76 government heads on 833 occasions in total. It shows he met more than 70 000 foreigners throughout his life, contributing greatly to the cause of independence of the world.

Many people of the world, transcending the difference in ideology, political view, and nationality, highly praised the Korean President. In over 60 years, since Louis Sailant, the then secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions, wrote about his interview with the President in April 1947, foreigners from over 170 countries wrote or made public more than 45 000 works-“ KIM IL SUNG  Biography” and “Brief of KIM IL SUNG ”, in particular-in book form and other various genres like interviews, memoirs and poems-in over 2 000 kinds. Most of their works were issued in 40 or more languages. The Korean leader received over 180 highest decorations and medals from many countries and international organizations, while more than 30 cities of the world presented him with honorary citizenship. He was also awarded the titles of honorary professor and doctor by over 20 universities of worldwide fame. The International KIM IL SUNG  Prize was instituted and has been conferred, and over 480 streets, institutions and organizations in more than 100 countries bear his name. His birthday, the Day of the Sun, has been commemorated by the April Spring Friendship Art Festival on 25 occasions, participated in by the total number of 18 000 artistes from over 1 700 art troupes, and more than 2 000 of them are prizewinners of domestic and international contests, and title-holders. He received more than 165 900 gifts from foreign party and state leaders, political and social figures and businessmen. The number shows that he received over 2 910 gifts every year, 243 every month and 8 everyday. What is more amazing is that after his demise, many countries have sent him a hundred and scores of gifts, unprecedented in history.