IN Mangyongdae, there is a legend about a boy, handed down with care and love from the turn of the 20th century until this very day. A group of children were playing hide-and-seek precociously, laughing cheerfully as they chased each other. Child after child was found until there was only one left hiding. The children ran all over but they couldn't find the last child. Suddenly, they heard laughter from above them, as if it came from the sky itself. A boy, the young Kim Il-Sung, stepped into view, standing on the roof of a thatched house. Behind him shone the sun, bright with fire and majesty. It seemed to embrace him as he laughed, rays of searing light curling over his smiling face.
It was this spirit, this brilliance which shone as bright as the sun itself and never set, even upon his passing, which led people all over the world to regard the great president Kim Il-Sung as the sun of Korea. He brought the Juche Idea to the world, giving man the tools he needed to take his rightful place as the master of his own destiny.
As the leader of People's Korea, he demonstrated his kindness and responsibility every day of his life. To this day, no leader has had a deeper connection to his people than Kim Il-Sung. He was the father of Korea and cared deeply for every single one of his citizens.
One harsh winter day in Juche 39 (1950), President Kim Il-Sung was on his return trip to the supreme command from his inspection of the front. He was gazing out the window when he laid eyes on a sentry post. The President told his chauffer to stop the car all of a sudden by the post.
Getting out of his car, President Kim Il-Sung approached the soldier on sentry duty and asked him if he could stand such bitterly cold weather. He examined the soldier's uniform with care. The conditions at that time were so hard and complicated that winter caps could not be supplied to the soldiers on time. Kindly, President Kim Il-Sung told his adjutant to bring his own fur cap and gloves from the car and give them to the soldier. After a while, the sentry leader who came to relieve the soldier on duty was quite surprised to see him wearing the supreme commander's cap.
The President was not only kind-hearted and considerate, he was patriotic. He always thought of Korea and of the reunification of his country, longing for the day when his country was reunited.
One day in the Autumn of Juche 53 (1964) the President received a Korean businessman from overseas. The businessman told the President that he was wrong when he intended to build a factory in South Korea, adding that he would like to build it in the North. But the President noted with smile that there was no need to do so and it would not be bad but good for the Korean people if even one more factory was built in South Korea. And he said that the construction of the factory in South Korea would be helpful to the future development of the country. Deeply moved by his noble compatriotism and broad-mindedness, the businessman lauded the President as a God of Korea who takes care of all the people.
May President Kim Il-Sung be remembered forever and may we always learn from his teachings!
Long live President Kim Il-Sung! Long live the Juche Idea! Long live the Democratic People's Republic of Korea! ***
Gordon Copeland
Senior Journalist of the Korean Friendship Association USA
