1,000-ri Journey for Learning

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Today is the 90th anniversary of the 1,000-ri or 400-kilometre journey for learning made by the great President Kim Il Sung.

I visited the Mangyongdae Revolution Museum in Pyongyang on the occasion. Mangyongdae is in spring when buds began to shoot and spring breeze is warm. I expressed great admiration at the beautiful scenery of Mangyongdae, when a lecturer told me that the name of "Mangyongdae" means a place with a multitude of beautiful views.

And she guided me into the Mangyongdae Revolution Museum. Attentively looking round the historical materials and remains displayed in every room together with other visitors, I entered the 4th Room. Displayed there were materials concerning President Kim Il Sung´s "1,000-ri journey for learning".

In front of a large-size electronic jewel picture depicting the route of the "1,000-ri journey for learning" lecturer Ho Un Jong said:.

"The great leader President Kim Il Sung graduated the Badaogou Primary School with straight A´s in early Juche 12 or 1923. In those days, Kim Hyong Jik thought of the future of his son Kim Il Sung and said: ´You had better study in Korea from now on. A man of Korea must have a good knowledge of Korea. While studying in the home village, you must experience the miserable life of the Korean people. Then you will know what you should do.´

President Kim Il Sung set out on the ´1,000-ri journey for learning´ on March 16th, Juche 12 or 1923, amid the send-off of his parents and friends. More than half of the 400 kilometres he had to walk was steep mountains with beasts of prey prowling about even in broad daylight."

As I was solemnly looking at the oil painting "Great leader Kim Il Sung arriving at the native home in Mangyongdae after the ´1000-ri journey for learning´", the lecturer said:

"President Kim Il Sung entered the courtyard of his native home in Mangyongdae around sunset on March 29, 1923, fourteen days after his departure from Badaogou. Spinning in the room next to the kitchen, his grandma was so surprised that she ran out into the courtyard barefoot. She said: ´Your father is crueller than the tiger. A few years later you may try to sit on Mt. Paektu and wash your feet in the East Sea.´ And she admired her grandson."

During his journey from Badaogou to Mangyongdae, President Kim Il Sung experienced the miserable life of the Korean people groaning under the boots of the Japanese imperialists and hardened his resolve to liberate the country.

The lecturer said to me that, later, President Kim Il Sung looked back with deep emotion upon the journey, saying, to him the 400-kilometre journey was a great school that let him know his homeland and his fellow countrymen.

Feeling again that Korea today is possible thanks to the 1,000-ri journey for learning made by President Kim Il Sung in his teens, I left the Mangyongdae Revolution Museum.