The Greatness of Kim Il Sung-Tvrtko Balić KFA Official Delegate for Croatia

30 years ago the great leader President Kim Il Sung passed away at the age of 82. He passed

away having transformed Korea forever, securing his place in history books and the hearts of

the people as a modern day Pater Patriae and a great hero of his people and a positive example

for all the progressive people around the world to follow.

I recently read a book of anecdotes of Kim Il Sung's life and would like to share one:

“It was a spring day in 1925.

The staff and pupils of Fusong Primary School No. 1 in Fusong County, Jilin Province,

China, were having a picnic, chatting and laughing.

However, one pupil was thoughtfully carving letters on a tree.

The headmaster of the school, who was looking round the picnic site with a smile on his face,

stopped short at the sight of the boy.

He realized that the boy was Kim Song Ju (Kim Il Sung’s original name), someone he and the

other teachers were particularly concerned about. The pupil was unusually intelligent and

had extraordinary zeal for studying, in spite of his young age.

The headmaster quietly approached the boy.

He could see 'Down with Japanese Imperialism, Independence of Korea' carved on the tree.

These words reflected such a high aim that it was hard to believe they were written by a 13-

year-old.

'Kim Song Ju,' said the headmaster.

The boy turned round and saluted him with a deep bow.

'Are you certain it is possible to defeat Japan?'

'Yes.'

'How?'

'When the people are united as a single force, they can surely defeat the Japanese

imperialists.'

The headmaster stood, dumbfounded.

Such was his astonishment that his heart began to beat fast.

The people ··· When the people are united as a single force, they can surely defeat the

Japanese imperialists.

He recited these words to himself, with the sense that he was viewing the world from the

perspective of a profound new idea.

Later, Kim Il Sung’s motto of 'The people are my God' and the Juche idea originated from

this idea about the 'people.'“

A year later a 14-year-old Kim Il Sung founded the Down-with-Imperialism union. These

were the roots of the Workers' Party of Korea and the start of a 20 year long struggle that

would liberate Korea from the clutches of Imperial Japan that held it under direct control for

35 years. With Korea liberated, Kim Il Sung became its leader.

Leading national struggle like this and becoming a powerful leader is something many young

men doubtlessly dream about. Yet to achieve it and already at such a young age? To think it

possible, a boy might be accused of having a Napoleon complex, of having illusions of

grandeur. To achieve it? It is a sign of an undeniably great man. This sort of man is born

maybe once a century. Through his many victories, Kim Il Sung proved himself to be an equal

to Napoleon. Just as Napoleon changed the face of France forever, Kim Il Sung changed the

face of Korea forever. Both represent an important development in history as well. Napoleon

represented the hight of the French revolution which brought down remnants of feudalism and

Hegel called him "the world-soul on horseback" (die Weltseele zu Pferde). Kim Il Sung also

destroyed feudal leftovers, but was in this respect the greater man between the two because he

brought about the fall of capitalism as well. And while Napoleon crowned himself emperor

and positioned himself above the people, Kim Il Sung always stayed loyal to the people,

remembered that this is where his roots are. He took admiration to the people to the utmost

extreme. “The people are my God“, he often said, as well as always guiding others in the

direction of the people and telling them to learn from the people, that the people are the best

teacher. He of course didn't stay on mere words either. Probably more than any other leader he

travelled around the country, meeting people to make sure their meets are met and to learn

from them, to learn how they live, to learn what their needs are and to learn how those needs

might be met. He established a tradition of sorts, with his successors following in his

footsteps and doing the same. Nowhere are the workers in as much power as they are in

people's Korea. Nowhere is the countryside taken care of as much with public servants taking

an active part of leadership on the spot, involving themselves in the production of food as

much as in the development of machinery. And neither is intellectual work neglected, with an

emphasis on education being more pronounced and substantial than anywhere else in the

world, from the earliest stages of life to adulthood. This is something that probably would not

exist without the bold leadership of Kim Il Sung and the unity that he established between the

industrial workers, peasants and intellectuals is represented in the flag of the Workers' Party of

Korea with three tools, hammer, sickle and brush.

Kim Il Sung lit up the torch of Juche that became a shining ideal for all the peoples of the

world fighting imperialism and oppression. Yet sadly in the immanent neighbourhood of the

Democratic People's Republic of Korea there remained dark areas. In On the Tasks Facing the

Educators of Chongryon: Speech for the Members of the Visiting Groups of Korean

Educators, and Music and Sports Circles of Choson University in Japan, August 31, 1973, he

reflected on the state of things in Japan and south Korea. He said that “In Japan people are

extremely egoistical; all human relations are determined by money. Many seek only indolence

and pleasure. They know only money.“ While in the DPRK there are strong ties between

people, in Japan people are ready to even give up on their family for money. The working

people are neglected but this is justified by people saying that they at least have freedom. And

by freedom what they mean is the possibility to be idle and not work. So many years later, this

still sounds familiar to us. Even leftists who are concerned with inequality see no greater goal

than idleness.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a state most blessed, united under a great ideal,

always serving the Korean people, its only master. 30 years ago a great man passed away, but

the flame he lit shall shine forever. There is a reason why he is remembered as the eternal

president. He will be always missed, yet forever present.