One for All and All for One!
The slogan ‘All For One, One For All’ is prevalent in North Korean society, highlighting the nation's emphasis on collectivism. (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Article 63 of the Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea states the collectivist principle of "one for all, all for one." This slogan first appeared in North Korea in the late 1950s during the Chollima Work Team Movement, a mass movement for increased production, and continues to be used as an important means of governance and a representation of social culture. North Korea, based on the collectivist (Groupist) principle at the core of this slogan, demands the blockade of external information and the voluntary and obligatory submission of its members. Below, we introduce stories of collectivism encouraged socio-culturally in North Korea.
With Brotherly Love
Not long ago, some people visited the house of Han Un Ok residing in Neighborhood Unit 34 of Sangbisok-dong, Hanggu District in Nampho Municipality.
They were Ri Myong Il, section chief of the Nampho Municipality General Hospital, and other medical workers who devoted their sincerity to the husband of Han Un Ok for a hundred and scores of days.
In last May Han’s husband was unexpectedly carried to the hospital when he was at a crisis. The hospital immediately held a consultative meeting and buckled down to the cure for recovering the patient.
The doctor in charge of the patient and other medical workers of the hospital sincerely cured him and officials of the hospital frequently called on the patient to encourage him.
Thanks to their great efforts, Han’s husband left the hospital after several months’ cure.
However, medical workers have continued to visit his house with brotherly love.
Looking at those medical workers, he expressed his will to work more for the benevolent system where the whole society forms a great harmonious family to the last moment of his life.
Story of Three New Wells
It was when soldier-builders of Yu Jang Chol-led unit of the Korean People’s Army participating in the construction of the Kangdong Greenhouse Farm were making bricks necessary for the dwelling house construction near a river.
The soldier-builders often saw people coming to the well near the worksite to bring water from a neighboring village. They say that the water from the well is very good for health.
But, the road to the well was steep. So the soldier-builders leveled the road evenly.
Not satisfying with it, they newly made three wells in suroundings of the original one.
The new three wells reflect deep love and affection of our soldier-builders who are willing to do more good things for the people.
Six Hours after Leaving Worksite
One day in the end of August, workers of the Work-team No. 4 of the Moranbong District Water Supply and Drainage System Management Station, finished their task in Kaeson-dong and Inhung-dong No. 1 when the closing time passed far.
After a while, the head of the work-team left the resting room. Then his work-team members Kang Hun, Hwang Tae Il and Pyon Jong Hwan waited for him outside.
They suggested him helping the Work-team No. 1 which was remodeling a pumping station and a water tank in Kinmaul-dong Nos. 1 and 2 as its task was large and it wanted hands.
So they worked together with those of the Work-team No. 1 until over two o’clock next day.
The work results for six hours for helping the other work-team were not recorded in the journal of work. However, the process of the work helping the other work-team is kept in their minds as a beautiful retrospect.
Rodong Sinmun
-
PREV [North Korean Terminology]
-
NEXT [Feature Article]