The employees of the Osoksan Granite Mine, the country’s leading producer of natural building stones, call their manager Chang Jae Ryong “our manager” with affection.

Chang devoted his youthful vigour as a member of the High-Speed Youth Shock Brigade at the major construction projects across the country and cherished it as the key to success to cultivate indefatigable mental strength and strong confidence in one’s own effort and give full play to them.

Since he had returned home in 1987, he worked at the mine as a workteam leader, workshop head, chief engineer and then manager, proving his enterprising and unyielding attitude and experienced method of work.

When he was appointed chief engineer of the mine, he set to work with a determination and courage that there is nothing impossible if the working masses are mobilized.

He encouraged the technicians and skilled workers to ensure the maximum operating rate of machines and facilities and step up their technical updating. He also pooled efforts of the mine’s workers and technicians in reconstructing loading machines that had been broken for many years, so that heaps of mineral overburden piled in quarries were removed and a sure guarantee was provided for increased production.

In those days the mine increased its production more than ten times over its peak year.

With a sense of responsibility for the living of the employees, Chang looks after them with a warm heart and approaches them in an unceremonious and meticulous manner.

He started his work as the manager with the construction of a workers’ sanatorium, and pushed ahead with the planting of several thousand fruit trees and trees of good species in the mine and around the dwelling houses as well as the housing project for the miners.

Thanks to his efforts, all the employees of the mine keep genuine attachment to their workplace and job and take an active part in production. They take good care of machinery and equipment and conduct mass technical innovation drive.

At present the mine, with modern and efficient machinery and experienced working personnel, is capable of producing building stones and processed stone goods in sufficient amounts and supplying them to various units across the country.

Last year it fulfilled the target for the five-year strategy for national economic development two years ahead of schedule.

In high appreciation for his meritorious services rendered to the construction of monumental edifices in the era of the Workers’ Party, the state awarded Chang with the Order of Kim Il Sung, Kim Il Sung Youth Honour Prize, and Labour Hero. He is a deputy to the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK.