In November Juche 85 (1996), a video programme “Mushroom Girl” was televised.
It was a story about Choe San Bok, a mushroom cultivator at the Moranbong District Vegetables and Fruits Wholesale Store in Pyongyang, who has dedicated herself to the research and cultivation of mushrooms for over ten years. She made painstaking efforts to develop a method of Pleurotus eryngii growing by making use of activated sludge and increased its yield by 1.5 to 2 times. She produced large amount of mushrooms every year and sent them to the honoured disabled soldiers, war veterans, nurseries and kindergartens in the district. The story caused a great sensation.
The State highly appreciated her for her contribution to improving the people’s living standards by developing mushrooms that give high yields and are easy enough to be cultivated by anyone. Her new method of mushroom cultivation became generalized throughout the country. Her working place turned into a “training centre”, which drew many people from across the country.
While keeping her cultivation and research of mushrooms, she chose every Wednesday as the day of technical workshop and ran it on a regular basis. She visited mushroom cultivation grounds over 80 times and gave technical workshops and demonstrations. She has since disseminated her new method to over 50 thousand people from all walks of life and introduced it into more than 2 000 units, including industrial establishments and cooperative farms in different parts of the country. As a result, the number of model mushroom cultivation units and families has increased.
In recent years, she developed a technique of Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation based on zymotechnics that make use of waste substrates of Pleurotus eryngii and a technique of Auricularia polytricha cultivation by means of short fermentation on ondol (underfloor heating system) and high-temperature treatment and thus made it possible to increase the output of mushrooms.
She also developed a method of producing pig feed by making use of mushroom waste substrates and wrote several books, including “Mushroom cultivation and technique of using waste substrates”.
“I will render services to turning ours into a mushroom country,” she said.
The “mushroom girl” is still devoting herself to the research and cultivation of mushrooms.
She is the secretary-general of the Pyongyang Municipal Mushroom Association.
More From Naenara (En)
Agricultural workers of the Sangri and Upho stockbreeding farms in Phungso County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK, moved into new
November 15, 2025
Agricultural workers of the Sangri and Upho stockbreeding farms in Phungso County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK, moved into new
Early on October 1, 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the rehabilitation site in flood-stricken Kimhwa County,
November 15, 2025
Early on October 1, 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the rehabilitation site in flood-stricken Kimhwa County,
The bell from the Yujom Temple is one of the Korean historical relics, which show the talent of the Korean ancestors. The bell had
November 15, 2025
The bell from the Yujom Temple is one of the Korean historical relics, which show the talent of the Korean ancestors. The bell had
Completed in October 2002, the 150-odd-km-long Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway is a gravitational waterway system for irrigating th
November 15, 2025
Completed in October 2002, the 150-odd-km-long Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway is a gravitational waterway system for irrigating th
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister
November 15, 2025
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister
Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of
November 15, 2025
Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of
On November 13 Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of
November 15, 2025
On November 13 Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, released the following press statement titled “G7
November 14, 2025
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, released the following press statement titled “G7
Machine factories across the country have finished the production of equipment for the regional-industry factories to be built
November 14, 2025
Machine factories across the country have finished the production of equipment for the regional-industry factories to be built
The Myohyangsan Pine Tree, named so as it grows in Mt Myohyang, is found in Hyangam-ri, Hyangsan County, Jagang Province.The tree
November 14, 2025
The Myohyangsan Pine Tree, named so as it grows in Mt Myohyang, is found in Hyangam-ri, Hyangsan County, Jagang Province.The tree
Modern houses have been built at the Simpho Farm in Unhung County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. The new village is the precious
November 14, 2025
Modern houses have been built at the Simpho Farm in Unhung County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. The new village is the precious
There took place a story-telling meeting “Mother’s Happiness” of exemplary women agricultural workers and members of the
November 14, 2025
There took place a story-telling meeting “Mother’s Happiness” of exemplary women agricultural workers and members of the
A symposium in the field of history was held at the Academy of Social Sciences in the DPRK on November 12 to denounce the
November 14, 2025
A symposium in the field of history was held at the Academy of Social Sciences in the DPRK on November 12 to denounce the
A bowling alley has been newly built in the Kuksa Peak area of Nampho Municipality. This adds more to the status of the area as a
November 14, 2025
A bowling alley has been newly built in the Kuksa Peak area of Nampho Municipality. This adds more to the status of the area as a
Talks between Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign
November 14, 2025
Talks between Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted a reception on the evening of November 12 in honour of
November 14, 2025
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted a reception on the evening of November 12 in honour of
An agreement on cooperation in the field of information between the DPRK Information Committee and the Ministry of Digital
November 14, 2025
An agreement on cooperation in the field of information between the DPRK Information Committee and the Ministry of Digital
An exhibition “Development of Light Industry-2025” took place at the Three-Revolution Exhibition House in the capital city of
November 13, 2025
An exhibition “Development of Light Industry-2025” took place at the Three-Revolution Exhibition House in the capital city of
There was a peculiar stand in the light industrial goods exhibition held in October. The stand was featured by a wide range of
November 13, 2025
There was a peculiar stand in the light industrial goods exhibition held in October. The stand was featured by a wide range of
The agricultural workers of the Tongnyon, Naeyang and Yangchun farms in Hoechang County, South Phyongan Province, the DPRK, moved
November 13, 2025
The agricultural workers of the Tongnyon, Naeyang and Yangchun farms in Hoechang County, South Phyongan Province, the DPRK, moved
More Articles
