There stands a lowish old-time building opposite the Ryongwang Pavilion in sharp contrast to skyscrapers in the heart of Pyongyang. In front of it is a bust of a plain woman.
She lost her father at the age of seven, got married to a poor man at 14 and was widowed at 16.
She had nothing but a house inherited from her mother and toiled and moiled to make her living. Although she was in her 20s, she showed no interest in fancy clothes and makeup and led a frugal life without doing any holidaymaking.
She became a wealthiest person in the South Phyongan provincial area after selling a forlorn stony mountain, which she had bought very cheap, to a Japanese capitalist at an exorbitant price.
This story was spread like a tale of legendary exploit among people as the ordinary woman made fabulous profits in a deal with the slick Japanese businessman in those days when women were treated as inferior to men.
Though she was a millionaire, she was still diligent and thrifty.
And she donated large sums of money she had earned with so much effort for the good of people.
Her first donation went to the construction of a bridge.
As she saw people inconveniently crossing a shabby wooden bridge due to flood, she decided to fund the building of the stone bridge. When the bride was completed in 1914, people called her Paek Son Haeng in praise of her virtue and named the bridge Paekson Bridge.
Once she happened to know that a community centre in Pyongyang was exclusive to Japanese. Much indignant at that, she proposed building a community centre for the fellow countrymen together with influential persons and bore the full cost of the project amounting to tens of thousands of won.
As a result, the three-storey stone building was erected opposite the Ryongwang Pavilion and now it is called the Paek Song Haeng Memorial.
She also made sizeable investment for the development of national education. The then schools in Pyongyang like Kwangsong primary school, Changdok school and Sungui women’s school are said to have been run with the dozens of hectares of land and huge sums she donated as assets.
Paek Song Haeng passed away at the age of 85 in 1933.
It is said that the funeral procession stretched for as far as four kilometres on the day of her funeral.
More From Pyongyang Times
The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the US ambassador to the country on March 11 to
March 20, 2026
The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the US ambassador to the country on March 11 to
The Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took place in Beijing
March 19, 2026
The Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took place in Beijing
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
March 19, 2026
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
According to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's grand plan for capital city construction and under his energetic guidance, the
March 19, 2026
According to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's grand plan for capital city construction and under his energetic guidance, the
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Hamgyong Province have volunteered for forefront border military
March 19, 2026
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Hamgyong Province have volunteered for forefront border military
The people-first politics administered by the Workers’ Party of Korea is a political mode of solving all problems in complete
March 19, 2026
The people-first politics administered by the Workers’ Party of Korea is a political mode of solving all problems in complete
The Samgwang Livestock Farm in Unjon County of North Phyongan Province can be claimed to be a combined enterprise in which animal
March 19, 2026
The Samgwang Livestock Farm in Unjon County of North Phyongan Province can be claimed to be a combined enterprise in which animal
The 2026 Spring National Sports Festival opened with due ceremony at the Ice Rink in Pyongyang on March 17. The festival will be
March 19, 2026
The 2026 Spring National Sports Festival opened with due ceremony at the Ice Rink in Pyongyang on March 17. The festival will be
The Workers’ Party of Korea is constantly increasing its policies for the people to promote their wellbeing and realize their
March 18, 2026
The Workers’ Party of Korea is constantly increasing its policies for the people to promote their wellbeing and realize their
The Russian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on March 12 disclosed and denounc
March 18, 2026
The Russian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on March 12 disclosed and denounc
Former Taekwon-Do star becomes competent coach Sa Ok Jin, a coach of the Ryongaksan Taekwon-Do Team, was selected as one of top
March 18, 2026
Former Taekwon-Do star becomes competent coach Sa Ok Jin, a coach of the Ryongaksan Taekwon-Do Team, was selected as one of top
Officials and workers in the metallurgical industry of the DPRK are making innovations while taking development-oriented measures
March 18, 2026
Officials and workers in the metallurgical industry of the DPRK are making innovations while taking development-oriented measures
Final-year students of senior middle schools in South Phyongan Province have volunteered for military service in the forefront
March 18, 2026
Final-year students of senior middle schools in South Phyongan Province have volunteered for military service in the forefront
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 17, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
March 17, 2026
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA
Senior Party and government officials went to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election of
March 17, 2026
Senior Party and government officials went to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election of
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The session
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The session
The election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK took place at all the constituencies across the country
March 16, 2026
The election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK took place at all the constituencies across the country
Dear voters,Workers and officials of the Chonsong Youth Coal Mine, who are working with devotion for the country’s prosperity at a
March 16, 2026
Dear voters,Workers and officials of the Chonsong Youth Coal Mine, who are working with devotion for the country’s prosperity at a
More Articles
