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 Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on February 4 with regard to the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction
February 12, 2026
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on February 4 with regard to the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
February 12, 2026
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
With overwhelming superiority O Kyong Ryong, Merited Athlete and wrestler of the Pyongyang Sports Club, was born into a farmer’s
February 12, 2026
With overwhelming superiority O Kyong Ryong, Merited Athlete and wrestler of the Pyongyang Sports Club, was born into a farmer’s
The Iranian foreign minister censured the German chancellor for inappropriate behaviour through an SNS on February 5. Germany that
February 12, 2026
The Iranian foreign minister censured the German chancellor for inappropriate behaviour through an SNS on February 5. Germany that
The Nampho Municipal School Uniform Factory is putting spurs to the production of uniforms for the new school year. The factory
February 12, 2026
The Nampho Municipal School Uniform Factory is putting spurs to the production of uniforms for the new school year. The factory
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryavkov referred to the issue of national security in an interview with a TV channel on
February 11, 2026
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryavkov referred to the issue of national security in an interview with a TV channel on
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of China at a press conference on February 4 censured the Japanese prime minister for insisti
February 11, 2026
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of China at a press conference on February 4 censured the Japanese prime minister for insisti
Grand construction began in Hwaphyong, Phyonggang, Riwon, Myonggan and Samsu counties to build regional-industry factories,
February 11, 2026
Grand construction began in Hwaphyong, Phyonggang, Riwon, Myonggan and Samsu counties to build regional-industry factories,
The 11th National Pencil Drawing Festival opened in Pyongyang in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong
February 11, 2026
The 11th National Pencil Drawing Festival opened in Pyongyang in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in December 2021 put forward a
February 11, 2026
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in December 2021 put forward a
Students and other young men and women from across the country gathered at the plaza before the statues of President Kim Il Sung
February 11, 2026
Students and other young men and women from across the country gathered at the plaza before the statues of President Kim Il Sung
"Nyomaeng" small tractors, provided by women's union organizations through a do-good-thing movement with the Ninth Congress of the
February 11, 2026
"Nyomaeng" small tractors, provided by women's union organizations through a do-good-thing movement with the Ninth Congress of the
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the economic issue at a conference held on February 4. The inflation rate decreased
February 10, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the economic issue at a conference held on February 4. The inflation rate decreased
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China denounced the Japanese right-wing forces’ ambition for rearmament at a pr
February 10, 2026
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China denounced the Japanese right-wing forces’ ambition for rearmament at a pr
Officials, service personnel, working people, youth and students in the DPRK visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and
February 10, 2026
Officials, service personnel, working people, youth and students in the DPRK visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and
All the people and service personnel of the DPRK significantly celebrated the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's
February 10, 2026
All the people and service personnel of the DPRK significantly celebrated the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's
A dance party of women's union officials and members was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on February 8, the
February 10, 2026
A dance party of women's union officials and members was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on February 8, the
Dance parties of youth and students were held in the DPRK on February 8, the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Korean
February 10, 2026
Dance parties of youth and students were held in the DPRK on February 8, the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Korean
Regional construction projects for the new year are being launched in the DPRK in a three-dimensional way and on a full scale,
February 10, 2026
Regional construction projects for the new year are being launched in the DPRK in a three-dimensional way and on a full scale,
The newly-built Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm has harvested vegetables for the first time this year. With high pride in living
February 10, 2026
The newly-built Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm has harvested vegetables for the first time this year. With high pride in living
More Articles
