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
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, censured the West for spending huge amounts of money on Ukraine
November 10, 2025
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, censured the West for spending huge amounts of money on Ukraine
A vice-defence minister of Russia emphasized the need to adhere to the single and indivisible security principle at the recent
November 10, 2025
A vice-defence minister of Russia emphasized the need to adhere to the single and indivisible security principle at the recent
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 1st CISM Military Men's Weightlifting Challenge held in Iran. At the
November 10, 2025
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 1st CISM Military Men's Weightlifting Challenge held in Iran. At the
A public tasting of apples and pears produced on fruit farms across the country this year took place in Pyongyang on October 29.
November 10, 2025
A public tasting of apples and pears produced on fruit farms across the country this year took place in Pyongyang on October 29.
The 19th National Machine Design Festival took place at the Okryu Exhibition House between October 24 and 30. On display at the
November 10, 2025
The 19th National Machine Design Festival took place at the Okryu Exhibition House between October 24 and 30. On display at the
The Kuryongphyong Dairy Cattle and Goat Farm in Hongui-dong, Sonbong District, Rason Municipality, has developed into a modern
November 10, 2025
The Kuryongphyong Dairy Cattle and Goat Farm in Hongui-dong, Sonbong District, Rason Municipality, has developed into a modern
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced Japan’s interference in China’s internal affairs at a news conference on No
November 09, 2025
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced Japan’s interference in China’s internal affairs at a news conference on No
The 2025 National Open Table-Tennis Tournament and Open Tennis Tournament took place at the Table-Tennis Gymnasium and the
November 09, 2025
The 2025 National Open Table-Tennis Tournament and Open Tennis Tournament took place at the Table-Tennis Gymnasium and the
The 12th Pyongyang Musical Instruments Exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Pyongyang International House of Culture on
November 09, 2025
The 12th Pyongyang Musical Instruments Exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Pyongyang International House of Culture on
The 12th National Exhibition of Scientific Research Achievements of Universities took place at Kim Chaek University of Technology
November 09, 2025
The 12th National Exhibition of Scientific Research Achievements of Universities took place at Kim Chaek University of Technology
Rural residential districts have been built at the Jungdok and Jungsang farms in Junggang County, Jagang Province, which are
November 09, 2025
Rural residential districts have been built at the Jungdok and Jungsang farms in Junggang County, Jagang Province, which are
The delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director
November 09, 2025
The delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director
The Joyang Farm of the South Hamgyong Provincial Rural Economy Committee had a good harvest this year. Thanks to the officials and
November 09, 2025
The Joyang Farm of the South Hamgyong Provincial Rural Economy Committee had a good harvest this year. Thanks to the officials and
The 18th national symposium on the experience of health workers took place at the Myohyangsan Medical Appliances Factory on
November 09, 2025
The 18th national symposium on the experience of health workers took place at the Myohyangsan Medical Appliances Factory on
Production is constantly on the upswing at the Chollima Tile Factory, a powerful building-materials producer of the country. The
November 09, 2025
Production is constantly on the upswing at the Chollima Tile Factory, a powerful building-materials producer of the country. The
The delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director
November 09, 2025
The delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on SNS on November 1 that the US is the den of drug crimes. Censuring
November 08, 2025
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on SNS on November 1 that the US is the den of drug crimes. Censuring
DPRK coach Ri Song Ho and DPRK player Choe Il Son were awarded the AFC Coach of the Year (Men) and the AFC Youth Player of the
November 08, 2025
DPRK coach Ri Song Ho and DPRK player Choe Il Son were awarded the AFC Coach of the Year (Men) and the AFC Youth Player of the
No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met and had a talk in a friendly
November 08, 2025
No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met and had a talk in a friendly
Modern houses have been built in Yonsu-ri of Yonsa County, North Hamgyong Province. The dwelling houses were designed in diverse
November 08, 2025
Modern houses have been built in Yonsu-ri of Yonsa County, North Hamgyong Province. The dwelling houses were designed in diverse
More Articles
