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
Workers study at the sci-tech learning space at the Pyongyang Musical Instrument Factory. The mass technical innovation movement
Pyongyang Times July 10, 2020
Workers study at the sci-tech learning space at the Pyongyang Musical Instrument Factory. The mass technical innovation movement
On the occasion of the 26th anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's demise, foreign party leaders and public figures of all social
Pyongyang Times July 10, 2020
On the occasion of the 26th anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's demise, foreign party leaders and public figures of all social
"I believe that the previous theme of the DPRK-US negotiations, that is, 'denuclearization measures versus lifting of sanctions'
Pyongyang Times July 10, 2020
"I believe that the previous theme of the DPRK-US negotiations, that is, 'denuclearization measures versus lifting of sanctions'
President Kim Il Sung always regarded himself as the son and servant of the people.His joy of life was to provide them with an aff
Pyongyang Times July 10, 2020
President Kim Il Sung always regarded himself as the son and servant of the people.His joy of life was to provide them with an aff
The Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute, a modern vegetable research and production base of the DPRK, has recently bred nearly
Pyongyang Times July 10, 2020
The Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute, a modern vegetable research and production base of the DPRK, has recently bred nearly
“Our school picks and chooses from across the country those students with an aptitude and talent for sports including suitable
Pyongyang Times July 09, 2020
“Our school picks and chooses from across the country those students with an aptitude and talent for sports including suitable
President Kim Il Sung met with a total of over 70 000 foreign personages from 136 countries throughout his life as he conducted en
Pyongyang Times July 09, 2020
President Kim Il Sung met with a total of over 70 000 foreign personages from 136 countries throughout his life as he conducted en
In every July, the month when President Kim Il Sung passed away, the Korean people especially feel an immense yearning for him.“Pr
Pyongyang Times July 09, 2020
In every July, the month when President Kim Il Sung passed away, the Korean people especially feel an immense yearning for him.“Pr
Shortly ago, a research institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan posted on Internet a video clip asserting its
Pyongyang Times July 09, 2020
Shortly ago, a research institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan posted on Internet a video clip asserting its
President Kim Il Sung was the great sage of humankind who set an example of international cooperation. When Cuba was experiencing
Pyongyang Times July 09, 2020
President Kim Il Sung was the great sage of humankind who set an example of international cooperation. When Cuba was experiencing
The whole Korean nation commemorated the anniversary of the death of President Kim Il Sung on July 8, the greatest national
Pyongyang Times July 09, 2020
The whole Korean nation commemorated the anniversary of the death of President Kim Il Sung on July 8, the greatest national
Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, vice-chairman
Pyongyang Times July 09, 2020
Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, vice-chairman
It has been 26 years since President Kim Il Sung passed away. But no Korean people have ever thought that he left this world.
Pyongyang Times July 08, 2020
It has been 26 years since President Kim Il Sung passed away. But no Korean people have ever thought that he left this world.
Tokyo Shimbun recently reported that an official document on a Japanese germ warfare unit has newly been found. The document
Pyongyang Times July 08, 2020
Tokyo Shimbun recently reported that an official document on a Japanese germ warfare unit has newly been found. The document
Deeply ingrained habit In April 1962, the Political Committee of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea decided to
Pyongyang Times July 08, 2020
Deeply ingrained habit In April 1962, the Political Committee of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea decided to
Overseas families related to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and foreign organizations and personages sent baskets of
Pyongyang Times July 08, 2020
Overseas families related to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and foreign organizations and personages sent baskets of
Mosaic murals depicting President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il on Mt Paektu, the sacred mountain of the revolution, have
Pyongyang Times July 08, 2020
Mosaic murals depicting President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il on Mt Paektu, the sacred mountain of the revolution, have
Muhammadu Buhari, president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and commander-in-chief of its armed forces, sent a basket of
Pyongyang Times July 08, 2020
Muhammadu Buhari, president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and commander-in-chief of its armed forces, sent a basket of
Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander
Pyongyang Times July 08, 2020
Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander
The West Sea Barrage Company has developed and introduced a solar energy-based technique for preventing steel structures from
Pyongyang Times July 08, 2020
The West Sea Barrage Company has developed and introduced a solar energy-based technique for preventing steel structures from
More Articles
