The first woman deputy of the DPRK parliament was Kim Tuk Ran (July 1913-April 2010).
She was born as the eighth daughter of a poor family. Her birth was a great burden to her family which lived a hand-to-mouth existence.
Worse still, her future was uncertain in the society where women were regarded as inferior to men.
However, the liberation of the country (August 15, 1945) breathed life into her family.
The promulgation of the Law on Agrarian Reform (March 1946), the Labour Law (June 1946) and the Law on Sex Equality (July 1946) opened up a broad avenue for her and all other Korean women and made it possible for them to devote their all to building a new country.
Working as the chairwoman of the women’s union in Raeha-ri, Thaechon County, North Phyongan Province, she proactively inspired all the women in the ri to the efforts to implement the line of nation building advanced by President Kim Il Sung .
During the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950-July 1953), she worked hard to increase agricultural production and fought bravely in defence of her native land, although she had lost her two-year-old son (her only son) in an enemy’s air raid.
She attended a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Japan in the early 1970s as a member of the DPRK delegation. On learning that she was a vice-chairwoman of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly, other participants from various countries showed special interest in her and wanted to know which university she had attended and how she could have become a vice-chairwoman.
Whenever she was asked by the press, she would say: I am an ordinary woman with a common family background. I was a kitchen maid. But thanks to the care of my country which truly respects women’s rights, I have been able to glorify my life as a vice-chairwoman of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
She served as a deputy to the SPA for three decades, 13 years of which as its vice-chairwoman.
She brought up her six daughters well to become talented creative workers in the sector of art and literature.
The life of Kim Tuk Ran epitomizes those of the Korean women who were once disregarded both in their families and society but have become the masters of the country and society.
More From Naenara (En)
March 23 is World Meteorological Day. In January the World Meteorological Organization released a report that 2025 was recorded as
March 23, 2026
March 23 is World Meteorological Day. In January the World Meteorological Organization released a report that 2025 was recorded as
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 23, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK elected the Legislation Committee, the Budget Committee and
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK elected the Legislation Committee, the Budget Committee and
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the director of the
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the director of the
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the members of the
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the members of the
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the State Affairs
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the State Affairs
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea elected the Standing
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea elected the Standing
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK conducted the important and responsible work for electing
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK conducted the important and responsible work for electing
Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, made an opening speech at the
March 23, 2026
Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, made an opening speech at the
Jangyon County in South Hwanghae Province is well known for its successful cultivation of barley. It has become a flourishing
March 23, 2026
Jangyon County in South Hwanghae Province is well known for its successful cultivation of barley. It has become a flourishing
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in late December 2021 set forth a
March 23, 2026
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in late December 2021 set forth a
The rice-and-wormwood cake is one of the traditional Korean foods. Here is a story about it. Once upon a time a mother took out
March 23, 2026
The rice-and-wormwood cake is one of the traditional Korean foods. Here is a story about it. Once upon a time a mother took out
Yut (four-stick) game is one of the typical folk games that have been played by the Korean people since before the Koguryo period
March 23, 2026
Yut (four-stick) game is one of the typical folk games that have been played by the Korean people since before the Koguryo period
The sacred place where the heroic feats of the martyrs in the overseas military operations will go down in history is filled with
March 22, 2026
The sacred place where the heroic feats of the martyrs in the overseas military operations will go down in history is filled with
A groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth-stage construction project in the Hwasong area of the capital city of Pyongyang took place
March 22, 2026
A groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth-stage construction project in the Hwasong area of the capital city of Pyongyang took place
The Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, is the maker of the Unhasu -brand cosmetics with an
March 22, 2026
The Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, is the maker of the Unhasu -brand cosmetics with an
The Onpho hot spring in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, has been well known for its marvellous effect on
March 22, 2026
The Onpho hot spring in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, has been well known for its marvellous effect on
Kaesong Municipality was once the capital of Koryo (918-1392), one of the feudal states in Korea. In the city there are many tombs
March 22, 2026
Kaesong Municipality was once the capital of Koryo (918-1392), one of the feudal states in Korea. In the city there are many tombs
The area of Mt Paektu, 2 750 metres above sea level, is noted as a global geopark. Recently it is better known as an iconic
March 21, 2026
The area of Mt Paektu, 2 750 metres above sea level, is noted as a global geopark. Recently it is better known as an iconic
Koguryo lasted from 277 BC to AD 668. The tombs of the first feudal state of Korea have paintings on walls and ceilings. The
March 21, 2026
Koguryo lasted from 277 BC to AD 668. The tombs of the first feudal state of Korea have paintings on walls and ceilings. The
More Articles
