In Pyongyang, there is a woman who has worked unassumingly at a most unattractive job for decades.
Kim Chon Hui has been a sewage dredger at the Phyongchon District Water Supply and Sewerage Management Station for nearly 30 years.
As she joined the station in 1993, she voluntarily became a sewage dredger.
“My father who was a war veteran also worked at a demanding job for a long time. He took pride in devoting himself to the people and society. So, he enjoyed public respect and appreciation. I also wanted to live like my father,” said Kim when asked what inspired her to choose such a labour-consuming job as a woman.
Though she was a married woman who had to take care of parents-in-law and children, she worked hard to acquaint herself with the sewer network of the area in her charge.
In the course of this, she became a skilled worker who got fully familiar with the condition of the sewers assigned to her workteam.
She always carries around a rough sketch of the sewers which shows in detail the parts that are defective and need to be maintained properly or repaired immediately.
One spring, her work-team was charged with an urgent task of repairing defective sewers in an area.
It was a difficult work which had to be carried out at dawn when the residents are fast asleep.
At that time, Kim asked to give her the task and flawlessly completed it by dint of good workmanship along with other members of her workteam.
It was one early rainy morning that her teammates saw a dripping figure coming out of a manhole as they rushed to a crossroads section which used to cause troubles whenever it rained heavily.
“She was Chon Hui, of course,” said Kim To Yon, a long-time workmate of hers. “She calmed us down saying there was nothing to worry about any more. She has always lived and worked like this.”
Every time a challenging job was assigned to the team, she would do the work of two or three. That is why she is called the treasure of the workteam.
Her workplace is under the ground and her work is invisible to others.
However, all the residents of her district know her and respect her.
“Whenever they acknowledge me calling me ‘mother’, I feel happy and contented. It pleases me to think that people need me and I relieve them of their worries even a little,” said Kim Chon Hui.
More From Pyongyang Times
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the issue of bio-economic development as he addressed the future technology forum on
March 02, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the issue of bio-economic development as he addressed the future technology forum on
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the groundless criticism by the US at a press conference on February 25.
March 02, 2026
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the groundless criticism by the US at a press conference on February 25.
The Sangwon Cement Complex fulfilled its production plan for February. The complex made the employees engage in technical
March 02, 2026
The Sangwon Cement Complex fulfilled its production plan for February. The complex made the employees engage in technical
Foreign personages paid congratulatory visits to the DPRK missions in their countries on the occasion of the 84th birth
March 01, 2026
Foreign personages paid congratulatory visits to the DPRK missions in their countries on the occasion of the 84th birth
The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Il Sung University took place from February 25 to 27. Presented to the festival on
March 01, 2026
The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Il Sung University took place from February 25 to 27. Presented to the festival on
A Pyongyang municipal military-civilian meeting and a public procession for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of
March 01, 2026
A Pyongyang municipal military-civilian meeting and a public procession for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of
There took place a short course for the participants in the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang, the
March 01, 2026
There took place a short course for the participants in the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang, the
The 2026 National Winter Games closed at the ice hockey gymnasium in the Paektusan area sports village in the City of Samjiyon,
March 01, 2026
The 2026 National Winter Games closed at the ice hockey gymnasium in the Paektusan area sports village in the City of Samjiyon,
Medical workers are conducting dynamic outreach medical service activities in major sites of socialist construction. According to
March 01, 2026
Medical workers are conducting dynamic outreach medical service activities in major sites of socialist construction. According to
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
February 28, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
February 28, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The international community is strongly denouncing the US ambassador to Israel for his reckless remark that Israel has the right
February 28, 2026
The international community is strongly denouncing the US ambassador to Israel for his reckless remark that Israel has the right
The Slovak prime minister on February 21 warned that Slovakia would stop the power supply to Ukraine. Saying that Ukrainian
February 28, 2026
The Slovak prime minister on February 21 warned that Slovakia would stop the power supply to Ukraine. Saying that Ukrainian
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Pang Kum Sun, a centenarian living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 32,
February 28, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Pang Kum Sun, a centenarian living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 32,
Football coach wins World Cup Merited Athlete Pak Song Jin is a football coach of the April 25 Sports Team. He cut a conspicuous
February 28, 2026
Football coach wins World Cup Merited Athlete Pak Song Jin is a football coach of the April 25 Sports Team. He cut a conspicuous
Mugi Islet, located in Sonchon County of North Phyongan Province, is the place where white herons with yellow bills breed in
February 28, 2026
Mugi Islet, located in Sonchon County of North Phyongan Province, is the place where white herons with yellow bills breed in
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
February 27, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
February 27, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
With sustained efforts toward victory Pang Chol Mi, a boxer and People’s Athlete of the Kumgangsan Sports Team, was born into a
February 27, 2026
With sustained efforts toward victory Pang Chol Mi, a boxer and People’s Athlete of the Kumgangsan Sports Team, was born into a
Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, referred to Russia-Japan relations at a press conference on February 20.He
February 27, 2026
Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, referred to Russia-Japan relations at a press conference on February 20.He
More Articles