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
The Workers’ Party of Korea is constantly increasing its policies for the people to promote their wellbeing and realize their
March 18, 2026
The Workers’ Party of Korea is constantly increasing its policies for the people to promote their wellbeing and realize their
The Russian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on March 12 disclosed and denounc
March 18, 2026
The Russian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on March 12 disclosed and denounc
Former Taekwon-Do star becomes competent coach Sa Ok Jin, a coach of the Ryongaksan Taekwon-Do Team, was selected as one of top
March 18, 2026
Former Taekwon-Do star becomes competent coach Sa Ok Jin, a coach of the Ryongaksan Taekwon-Do Team, was selected as one of top
Officials and workers in the metallurgical industry of the DPRK are making innovations while taking development-oriented measures
March 18, 2026
Officials and workers in the metallurgical industry of the DPRK are making innovations while taking development-oriented measures
Final-year students of senior middle schools in South Phyongan Province have volunteered for military service in the forefront
March 18, 2026
Final-year students of senior middle schools in South Phyongan Province have volunteered for military service in the forefront
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
March 17, 2026
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA
Senior Party and government officials went to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election of
March 17, 2026
Senior Party and government officials went to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election of
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The session
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The session
The election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK took place at all the constituencies across the country
March 16, 2026
The election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK took place at all the constituencies across the country
Dear voters,Workers and officials of the Chonsong Youth Coal Mine, who are working with devotion for the country’s prosperity at a
March 16, 2026
Dear voters,Workers and officials of the Chonsong Youth Coal Mine, who are working with devotion for the country’s prosperity at a
Tree planting was conducted across the country on the occasion of Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission,
March 16, 2026
Tree planting was conducted across the country on the occasion of Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission,
Working people’s organizations planted trees on the occasion of Tree-planting Day.Officials of the central committee of the youth
March 16, 2026
Working people’s organizations planted trees on the occasion of Tree-planting Day.Officials of the central committee of the youth
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Su Il living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 9 in Ryongjam-ri, Tanchon
March 16, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Su Il living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 9 in Ryongjam-ri, Tanchon
The international community is raising voices against Israel as it recently decided to officially register the land in the West Ba
March 15, 2026
The international community is raising voices against Israel as it recently decided to officially register the land in the West Ba
A long-range artillery sub-unit of the Korean People's Army in a western area conducted a firepower strike drill on March 14.
March 15, 2026
A long-range artillery sub-unit of the Korean People's Army in a western area conducted a firepower strike drill on March 14.
People began to move into new houses on Pyongyang’s Saeppyol Street. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the inaugural
March 15, 2026
People began to move into new houses on Pyongyang’s Saeppyol Street. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the inaugural
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
March 15, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
Russian President Vladimir Putin made public a letter on March 10 to set forth the tasks facing the State Anti-terrorism
March 15, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin made public a letter on March 10 to set forth the tasks facing the State Anti-terrorism
The 2026 Spring Amateur Bowlers Tournament took place at the Pyongyang Gold Lane from March 10 to 12. In the tournament, divided
March 15, 2026
The 2026 Spring Amateur Bowlers Tournament took place at the Pyongyang Gold Lane from March 10 to 12. In the tournament, divided
More Articles
