Most recently, I visited the Thrice-honoured Model Wonsan City Phyonghwa Kindergarten, which has trained many prodigies by conducting early education well.

Headmistress Pak Myong Sun greeted me. She said that about 40 year ago the kindergarten organized a music class and started early musical education. Its teachers find out inborn talents with good ears and high IQ and cultivate their abilities.

She led me to the music class. Children were receiving early education in hearing and sight reading, and playing small and big haegum , oungum , cello, kayagum and others. Their eyes reflected the pride as “little players” playing the musical instruments under the guidance of teachers.

In the past, the class has produced many musical prodigies, including a kindergartener who won the first place in the piano solo of the national solo competition of children in music class. I was struck with admiration at the sight of bright appearances of children full of spirit. The headmistress introduced me teacher Ri Un Hwa who has trained tens of fine little dancers.

She said the dance suits the juvenile mind of children and is good to their growth, and so they like dancing very much.

Among her disciples are Kwon Yu Mi who won successively in the 29th and 30th national juvenile music radio art stage in 2019 and 2020, and Ri Yon Gyong who was awarded the best prize in the 13th national contest (art field) of talented kindergarteners. In particular, Ri Yon Gyong’s folk dance “Koguryo girl” and “Janggo dance” and dance “I am more beautiful than a flower” were highly praised by the participants in the contest for her excellent performance.

The kindergarten has also produced children with outstanding IQ and calligraphy.

Ri Kwang Un was awarded the best prize in the 13th national contest (IQ field) of talented kindergarteners as he was outstanding at Korean-speaking, calculation, super-speed reading and abacus.

Choe Ryo Won, who is good at drawing and calligraphy, was highly appreciated in the 7th Asia children’s drawing exhibition in 2021 and was awarded a prize in the 13th national contest (calligraphy field) of talented kindergarteners.

Hundreds of prodigies produced by the kindergarten have studied at Wonsan Art School, Pyongyang Music School and Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Conservatory and are now displaying their talents to their heart’s content as artistes of professional art troupes.

I left the kindergarten, picturing in my mind the brighter future of my country at the sight of happy children who cultivate their talents under the care of the socialist system which regards them as the kings of the country.

Ham Kwang Hyok