Tangun is the father of the Korean nation who founded Ancient Joson, the first state in the history of Korea, and created civilization.
But he had been regarded as a mythical being in the past.
Because the Koreans produced various legends about the founding father as they deified him for ages. But a more important reason is that the Japanese imperialists manoeuvred to obliterate the thought of him from the mind of the Koreans during their military rule over the country.
Telling historians that every nation has its founder a long time ago, President Kim Il Sung assigned them the task of quickly finding out whether Tangun actually existed. He personally studied historical data and histories on state building and had academic discussions with historians to clarify the direction and ways to discover substantial evidence of Tangun’s entity. In January 1993, in particular, he suggested scholars to excavate the site of Tangun’s tomb in Kangdong County, Pyongyang.
Archaeologists carried out an extensive excavation at the site and discovered the remains of the king and queen in February 1993, thus scientifically proving that his remains dated back over 5 000 years.
Kim Il Sung was very satisfied to describe the discovery of the founder king’s remains through the excavation as a tremendous victory of Korean archaeology and great pride of the Korean nation. And he gave an instruction to reconstruct the tomb well as befitted the one of founder of the nation since it was scientifically ascertained that Tangun was a real person and the founder of the Korean nation and paid close attention to the building of the mausoleum till the last moments of his life.
Chairman Kim Jong Il led the efforts to reconstruct the tomb as a monumental structure to be handed down to posterity in keeping with the features of the contemporary time and by following the traditional national customs.
As a result, the tomb was wonderfully rebuilt in less than a year.
At present, the Mausoleum of King Tangun is located on top of a ridge at the foot of Mt Taebak in Munhung-ri, Kangdong County, Pyongyang.
National Foundation Day is commemorated with splendour at the mausoleum on his birth anniversary, October 3, every year.
The memorial service for King Tangun which has been performed for thousands of years to worship the father of the nation was inscribed as a national intangible cultural heritage element.
More From Pyongyang Times
The Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took place in Beijing
March 19, 2026
The Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took place in Beijing
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
March 19, 2026
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
According to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's grand plan for capital city construction and under his energetic guidance, the
March 19, 2026
According to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's grand plan for capital city construction and under his energetic guidance, the
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Hamgyong Province have volunteered for forefront border military
March 19, 2026
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Hamgyong Province have volunteered for forefront border military
The people-first politics administered by the Workers’ Party of Korea is a political mode of solving all problems in complete
March 19, 2026
The people-first politics administered by the Workers’ Party of Korea is a political mode of solving all problems in complete
The Samgwang Livestock Farm in Unjon County of North Phyongan Province can be claimed to be a combined enterprise in which animal
March 19, 2026
The Samgwang Livestock Farm in Unjon County of North Phyongan Province can be claimed to be a combined enterprise in which animal
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
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 17, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
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
More Articles
