In Mangyongdae-dong, Mangyongdae District in the capital city of Pyongyang lives an old man called “bee grandpa” and “bee expert.”
He is Ri Son who turns 72 this year.
Looking more than 10 years younger than his peers, the still sprightly man is busy keeping bees and writing books.
His books like Longevity and Honey and Longevity and Bee Pollen are gaining good feedback from the audience.
His familiarity with beekeeping began over 10 years ago when he retired.
While reading a newspaper, he came across the fact that a local honey product ranked first in the world’s leading honey producers’ products in the category of honey quality. He was so excited.
“I’ll have a try. I cannot only enjoy the benefits of the benevolent system. I’d like to produce honey myself and do a good job to the benefit of people,” he told himself.
So he took on bee farming.
He visited the Grand People’s Study House and met veteran beekeepers to acquire a wide range of knowledge and expertise. This made him convinced that he could keep bees if he intends to do so.
He spent almost half a year in the fields following the blossoms. And he found that the world of bees consists of honey, royal jelly, propolis, pollen, larva and wax and these are so good for human health and longevity. He invested much energy into beekeeping.
His dedication was not only to bee farming.
With the help of experts, he improvised new devices to identify bees and measure the sugar rate of honey to the surprise and admiration of beekeepers.
He donated lots of honey to hospitals in the city two years ago, and provided various kinds of honey products to the Pyongyang Baby Home on International Children’s Day last year.
Ri Son said that honey output is increasing year on year and its quality is excellent.
Ko Chol Hwa
More From Naenara (En)
Working people’s organizations of the DPRK conducted tree planting on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day.Officials of the Centr
March 16, 2026
Working people’s organizations of the DPRK conducted tree planting on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day.Officials of the Centr
Among the DPRK’s intangible cultural heritage items is folk song “Arirang.”The song symbolic of the Korean folk songs began to be
March 16, 2026
Among the DPRK’s intangible cultural heritage items is folk song “Arirang.”The song symbolic of the Korean folk songs began to be
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 16, 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 16, 2026
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 16 this year marks the 103rd anniversary of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung ’s 250-mile journey for learning. In his
March 16, 2026
March 16 this year marks the 103rd anniversary of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung ’s 250-mile journey for learning. In his
The recently-held Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea underscored the need to invariably lift the ideals of “The people
March 16, 2026
The recently-held Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea underscored the need to invariably lift the ideals of “The people
Samgori zelkova grows in Kaesong Municipality. Known to be planted around 1590, the tree is 17.5 metres tall, 7.5 metres round at
March 16, 2026
Samgori zelkova grows in Kaesong Municipality. Known to be planted around 1590, the tree is 17.5 metres tall, 7.5 metres round at
Trees were planted across the country on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission, the
March 16, 2026
Trees were planted across the country on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission, the
The 13th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) was held on
March 15, 2026
The 13th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) was held on
Agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) held a meeting in Jaeryong County on March
March 15, 2026
Agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) held a meeting in Jaeryong County on March
Joint meetings of working people’s organizations took place in Pyongyang and all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to vow to
March 15, 2026
Joint meetings of working people’s organizations took place in Pyongyang and all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to vow to
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first
March 15, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first
Moving into new houses started in Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un recently attended the
March 15, 2026
Moving into new houses started in Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un recently attended the
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
Recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in the DPRK’s agriculture.What is noteworthy is that vigorous efforts were made to co
March 15, 2026
Recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in the DPRK’s agriculture.What is noteworthy is that vigorous efforts were made to co
One day in March 2021 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a riverside area near Pothong Gate to examine the layout for a
March 15, 2026
One day in March 2021 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a riverside area near Pothong Gate to examine the layout for a
A pair of ginkgo trees, female and male, grow halfway up Mt Naesong in the township of Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. The
March 15, 2026
A pair of ginkgo trees, female and male, grow halfway up Mt Naesong in the township of Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. The
Officials and members of the women’s union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to imp
March 14, 2026
Officials and members of the women’s union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to imp
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 14, 2026
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took
March 14, 2026
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took
More Articles
