Jon Sang Hong (October 7, 1936-October 31, 2006) was one of the highly regarded pharmacists in the DPRK. He was honoured with the titles of Labour Hero, People’s Pharmacist and PhD.
Born into a worker’s family in Sinuiju, North Phyongan Province, Jon could not attend a school until the country’s liberation on August 15, 1945.
While continuing to study at school even during the fierce Fatherland Liberation War (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953), he keenly realized how precious his motherland was.
It was early in the 1960s when he graduated from what is now Pyongyang University of Medical Sciences and was assigned as a pharmacist to the medical supplies management station in North Hwanghae Province. In three years, he managed to make injections of antibiotics such as syntomycin that had been only available as pills. At the time, this was a pharmaceutical breakthrough.
He also succeeded in making the litmus paper, which is used to find out if something is an acid or a base, from locally available medicinal stuff, bringing much benefit to the country. He went on to make lots of other achievements.
It is good if it gives even a little help to the country. This was his lifelong motto.
When he worked as general manager of a pharmaceutical factory, it was the commonly accepted norms in the world medical circles to use starch as an excipient in making pills. So local factories were consuming thousands of tons of cereals every year to extract starch to be used for granulation.
He conceived an idea of making a new excipient from bentonite, a kind of clay that is formed by degenerate volcanic ash or tuff and is abundant in the country. After painstaking research and experiments, he identified bentonite’s physical and chemical components in a scientific and technical way and established a method of dispersing and refining bentonite, thus saving large amounts of cereals and opening up a bright prospect for pill production based on bentonite as an excipient.
In addition, he worked out procedures for making antler and musk injections by means of a leaching method and prepared more than 30 kinds of efficacious medicines, which were introduced to pharmaceutical factories across the country.
He made 19 studies registered as national inventions and 15 ones as patents, with “Manufacture of casein from skimmed milk”, “Preparation of neuralgia medicines” and “Separation of santonin from Inula helenium and production of alcohol from the remnants” among them.
Jon is remembered as a socialist patriotic martyr.
Ham Kwang Hyok
More From Naenara (En)
Receptions were given in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
February 27, 2026
Receptions were given in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in January 2021 set it as a core task in socialist construction to
February 27, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in January 2021 set it as a core task in socialist construction to
Days ago, the inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area celebrating the overfulfilment of the
February 27, 2026
Days ago, the inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area celebrating the overfulfilment of the
One day in November 2021, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Phothae-dong, Samjiyon City. The dwelling houses and
February 27, 2026
One day in November 2021, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Phothae-dong, Samjiyon City. The dwelling houses and
February 16 witnessed a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area in Pyongyang, the
February 27, 2026
February 16 witnessed a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area in Pyongyang, the
The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp opened in the DPRK.The holiday camp, located in a picturesque place, has hot spring therap
February 27, 2026
The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp opened in the DPRK.The holiday camp, located in a picturesque place, has hot spring therap
A grand artistic performance was given at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
February 27, 2026
A grand artistic performance was given at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea invited veteran cadres who had worked for a long time at important posts of
February 26, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea invited veteran cadres who had worked for a long time at important posts of
Remarkable successes have been achieved in the educational sector over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the
February 26, 2026
Remarkable successes have been achieved in the educational sector over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the
On February 16, a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area was held in the DPRK’s
February 26, 2026
On February 16, a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area was held in the DPRK’s
The whole of the DPRK is overflowing with the great joy and strong emotion of the people as they splendidly celebrate the glorious
February 26, 2026
The whole of the DPRK is overflowing with the great joy and strong emotion of the people as they splendidly celebrate the glorious
Celebrated mountains, scenic spots and historical sites and relics in different parts of the DPRK are associated with many myths,
February 26, 2026
Celebrated mountains, scenic spots and historical sites and relics in different parts of the DPRK are associated with many myths,
The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened in the DPRK. The festival’s theme is
February 26, 2026
The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened in the DPRK. The festival’s theme is
The 14th Asian Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships took place in India from October 31 to November 2 last year. DPRK players Ro Hye
February 26, 2026
The 14th Asian Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships took place in India from October 31 to November 2 last year. DPRK players Ro Hye
The DPRK has greeted a new history of comprehensive prosperity, both in the capital city and provinces and in towns and
February 25, 2026
The DPRK has greeted a new history of comprehensive prosperity, both in the capital city and provinces and in towns and
The following happened when the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the completed Pyongyang General Hospital in February 2025.
February 25, 2026
The following happened when the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the completed Pyongyang General Hospital in February 2025.
Every year the IT industry of the DPRK selects the nation’s top-level computer programmers. Among those designated last year was
February 25, 2026
Every year the IT industry of the DPRK selects the nation’s top-level computer programmers. Among those designated last year was
The Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea continues discussion in a responsible manner. Members of the Presidium of the
February 25, 2026
The Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea continues discussion in a responsible manner. Members of the Presidium of the
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a congratulatory message from Xi Jinping, general
February 25, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a congratulatory message from Xi Jinping, general
Staff members of the Russian embassy in the DPRK laid a wreath before the Liberation Tower on February 23 to mark the Day of
February 25, 2026
Staff members of the Russian embassy in the DPRK laid a wreath before the Liberation Tower on February 23 to mark the Day of
More Articles
