A Korean saying goes that fish in the water are not conscious that they are living in water.
This is true of the families of Ri Ki Il and his seven siblings.
Ri Ki Il who works at the Intellectual Property Rights Administration says that up until a few years ago he had no idea of how many in their families graduated from university or college.
Ri and his seven siblings, as well as their spouses all attended universities or colleges. And the number of graduates is increasing among their children. Once his youngest daughter Ri Son Hyang, a student at Kim Chaek University of Technology, told him that she guessed university or college graduates might exceed 40 among her relatives.
“40? Really?” he shook his head.
He took out a large sheet of paper and began to jot down the names of his brothers and sisters and calculate the number of graduates in each family. His eldest brother’s family has eight graduates, his second brother’s six, his second sister’s 4, and so on. Putting the numbers together, he was wide-eyed at the total number of 48.
Given that his eldest daughter and others attended two universities, the number would increase to 51. Among them are scientists, teachers, army and public security officers, journalists, financial workers, sportspersons, inventors and academic degree holders.
Ri’s parents worked as day labourers before the country’s liberation (August 15, 1945).
After the liberation, they could study at adults’ schools and their four children enrolled at school all at once.
His father often said to his children that they were fortunate enough to learn how to read and write the Korean language and history at their heart’s content.
Once his second elder brother visited a foreign country.
While in interview, he said to foreign scholars that dozens of his family members were university or college graduates. His foreign partners told him it seemed that his family was so rich. But when they were told that all of his brothers and sisters and their children had studied free of charge and rather received scholarships from the state, they found it hard to believe it.
His parents could not afford to go to school before the country’s liberation, but members of his and his siblings’ families have graduated from universities or colleges. This is an example of the Korean people who are learning to their heart’s content under the socialist system, training themselves to be intelligent workers in the new era.
Ko Chol Hwa
More From Naenara (En)
The Chollima Tile Factory is increasing production. The factory has made steady efforts to hit this year’s production plan much
November 11, 2025
The Chollima Tile Factory is increasing production. The factory has made steady efforts to hit this year’s production plan much
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
November 11, 2025
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Large greenhouse vegetable production bases are expecting bumper harvests. The Kangdong Combined Greenhouse Farm strives to raise
November 11, 2025
Large greenhouse vegetable production bases are expecting bumper harvests. The Kangdong Combined Greenhouse Farm strives to raise
DPRK women football players took first place in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held in Morocco and won their fourth World Cu
November 11, 2025
DPRK women football players took first place in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held in Morocco and won their fourth World Cu
Agricultural workers of the Kumsaem Farm in Kumgang County, Kangwon Province of the DPRK became blessed owners of modern rural
November 11, 2025
Agricultural workers of the Kumsaem Farm in Kumgang County, Kangwon Province of the DPRK became blessed owners of modern rural
The Silicate Engineering Institute of the State Academy of Sciences has newly developed acid-proof cement based on domestic raw
November 10, 2025
The Silicate Engineering Institute of the State Academy of Sciences has newly developed acid-proof cement based on domestic raw
One day in June 2013, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un stopped by the Changsong Restaurant of the Korean architectural style
November 10, 2025
One day in June 2013, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un stopped by the Changsong Restaurant of the Korean architectural style
The Kuryongphyong Dairy Cattle and Goat Farm in Hongui-dong, Sonbong District, Rason Municipality, the DPRK, has developed into
November 10, 2025
The Kuryongphyong Dairy Cattle and Goat Farm in Hongui-dong, Sonbong District, Rason Municipality, the DPRK, has developed into
Rural residential districts have been built at the Jungdok and Jungsang farms in Junggang County, Jagang Province, which are
November 09, 2025
Rural residential districts have been built at the Jungdok and Jungsang farms in Junggang County, Jagang Province, which are
The delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director
November 09, 2025
The delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director
The AI Technology Institute of the AI Faculty of Kim Il Sung University, the IT Institute of Kim Chaek University of Technology,
November 08, 2025
The AI Technology Institute of the AI Faculty of Kim Il Sung University, the IT Institute of Kim Chaek University of Technology,
No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met and had a friendly talk with the
November 08, 2025
No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met and had a friendly talk with the
Modern houses have been built in Yonsu-ri of Yonsa County, North Hamgyong Province, the DPRK. The dwelling houses were designed
November 08, 2025
Modern houses have been built in Yonsu-ri of Yonsa County, North Hamgyong Province, the DPRK. The dwelling houses were designed
Talks between the representatives of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army and the delegation of the
November 08, 2025
Talks between the representatives of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army and the delegation of the
A national exhibition and presentation of forest sci-tech achievements was held at the Central Botanical Garden from October 29 to
November 07, 2025
A national exhibition and presentation of forest sci-tech achievements was held at the Central Botanical Garden from October 29 to
The 27th national exhibition of sports sci-tech achievements and the national symposium on teaching methods in the field of
November 07, 2025
The 27th national exhibition of sports sci-tech achievements and the national symposium on teaching methods in the field of
A delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director Viktor
November 07, 2025
A delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director Viktor
The semi-finals between the DPRK team and the Brazilian team for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took place on November 5 (lo
November 07, 2025
The semi-finals between the DPRK team and the Brazilian team for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took place on November 5 (lo
A delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director Viktor
November 07, 2025
A delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director Viktor
A photo exhibition “The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a magnificent world created on the east coast in the great era of Kim
November 06, 2025
A photo exhibition “The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a magnificent world created on the east coast in the great era of Kim
More Articles
