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)
Aleksandr Lukashenko, president of the Republic of Belarus, on an official visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
March 26, 2026
Aleksandr Lukashenko, president of the Republic of Belarus, on an official visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
Forests provide the people with raw materials and food and help increase agricultural productivity and protect river basin. They
March 26, 2026
Forests provide the people with raw materials and food and help increase agricultural productivity and protect river basin. They
A research team at Kim Il Sung University has developed a titanium carbide-based metal-ceramic cutting tool conducive to the
March 26, 2026
A research team at Kim Il Sung University has developed a titanium carbide-based metal-ceramic cutting tool conducive to the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a wreath to the bier of Ri Pyong Sam, former advisor to the Political Bureau of the then
March 26, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a wreath to the bier of Ri Pyong Sam, former advisor to the Political Bureau of the then
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on
March 26, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on
The Korean people are now making great efforts to attain the ambitious goal set forth by the Ninth Congress of the Workers’
March 26, 2026
The Korean people are now making great efforts to attain the ambitious goal set forth by the Ninth Congress of the Workers’
The Workers’ Party of Korea intends to rebuild the country’s public health on an advanced basis and radically develop it so
March 26, 2026
The Workers’ Party of Korea intends to rebuild the country’s public health on an advanced basis and radically develop it so
The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival is to be held in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 114th birth anniversary of
March 26, 2026
The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival is to be held in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 114th birth anniversary of
To pay an official visit to the DPRK at the invitation of Comrade Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic
March 26, 2026
To pay an official visit to the DPRK at the invitation of Comrade Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic
At the invitation of Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Aleksandr
March 25, 2026
At the invitation of Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Aleksandr
The Sangwon Cement Complex, a DPRK’s giant cement producer, is boosting production as never before. The Sangwon Limestone Mine
March 25, 2026
The Sangwon Cement Complex, a DPRK’s giant cement producer, is boosting production as never before. The Sangwon Limestone Mine
Sea Chilbo is part of Mt Chilbo, a celebrated mountain in the DPRK famous for its beautiful and distinctive scenery.The area of Se
March 25, 2026
Sea Chilbo is part of Mt Chilbo, a celebrated mountain in the DPRK famous for its beautiful and distinctive scenery.The area of Se
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK are legends of Ulji Mun Dok, a patriotic general in the period
March 25, 2026
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK are legends of Ulji Mun Dok, a patriotic general in the period
The scallop-harvesting season has started in the Sinpho City Offshore Farm, which was built as a model of offshore farming on the
March 25, 2026
The scallop-harvesting season has started in the Sinpho City Offshore Farm, which was built as a model of offshore farming on the
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 25, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Medical workers of the Breast Tumour Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital offer field service at the lowest curative and
March 25, 2026
Medical workers of the Breast Tumour Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital offer field service at the lowest curative and
The DPRK is proactively working to cope with disastrous abnormal weather in its effort to protect state and public wealth and
March 24, 2026
The DPRK is proactively working to cope with disastrous abnormal weather in its effort to protect state and public wealth and
One day in May 1998, Chairman Kim Jong Il was on his field guidance trip in Changdo County of Kangwon Province before he suddenly
March 24, 2026
One day in May 1998, Chairman Kim Jong Il was on his field guidance trip in Changdo County of Kangwon Province before he suddenly
A pagoda called Saja (lion) is located at the Kumjang Hermitage in the Naegumgang-ri, Kumgang County, Kangwon Province. The
March 24, 2026
A pagoda called Saja (lion) is located at the Kumjang Hermitage in the Naegumgang-ri, Kumgang County, Kangwon Province. The
Some foreigners who have been to the DPRK advise their fellows: “If you want to visit Pyongyang, I recommend you should apply for
March 24, 2026
Some foreigners who have been to the DPRK advise their fellows: “If you want to visit Pyongyang, I recommend you should apply for
More Articles
