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 Socialist Women’s Union of Korea, the mass-based political organization of women in the DPRK, was founded on November 18, 1945
November 18, 2025
The Socialist Women’s Union of Korea, the mass-based political organization of women in the DPRK, was founded on November 18, 1945
The construction of thousands of rural dwellings planned for this year has been successfully completed in Ryanggang Province of
November 18, 2025
The construction of thousands of rural dwellings planned for this year has been successfully completed in Ryanggang Province of
-Visit to Unsan County, North Phyongan Province- Unsan County is located in an eastern part of North Phyongan Province. It is
November 18, 2025
-Visit to Unsan County, North Phyongan Province- Unsan County is located in an eastern part of North Phyongan Province. It is
In the DPRK much effort is directed to protecting useful animals and increasing their number. As part of such nationwide effort,
November 18, 2025
In the DPRK much effort is directed to protecting useful animals and increasing their number. As part of such nationwide effort,
There is a forest of metasequoia over thousands of square metres in the Central Botanical Garden at the foot of Mt Taesong in the
November 18, 2025
There is a forest of metasequoia over thousands of square metres in the Central Botanical Garden at the foot of Mt Taesong in the
The people across the DPRK significantly marked Mother’s Day.People visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the sacred temple of J
November 18, 2025
The people across the DPRK significantly marked Mother’s Day.People visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the sacred temple of J
Currently, prevention and treatment of diseases by using natural minerals has become a trend in healthcare practice. The Koryo
November 18, 2025
Currently, prevention and treatment of diseases by using natural minerals has become a trend in healthcare practice. The Koryo
The DPRK team had a match with the Venezuelan team on November 15 (local time) in the round of 32 for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup
November 18, 2025
The DPRK team had a match with the Venezuelan team on November 15 (local time) in the round of 32 for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The DPRK has long enforced a childcare system in which children are nursed and brought up at nurseries and kindergartens. After
November 17, 2025
The DPRK has long enforced a childcare system in which children are nursed and brought up at nurseries and kindergartens. After
A research group of the Chemical Engineering Faculty of Kim Chaek University of Technology has recently developed an advanced
November 17, 2025
A research group of the Chemical Engineering Faculty of Kim Chaek University of Technology has recently developed an advanced
In 1905 Japan fabricated the Ulsa Five-point Treaty in a bid to establish colonial domination over Korea. Entering the 20th
November 17, 2025
In 1905 Japan fabricated the Ulsa Five-point Treaty in a bid to establish colonial domination over Korea. Entering the 20th
The whole country is extending warm congratulations to the mothers on the occasion of Mother’s Day amid the ongoing campaign to
November 17, 2025
The whole country is extending warm congratulations to the mothers on the occasion of Mother’s Day amid the ongoing campaign to
Farmers of the Songam Farm in Taean District, Nampho Municipality which is located at the gateway to the capital city of the DPRK,
November 17, 2025
Farmers of the Songam Farm in Taean District, Nampho Municipality which is located at the gateway to the capital city of the DPRK,
Modern houses of various styles have been built at the Phosong Farm of the Ryanggang Provincial Rural Economy Committee and at the
November 16, 2025
Modern houses of various styles have been built at the Phosong Farm of the Ryanggang Provincial Rural Economy Committee and at the
The Tourist Souvenir Exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Okryu Exhibition House in the DPRK on November 14. Presented
November 16, 2025
The Tourist Souvenir Exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Okryu Exhibition House in the DPRK on November 14. Presented
November 16 is Mother’s Day in the DPRK. The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung attended the First National Conference of Mothers
November 16, 2025
November 16 is Mother’s Day in the DPRK. The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung attended the First National Conference of Mothers
Tangible results have been achieved in the effort to implement the comprehensive mechanization of the rural economy. For the past
November 16, 2025
Tangible results have been achieved in the effort to implement the comprehensive mechanization of the rural economy. For the past
Songs imbued with love and affection for mothers are widely sung across the country in the run-up to Mother’s Day (November 16).
November 16, 2025
Songs imbued with love and affection for mothers are widely sung across the country in the run-up to Mother’s Day (November 16).
Agricultural workers of the Sangri and Upho stockbreeding farms in Phungso County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK, moved into new
November 15, 2025
Agricultural workers of the Sangri and Upho stockbreeding farms in Phungso County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK, moved into new
Early on October 1, 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the rehabilitation site in flood-stricken Kimhwa County,
November 15, 2025
Early on October 1, 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the rehabilitation site in flood-stricken Kimhwa County,
More Articles
