Work They Volunteered to Do

Early last October, an official of Popdong County looked round the open-air ice rink presenting its vivid appearance in the township area and then suddenly stopped. It was well over off-hour and already dark but there were some people still working at the site.

They, engrossed in plastering, were employees of the Popdong County Building Repair Station.

They were redoing the floor of the ice rink as it was not smooth.

The official was so touched.

Minor as the defect was, they were working conscientiously to remedy it as the students and residents of the county would enjoy skating there.

In the past, too, they undertook jobs for the convenience of the people, big and small, of their own accord before any others.

The official joined them to find out and repair more defects from the standpoint of the people who would use the ice rink.

Thanks to such devotion of those who make voluntary efforts to better their native place, the county is further face-lifted with each passing day.

Devoting Wisdom and Passion

Han Myong Sik, head of the fruit farming sub-workteam of the Maejon Farm in Phyongwon County, is a farmer respected by the villagers.

He has devoted his wisdom and passion to fill his native place with fruit aroma for over thirty years.

The apple and pear trees, from which the whole farm is gaining profit, were all cultivated and taken care of by Han and the 10-odd members of his sub-workteam.

They have produced ripe fruits from those trees and sent big, tasty apples to students of Mangyongdae Revolutionary School and children of the baby home, orphanage and primary and middle schools for orphans in South Phyongan Province as well as children of the farm village.

In this course, apples from Maejon-ri became famous for big size and good taste throughout the country and many people came to learn their experiences.

Han has overfulfilled the fruit production task every year and given big profit to the management of the farm.

Han participated in national meetings in the sector of fruit farming and presented many worthful cultivation techniques.

Han, granted a master’s degree in pomology, is making continued efforts to contribute to the development of the country’s fruit farming.

Honorary Employees Win Respect

There are two old persons Kim Chan Jin and Ri Chon Il, who are respected by the masses, in the Kanggye Tractor Accessary Factory.

Despite the pensioners as highly skilled workers before, they still attend the factory to help the factory’s employees in their work and train them as skilled workers.

Once, the factory was assigned an urgent task of producing in a short span of time the parts needed for repairing equipment of a unit which is playing a big role in the economic work of the province and the improvement of the people’s standard of living.

When officials of the factory were racking their brains to find reserve skilled workers as every employee was mobilized in ensuring the current production, Ri suddenly visited the manager and asked him to entrust the processing of spare parts to the old persons.

But the manager could not accept Ri’s suggestion because he was too sorry to entrust such difficult urgent task to the elders.

In fact, he has always paid special concern to Kim and Ri striving so much for raising the skill of the newcomers.

Kim Chan Jin, who had once been known as a wood-moulder, also contributed a large share to the processing of spare parts with his high skill.

Whenever the officials and employees advise them to work taking frequent breaks, they always say as follows:

"We are pleased to think that we do work capable of contributing even a bit to our native place and motherland."

Rodong Sinmun