Pyongyang is the capital city of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. There stands a magnificent building called the Grand People’s Study House on Namsan Hill in central Pyongyang. As its name implies, it is a public library. The impressive building was named by President Kim Il Sung (1912-1994).
As one of the monumental edifices in Pyongyang in terms of scale and formative and artistic feature, it draws a large number of visitors every day.
The following is how the massive building was built at the centre of the capital city.
In October 1973 the President climbed Moran Hill with some officials. Feasting his eyes on a panoramic view of Pyongyang, he said that the square in the central part of the city ought to house public buildings such as museum, conference hall, library or palace of culture.
In mid-December, two months later, he, with other officials, went up to Namsan Hill where he proposed building a large library there now that Pyongyang had already the People’s Palace of Culture and the Schoolchildren’s Palace, adding that it would be hailed by the people.
He gave personal guidance to the construction project to erect the library as a modern, Korean-style one that preserves classical and majestic features.
He also paid close attention to naming the building while asking officials to lend an ear to the opinions of the people.
Scores of ideas such as Kim Il Sung Library were presented but he finally named the library the Grand People’s Study House.
As he regarded his life as that for the people and took them as heaven, he planned and undertook all things exclusively for their good.
The slogan “We Serve the People!” can be seen everywhere in the country. Everything is created to meet the interests and tastes of the working people and all the modern facilities for cultural activities such as the People’s Palace of Culture and the People’s Theatre serve the people as their wealth.
Kim Hyok
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