What is Juche?
At the centre of North Korean society is a political and social philosophy that governs the everyday life of the entire nation. This philosophy is the Juche Ideology.
The Juche Ideology (주체사상) is difficult to define and, in fact, Koreans will often say the best way to understand Juche is to visit the DPRK (North Korea) itself since socialist Korea is the perfect example of the Juche Ideology in action.
Whilst we recommend visiting Pyongyang and standing in the shadow of the grand Juche Tower to fully understand this all-encompassing ideology, let’s attempt to unpack the history and meaning of Juche or Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism as it can also be referred to.
Meaning
The most common translation of Juch’e is ‘The Master of One’s Self’ since 주 (Ju) means ‘Master’ and 체 (Ch’e) means ‘Body’. So literally, the Master of Yourself.
In context, it is the belief that each individual determines their own destiny, and collectively, the country itself is completely responsible for its own future.
In many ways, the evolution of the Juche idea in North Korea is a stark shift away from a different ideology which held a tight grip over the Korean peninsula for centuries. This political philosophy was known as 사대 (Sadae) or ‘Serving the Great’ in which Korea, under the Joseon dynasty, recognised the strength of a greater regional power, in this case, dynastic China.
Juche stands in start opposition to this traditional worldview, instead focusing on policy of self-determination, self-reliance and patriotism.
What is the Juche Philosophy?
The three primary principles of Juche were laid out in 1965 in a speech by the President Kim Il Sung:
Political Independence // 자주 // Chaju
This principle lays out the idea that North Korea shouldn’t be beholden to foreign countries in it’s politics. At the time, neighbouring South Korea was under the rule of dictator Park Chung Hee who was seen by many to be being propped up by the Americans.
Economic Independence // 자립// Charip
The idea of economic independence or economic self-sustenance is a guiding principle of North Korean politics and argues that the country should aim to be entirely self-sustaining, again, so as not to be beholden to foreign powers.
Self-Reliant in Defence // 자위 // Chawi
Again, a comparison to the military in the South which was heavily integrated with the US military, the idea of military independence saw the idea that Korea should become an impregnable fortress able to withstand outside aggression. It’s also seen the growth of domestic weapons development to avoid reliance on foreign arms suppliers.
Whilst many would say the ideology as a whole is hard to pin down, it generally comes back to these key principles. Alongside that, it promotes a kind of socialist patriotism in the idea that every person should take pride in working for the collective good of an independent nation.
Juche Tower & Propaganda
As a national guiding ideology, Juche often appears in murals, paintings and propaganda posters. The ideology is most often represented by a red torch which symbolises the ideology as a whole. Nowhere is this more obvious than the Juche Tower on the eastern bank of the Taedong River in Central Pyongyang.
The Juche Tower, or Tower of the Juche Idea, was completed in 1982 to celebrate the 70th Birthday of the President Kim Il Sung. It was constructed with 25,550 stone blocks to represent each day of Kim Il Sung’s life up to that point.
The tower is a popular tourist attraction with a small gift shop and reception room built into the base where visitors can board an elevator to the top of the world’s tallest stone tower to get a view over Pyongyang.
Atop the tower is an enormous glowing red flame which represents the ideology itself.
Other references often include propaganda pieces featuring soldiers, workers, intellectuals and farmers holding a red torch aloft. These classes are considered the bedrock of society in Korea.
Conclusion
As with all things North Korea, there’s no better way to understand Juche than to visit the country itself.
During a trip to Korea you’ll no doubt learn more about the official perspective on the Juche Ideology, how it’s implemented and its history.
If you’re interested in learning more, we obviously recommend a trip to the Juche Tower, but also perhaps a visit to the Foreign Languages Bookshop where you can pick up an English version of ‘On the Juche Idea by General Kim Jong Il’ or other North Korean books on the topic!
