Hero of Labor
CountryNorth Korea
Presented byNorth Korea
StatusActive
Established17 July 1951
Total335[citation needed]
Precedence
Next (lower)Order of Kim Il Sung, Order of Kim Jong Il
Hero of Labor
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationRoryeog Yeongung
McCune–ReischauerRoryŏk Yŏng'ung

Labor Hero (Korean: 로력영웅; MR: Roryŏk Yŏng'ung)[1] is one of the highest titles of honor of North Korea and the highest decoration of the country overall. The award was probably scheduled for establishment in the summer of 1950, but the Korean War postponed these plans. When the war had entered a phase of stalemate along the 38th parallel, the government had time to officially launch the decoration, originally under the name Korea Hero of Labor. 16 people were decorated Labor Heroes during the war and more since then. The decoration is based on its Soviet equivalent, Hero of Socialist Labour.

Specifications

Hero of Labor is the highest title of honor of North Korea. It is also the highest decoration of the country overall.[2] Along with the title a gold medal is awarded.[2] The medal features the hammer and sickle on a five-pointed star. Immediately below it are the Order of Kim Il Sung and Kim Il Sung Prizes. It is awarded independently of the similar award of Order of Korean Labour.[3]

If someone is awarded it twice, they become a "Double Labor Hero" (2중 로력영웅).[2]

History

Hero of Labor was probably scheduled to be established in the summer of 1950, but the breaking up of the Korean War halted the plans. Only when the war reached a stalemate along the 38th parallel did the government have time to concentrate on its awards system.[3] Hero of Labor was promulgated on 17 July 1951 and it became the highest civilian award of the country.[3][4][2] The title is based on its Soviet equivalent, Hero of Socialist Labour.[3]

It was initially promulgated as Korea Hero of Labor, using the Korean word Choson (조선). This set it apart from the related Order of Labor whose full name was "Korean People's Republic Order of Labor". This is likely because North Koreans copied every detail of the decorations of the Soviet Union, some of which featured the longer name of the country, "Soviet Union", and others simply "Soviet".[3]

During the war, 16 people were decorated Labor Heroes.[5] Once the war was over, surprisingly, Kim Il Sung was not awarded the title. He received one only on 7 September 1958, probably because he had consolidated his position in power following the 1956 attempted coup d'état known as the August Faction Incident. Kim Jong Il was never awarded one, leading observers to conclude that the prize did not have much political value at least at that time.[3]

In more recent times, it has been habitually awarded to mothers who have given birth to exceptionally many children.[6]

Recipients

Name Occupation Date Notes Ref
Kim Rak-hui politician 1955 Awarded for leading post-war reconstruction of farms in Kaechon [7]
Kim Il Sung Premier of North Korea 7 September 1958 Awarded after the August Faction Incident (1956) [3]
Paek Sol-hui botanist 7 October 1979 Developer of a crop strain [8]
Ri Pyong-sam politician 19 October 2011 Political Director of the Korean People's Internal Security Forces [9]
Chang Jae-ryong manager October 2012 Manager of Osoksan Granite Mine, Ryonggang County, Nampho. Awarded "for his meritorious services, displaying bold and enterprising work style and practical ability." [10]
Hong Song-gwan sea captain 7 June 2016 Former captain of Fishing Boat 1728 of the Second Fleet of the Kamapho Fishery Station that overfulfilled the fishing plan on many years [11]
Kim Chun-hui weightlifting coach 2018 Weightlifting coach of the Kigwancha Sports Club [12]
300 workers Awarded following the 1974 70-Day Battle mass mobilization campaign [13]
Jo Myong-suk manager Manager of the Hadang Unha Clothing Factory, awarded "in high appreciation of her devoted services to the prosperity of the country and the improvement of the people's living standards." [14]
Jong Yong-man painter Awarded twice. Painter of over 600 works, 170 which are in the Korean Art Gallery [15]
Kim Kwang-min football coach Coach of the women of the April 25 Sports Team and the women's national team [16]
Kim Sang-ryon agronomist Developer of a rice strain [8]
Kim Sin-ung associate academician At the Pyongyang University of Mechanical Engineering [17]
Mun Kang-sun weaver Overfulfilling plans at the Kim Jong-suk Textile Mill [18]
O Tae-hyong sculptor Took part in sculpting the Chollima Statue, Monument to the Victorious Battle of Pochonbo, Mansu Hill Grand Monument, Wangjaesan Grand Monument and the Monument to Party Founding. [19]
Om Kil-son [ru] actor and director "[F]or his contribution to the development of the Juche-based film art" [20]
Pak Jong-ju film director Director at the Korean Film Studio [21]
Paek Jong-muk manager Manager of the Sogam Pharmaceutical Factory [22]
Ra Un-sim footballer Captain of the North Korea women's national football team [16]
Ri Ok-sang agriculturalist Developed stockbreeding technology [23]
Ri Song-gun painter Painter of the Korean Painting Production Unit of the Mansudae Art Studio [24]
Ri Sung-ik virologist Head of the Virus Research Institute of the Pyongyang Medical College of Kim Il Sung University [25]
Ro Ik-hwa sculptor Maker of many famous statues with the Merited Sculpture Production Company of the Mansudae Art Studio [26]
Ri Yong-suk politician anti-Japanese war veteran [27]
Jin Pong-jun manager Manager of Fishery Station No. 223 run by the Korean People's Army [28]
Kang Song-il 24 March 2021 Awarded for feats of economic and socialist construction [29]
Jang Tong-gil
Kye Chol-nam
Sin Song-chol
Sin Myong-son
Kim Hui-ok
Rim Yong-ok
Jang Ryong-sik vice-department director of the Information and Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea 6 October 2020 Merits in music and art [30]
Choe Chang Su Actor [31]
Yu Won Jun Actor [31]
Kanggye Youth Power Station unit 3 Hydropower plant 29 April 1984 [32]
Yakov Novichenko Soviet military officer 28 July 1984 Saved the life of Kim Il Sung on 1 March 1946 [33]
Red Flag 1-class locomotive of Tanchon Youth Engine Service Brigade Electric locomotive also awarded three 'three revolution flag' and 'Lathe No. 26' Model Machine Prize [34]
Kim Byong-suk angler 2 August 1959 [35]
Kim Sok-un soldier unknown Battalion commander of North Hwanghae Province Youth Construction Brigade [36]
Kim Hak-hyong soldier August 1988 Battalion commander of North Pyongan Province Youth Construction Brigade [37]
Ri Hyun-sop politician August 1988 Director of the Speed Offensive Youth Assault brigade of the Youth League Central Committee [38]
Kim Hong-sun manager April 1989 Manager of 6th Hydroelectric Power Station Construction Office [39]
Ryang Dok-kyu politician April 1989 Director of Construction Bureau of Kaesong Central Committee [40]
Ri Ung-sik soldier August 1988 Chief of the Military Band of the Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army [41]
Sim Byong-gi soldier February 2001 Officer of the Korean People's Army [42]
Pak Myong-son politician November 2002 Deputy Party Chairman of Jongphyong County [43]
O Sa-song businessman 2 July 2003 [44]
Pak Un-jong mother September 2020 Awarded for giving birth to many children [6]
Ri Chun-hee Korean Central Television broadcaster 6 September 2022 contributions to broadcasting [45]
Kim Ki-ryong Chairman of Korean Central Television

See also

References

  1. ^ "Seventy-five years witness remarkable successes". The Pyongyang Times. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Seo, Bo-hyeok. "영웅칭호 (英雄稱號)" [Hero Awards]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Weiser, Martin (8 January 2016). "Chests Full of Brass: A DPRK Political History in Orders, Medals, Prizes, and Titles". Sino-NK. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Hero of Labour of the Korean Democratic People's Republic Gold Star Medal". Medals of the World. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  5. ^ Album: Revolutionary Activities of Comrade Kim Il Sung. Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House. 1970. OCLC 176847360.
  6. ^ a b "Mothers Awarded Labor Hero Title in DPRK". KCNA Watch. KCNA. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Former DPRK Vice Premier Kim Rak Hui Dies (updated on 20 February)". North Korea Leadership Watch. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  8. ^ a b Lim 2008, p. 81.
  9. ^ "Col. Gen. Ri Pyong Sam". North Korea Leadership Watch. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Our Manager". Naenara. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  11. ^ "State Commendations Awarded to Crewmen". Naenara. KCNA. September 2016. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016.
  12. ^ "Sportspersons full of confidence". The Pyongyang Times. KCNA. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  13. ^ Lim 2008, pp. 136–137.
  14. ^ "Enterprising Manageress". Naenara. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  15. ^ Kim So Yeol (19 August 2011). "Mansudae Art Studio Back in the Limelight". Daily NK. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  16. ^ a b Choe Kwang-ho (May 2015). "Renowned Football Coach". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 713. pp. 32–33. ISSN 1727-9208.
  17. ^ Won Kyong-ryong (January 2015). "Admirable Woman Scientist". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 709. p. 32. ISSN 1727-9208.
  18. ^ Kang Su-yong (February 2015). "Hero Weaver". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 710. pp. 31–32. ISSN 1727-9208.
  19. ^ "Talented Artists of DPRK". Naenara. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  20. ^ "Veteran Film Director Om Kil Son". Naenara. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  21. ^ "Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Sends Wreath to Bier of Pak Jong Ju". oananews.org. KCNA. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  22. ^ Kim Thae-hyon (January 2015). "To Promote People's Health". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 709. p. 28. ISSN 1727-9208.
  23. ^ Kim Thae-hyon (January 2014). "Who Will Be Next Hero? : Hero Kangso Senior Middle School". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 697. p. 28. ISSN 1727-9208.
  24. ^ "Famous Artist of Figure Picture". Naenara. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Virologist Ri Sung Ik". Naenara. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  26. ^ Kim Son-gyong (May 2015). "Sculptor Family". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 713. pp. 26–27. ISSN 1727-9208.
  27. ^ "Kim Jong Un sends birthday spread to anti-Japanese war veteran". The Pyongyang Times. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Sends Wreath to Bier of Jin Pong Jun". DPRK Today. KCNA. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  29. ^ "Rodong Sinmun". rodong.rep.kp. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Rodong Sinmun". rodong.rep.kp. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  31. ^ a b Ri, Ok Gyong (2018). Korean Film Art - 조선의 영화예술. Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea: Korean Film Export & Import Corporation(조선영화수출입사). pp. 22–285.
  32. ^ [록화보도] 7월28일 20시보도 (in Korean). Korean Central Television.
  33. ^ Lankov, Andreĭ Nikolaevich (2002). From Stalin to Kim Il Sung: The Formation of North Korea, 1945-1960. Rutgers University Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-8135-3117-5.
  34. ^ "What "Pulgungi" No. 1 Teaches Us". Rodong Sinmun. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  35. ^ Korean Central Television (20 August 2021). 8월20일 20시보도 (in Korean). Opening section
  36. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  37. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  38. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  39. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  40. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  41. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  42. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  43. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  44. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  45. ^ 조선중앙통신 | 기사 | 공로있는 방송일군들에게 조선민주주의인민공화국 로력영웅칭호 수여. Korean Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 September 2022.

Works cited

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