Plain Brick Building Still Stands

In the compound of the Party Founding Museum at the foot of Mt Haebang in Pyongyang, there stands a two-storey brick building in marked contrast to contemporary modern buildings.

The old building in its original state is the house where President Kim Il Sung lived after Korea's liberation.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said:

"Even though he was held in high respect and admiration by our people and progressive people around the world, Comrade Kim Il Sung rejected any special favor or privilege for himself, and always led a simple and frugal life with his people."

One September day in 1945, the President, who had accomplished the historic cause of liberating Korea, arrived in Pyongyang without any notice.

At that time, the officials of the South Phyongan Provincial Committee of the Party thought they should soon provide him with lodging first.

The house they chosen was a luxurious and brilliant building.

President Kim Il Sung held a pained expression on his face at the news and said it was too large and luxurious and that he only wanted a place where he could meet people frequently. He added that he wanted a plain and cosy house large enough for the members of the headquarters to sleep and work together and that a house situated in the centre of the city where the people lived would be good.

The officials found themselves taking off their hats to him as they were deeply impressed by his noble popular traits. Though the people wanted to hold him in the highest esteem, he declined to put himself forward.

Later, the officials chose a two-storey brick building at the foot of the Mt Haebang as his lodging as he had instructed.

Here started the brilliant history of building up a new democratic Korea.

Staying in such a simple house, Kim Il Sung carried out the gigantic work to build up a new society in liberated Korea. He steadily made tireless efforts to accomplish the historic cause of party founding, to work out a grand plan for building up a new Korea and to carry out policies for the good of the people.

Indeed, President Kim Il Sung was the benevolent father of the people, unprecedented in the history, and a peerlessly great personage revered by all people.