Hero of Labour (North Korea)

Hero of Labour () is one of the highest titles of honour 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 Labour. 16 people were decorated Labour Heroes during the war and more since then. The decoration is based on its Soviet equivalent, Hero of Socialist Labour.

Specifications Hero of Labour is the highest title of honour of North Korea. It is also the highest decoration of the country overall. Along with the title a gold medal is awarded. 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.

If someone is awarded it twice, they become a "Double Labour Hero" ().

History Hero of Labour 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. Hero of Labour was promulgated on 17 July 1951 and it became the highest civilian award of the country. The title is based on its Soviet equivalent, Hero of Socialist Labour.

It was initially promulgated as Korea Hero of Labour, using the Korean word Choson (). This set it apart from the related Order of Labour whose full name was "Korean People's Republic Order of Labour". 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".

During the war, 16 people were decorated Labour Heroes. 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.

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

Recipients NameOccupationDateNotesKim Rak-huipoliticianAwarded for leading post-war reconstruction of farms in KaechonKim Il SungPremier of North KoreaAwarded after the August Faction Incident (1956)Paek Sol-huibotanistDeveloper of a crop strainRi Pyong-sampoliticianPolitical Director of the Korean People's Internal Security ForcesChang Jae-ryongmanagerManager of Osoksan Granite Mine, Ryonggang County, Nampho. Awarded "for his meritorious services, displaying bold and enterprising work style and practical ability."Hong Song-gwansea captainFormer captain of Fishing Boat 1728 of the Second Fleet of the Kamapho Fishery Station that overfulfilled the fishing plan on many yearsKim Chun-huiweightlifting coach2018Weightlifting coach of the Kigwancha Sports Club300 workersAwarded following the 1974 70-Day Battle mass mobilization campaignJo Myong-sukmanagerManager 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."Jong Yong-manpainterAwarded twice. Painter of over 600 works, 170 which are in the Korean Art GalleryKim Kwang-minfootball coachCoach of the women of the April 25 Sports Team and the women's national teamKim Sang-ryonagronomistDeveloper of a rice strainKim Sin-ungassociate academicianAt the Pyongyang University of Mechanical EngineeringMun Kang-sunweaverOverfulfilling plans at the Kim Jong-suk Textile MillO Tae-hyongsculptorTook 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.actor and director"[F]or his contribution to the development of the Juche-based film art"Pak Jong-jufilm directorDirector at the Korean Film StudioPaek Jong-mukmanagerManager of the Sogam Pharmaceutical FactoryRa Un-simfootballerCaptain of the North Korea women's national football teamRi Chun-guscreenwriterAwarded twiceRi Ok-sangagriculturalistDeveloped stockbreeding technologyRi Song-gunpainterPainter of the Korean Painting Production Unit of the Mansudae Art StudioRi Sung-ikvirologistHead of the Virus Research Institute of the Pyongyang Medical College of Kim Il Sung UniversityRo Ik-hwasculptorMaker of many famous statues with the Merited Sculpture Production Company of the Mansudae Art StudioRi Yong-sukpoliticiananti-Japanese war veteranJin Pong-junmanagerManager of Fishery Station No. 223 run by the Korean People's ArmyKang Song-il24 March 2021Awarded for feats of economic and socialist constructionJang Tong-gilKye Chol-namSin Song-cholSin Myong-sonKim Hui-okRim Yong-okJang Ryong-sikvice-department director of the Information and Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea 6 October 2020Merits in music and artChoe Chang SuActor Yu Won JunActor Kanggye Youth Power Station unit 3Hydropower plant29 April 1984Yakov NovichenkoSoviet military officer28 July 1984Saved the life of Kim Il Sung on 1 March 1946Red Flag 1-class locomotive of Tanchon Youth Engine Service Brigade Electric locomotivealso awarded three 'three revolution flag' and 'Lathe No. 26' Model Machine PrizeKim Byong-sukangler2 August 1959 Opening sectionKim Sok-unsoldierunknownBattalion commander of North Hwanghae Province Youth Construction BrigadeKim Hak-hyongsoldierAugust 1988Battalion commander of North Pyongan Province Youth Construction BrigadeRi Hyun-soppoliticianAugust 1988Director of the Speed Offensive Youth Assault brigade of the Youth League Central Committee Kim Hong-sunmanagerApril 1989Manager of 6th Hydroelectric Power Station Construction OfficeRyang Dok-kyupolitician April 1989Director of Construction Bureau of Kaesong Central CommitteeRi Ung-siksoldierAugust 1988Chief of the Military Band of the Supreme Command of the Korean People's ArmySim Byong-gisoldierFebruary 2001Officer of the Korean People's ArmyPak Myong-sonpolitician November 2002Deputy Party Chairman of Jongphyong CountyO Sa-songbusinessman2 July 2003Pak Un-jongmotherSeptember 2020Awarded for giving birth to many childrenRi Chun-heeKorean Central Television broadcaster6 September 2022contributions to broadcastingKim Ki-ryongChairman of Korean Central TelevisionKim SeryunScreenwriterDecember 1992For Nation and Destiny (1992)

Hero of Labour (North Korea)

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