North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s gift of musical instruments to schools in flood-damaged regions has become part of state propaganda highlighting the “supreme leader’s benevolence,” but students’ unexpected reactions have left teachers and parents unsettled.
According to a North Pyongan province source recently, a teacher at an elementary school in Anju held a morning ideology session in late April featuring an April 25 Rodong Sinmun newspaper article about Kim’s instrument donations. The teacher emphasized gratitude and loyalty toward the “supreme leader’s benevolence.”
In North Korea, all institutions are required to hold daily morning reading sessions that include leader-glorification education. These sessions typically involve reading official documents or newspaper articles followed by discussions praising the supreme leader.
That day’s session centered on news that Kim had sent pianos, accordions and other instruments to newly constructed schools in flood-affected areas of North Pyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces.
While these sessions are usually led by student ideological officers, teachers occasionally conduct them. The problem arose after the session ended, when several students questioned: “Why should we be happy when we didn’t receive any instruments?” Other students agreed with this sentiment.
In North Korea’s political system, such comments could result in punishment not only for students but also their parents, teachers and even the school.
Alarmed by the students’ reaction, the teacher called in parents rather than reporting the incident or scolding the students, urging them to better control their children’s behavior. The teacher wanted to resolve the matter quietly, fearing broader consequences if the comments became public knowledge.
Parents warned their children sternly, telling them that “the entire family could disappear without a trace for saying the wrong thing.”
The source told Daily NK that this incident “demonstrates how the glorification education that demands absolute loyalty by emphasizing the leader’s grace and love doesn’t work with today’s generation of children.” The source added, “While such changes feel natural and somewhat welcome, there’s worry that these children’s honest reactions could lead to family tragedy.”
“Parents’ anxiety and tension are growing as even these natural comments from children can be considered political deviation and punished,” the source concluded.
