culture

There are many families held in respect by people, including teachers’ families, university graduates’ families, athletes’ families and couple drivers’ families.

Kim Kang Sop and Kim Un Sop, who are engaged in education and scientific research at Kim Chaek University of Technology, are also brothers, and people call them “PhD brothers” or “PhDs’ family”.

Elder brother Kim Kang Sop, professor and PhD, is an authority in the field of geology.

For over three decades, he has worked as the director of a research institute through lecturer, researcher and department chief of the university, solving problems arising in different economic sectors to bring considerable benefits to the country. 

He also published valuable essays on geological survey in SCI- and EI- level international academic journals and was invited to take part in international scientific presentations and join societies.

He has written many textbooks and books on the geological field and trained many MScs and PhDs.

His brother Kim Un Sop is a man of ability in the field of electrical engineering.

He also wrote textbooks and reference books on electrical engineering and contributed to training reserve electrical engineers, thus winning the title of associate professor.

And he became a PhD after solving many urgent sci-tech problems arising in improving the people’s living standards and developing the economy. For example, he successfully conducted research to develop a motor urgently needed for the production of a new-type lorry and to increase the efficiency of large generators needed for different power stations under construction.

They live on Mirae Scientists Street built by the state for educators and scientists.

Kang Sop moved to the street a year before Un Sop received a licence for the use of a flat on the street. 

Some people say that they all became PhDs and professor and associate professor because they came of a particularly brainy family, but they have an unusual outlook on life.

They want to become persons needed for the country, and they adopted this outlook on life as they grew up witnessing how hard their parents worked.

Their father, who had been a researcher at a small enterprise in Kim Chaek City, North Hamgyong Province, and their mother, who had been a doctor, were always busy with their work.

The father hardly left the lab while poring over technical books day and night and the mother would get up even at night to go out to see patients. 

The parents, who were more concerned about their work than their children, often said to them, “You must be a man necessary to the country and people. To be needed means being trusted and such trust is valuable.” 

“We keep the words of our parents as our constant view. My brother and I will do everything if it is necessary for the country and the people,” said Kim Kang Sop.