culture

If one of a mother’s children becomes a hero, the mother will be proud before society.

But Choe Ok Ae, a woman living in neighbourhood unit No. 86 in Munsin-dong No. 1 of Tongdaewon District in Pyongyang, takes unusual pride in having brought up her two sons into heroes.

The eldest son became a Labour Hero when he was 38 by successfully completing the design of the climbing path of Mt Myohyang while working as a designer of the Pyongyang Urban Planning and Designing Institute. 

The second son is one of the five officers who were awarded the titles of Labour Hero by the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un during his guidance of the Fourth Conference of Company Commanders and Political Instructors of the Korean People’s Army.

Choe Ok Ae paid special attention to making her children become kind-hearted and honest and love and care for their friends in their childhood.

She was always the first to concede in her husband’s favour to make their home filled with warm affection. And whenever their children were to go on school trips, she prepared delicious foods for them, telling them to share them with their friends.

She worked as a designer all her life.

Back home after a day’s work, she would look after her children before holding out a design again. After her husband, who was a designer like her, died, she invariably worked hard while dealing with all household chores. This served as a good example that taught the children to tirelessly think and study to fulfil their duties and be upright and devoted to the country. 

When her second son, who had become a commanding officer after graduating from a military academy, set out to do various projects for improving the soldiers’ dietary life, she carefully examined the designs of the buildings to be built and gave him unstinting advice.

“When I was diagnosed as being unable to serve the army any longer, my mother’s strict demand and encouragement inspired me to take up my post again and have the honour of becoming a hero. I want to present my hero medal to my mother,” said the second son.