culture

The National Exhibition of Children’s Science Fiction Models and Inventions-2025 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang from June 2 to 7 on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Children’s Union (June 6).

According to Nam Chol Hyok, section chief of the Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, the exhibition brought together over 300 pieces of science fiction models and inventions reflecting dreams and ideals of schoolchildren who have studied hard with a single desire to prepare themselves as reliable pillars of the country.

He added that though they are just sci-fi models, the ideas are original and hold great potential for practical application.

An example is the “futuristic combine harvester”.

The miniature model drew great admiration from visitors as it was designed to harvest, thresh, mill, pack and transport rice and even till paddy fields.

Pak Yong Ryong, a senior first-year student of Moranbong Middle School No. 1, said that he came up with the idea of the combine harvester as he thought how to help farmers work more easily in the present new era of rural development.

Ri Jin Hae, a junior third-year student of Hamhung Middle School No. 1, contrived a carbon dioxide battery that generates and stores electricity by using carbon dioxide that is known to cause global warming.

According to her, carbon dioxide can be easily liquefied and expanded at ambient temperature and, therefore, its energy conversion efficiency is very high.

All the sci-fi models and inventions, including the “new type of windmill with variable wings” based on the idea that changing the wing area can increase the power output, the “insect-killing robot” that uses natural energy to catch all the pests in the fields, the hybrid car “Prosperity-1” that runs on recycled construction waste, the “beautiful fishermen’s village” conceived out of a desire to make the home village more beautiful, reflect the schoolchildren’s wishes to facilitate all the work and improve their homeland by dint of science.

Choe Ung Gwon, a student of Jangchung Senior Middle School in Songyo District, Pyongyang, said that he learned a lot through the exhibition, adding he would make excellent inventions like the exhibitors.

During the exhibition, many schoolchildren met with the creators of the models and inventions to congratulate them and share experience.

Not only schoolchildren but also many university students and researchers visited the venue.

“These cannot just be regarded as fantasies of children,” said Rim Hak Su, a lecturer of Pyongyang University of Mechanical Engineering, with pleasure. “I had many inspirations looking round the exhibition. I think our future is really bright.”