The (pronounced // in Korean, approximately "joo-cheh") is the official
Ideology of
North Korea , and informally the political system based on it. It is also known as '''Kimilsungism''' for its founder
Kim Il-sung .
The core of Juche is that the people, collectively, must be the subjects and masters of
Social Revolution ; in other words, the people must remake themselves. Juche is often translated (although not by North Korea itself) as "self-reliance".
Kim Il-sung's written works define the Juche Idea, and current leader
Kim Jong-il has final authority (within North Korea) over their interpretation.
According to Kim Jong-il, the application of Juche to policy produces the following principles:
- The people must have independence (''Chajusong'') in thought and Politics , economic Self-sufficiency , and self-reliance in defence.
- Policy must reflect the will and aspirations of the masses and employ them fully in revolution and construction.
- Methods of revolution and construction must be suitable to the situation of the country.
- The most important work of revolution and construction is molding people ideologically as communists and mobilizing them to constructive action.
The Juche outlook requires loyalty to the revolutionary party and revolutionary leader. In North Korea these are the
Korean Workers Party and Kim Jong-il.
The Juche-influenced
Chollima Movement of the
1960s (later known as ''Taean'') involved rapid development of the North Korean economy and growth to strengthen its independence from other nations.
The goal of revolution and construction under Juche is the establishment of
Socialism and
Communism . The North Korean government admits that Juche addresses questions previously considered in
Marxism , but claims that it is a completely new ideology created by Kim Il-sung and does not depend on Marxism. In
1977 Juche replaced
Marxism-Leninism in the country's constitution. Commentators outside North Korea often equate Juche with
Stalinism and call North Korea's government Stalinist, but the government does not admit any connection between Juche and the ideas of
Stalin . The government does however, support Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin as good previous leaders of socialism before Juche.
Human rights monitoring organizations and political analysts in several parts of the world continually report that the actual situation in North Korea bears no resemblance to Juche theory. The country's economy has depended heavily on imports and foreign aid before and after the collapse of the
Communist Trading Block . They also claim that the opinions of the people have no actual weight in decision-making, which is under Kim Jong-il's personal control. Leading Juche theorist
Hwang Jang-yop has joined these criticisms since
Defecting to
South Korea , although he maintains his belief in the Juche Idea as he understands it.
Theologian
Thomas J. Belke likens Juche to a
Religious Movement .
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During the
Cold War North Korea promoted Juche as a guide for other countries, particularly
Third World countries, to build socialism.
Romania n president
Nicolae Ceauşescu became especially interested in Juche after a visit to North Korea and sought to base his program of
Systematization on it. North Korea no longer promotes Juche in this manner and now teaches that Juche is only for Koreans. However, Juche study groups exist throughout the world. The
Korean Central News Agency regularly refers to statements by these groups commemorating the discovery of Juche, but does not mention them developing the idea further or putting it into practice.
The North Korean government and associated organisations use a variant of the
Gregorian Calendar with a based on
1912 A.D., the birthdate of Kim Il-sung, as year 1. There was no Juche year zero. The calendar was introduced in
1997 . Months are unchanged from those in the standard Gregorian calendar. In many instances the Juche year is given after the A.D. year, for example ''27 June 2005 Juche 94''. In Korean texts, the Juche year is usually put in front of the corresponding A.D. year instead, for example ''Juche 94 (2005)''.
Coincidentally, the year numbering is the same as that for the
"Minguo" year numbering used in the
Republic Of China (Taiwan).
- Kim Jong-il: On the Juche Idea
- Colin Mackerras: "The ''Juche'' idea and the thought of Kim Il Sung." In: Colin Mackerras, Nick Knight: ''Marxism in Asia'' (London, Croom Helm 1985; ISBN 0312518528), pp. 151-175.
