Corporatism in North Korea

Corporatism in North Korea BRUCE CUMINGS THE LEADER AND THE BLESSED EVENT Jtvim Il Sung is now seventy-one, born on an inauspicious date, at least from the Western perspective: April 15, 1912, the day the Titanic sank. Now that Tito has died, Kim has the longest tenure of any head of state in the world. This fact is noted by the North Korean press with typical modesty: The proud heroic epic recorded in the annals of Juche Korea is the great history which can be created by none other dian the respected and beloved leader Comrade Kim Il Sung possessed of unexcelled extraordinary wisdom and outstanding art of leadership. His steadfast stand of Juche and revolutionary principle and unshakable iron will have been die source of the inexhaustible strengdi that adorned the history of the Korean revolution, most arduous and rigorous ever known, widi heroic events. He, with an insight into the fundamental principles of the revolution, the demands of the times and die desire of the people, founded die immortal Juche idea. . . . He dius provided our people widi the great guiding idea for revolution. Our people owe everytiiing to Kim Il Sung's rare wisdom and stratagem, exceptional organizational ability and extraordinary revolutionary sweep. . . . With the great leader possessed of unexampled clairvoyance standing at tiieir head, our people have always been able to fight.1 Delivered at the 1981 Annual Meeting of die American Political Science Association, New York Hilton Hotel, September 3-6, 1981. My thanks to Daniel Chirot and James Palais for their comments. 1. Nodong sinmun, Apr. 10, 1978; Korean Central News Agency, Apr. 13, 1978 (hereafter, KCNA). I have sought to check KCNA English-language articles 269 270Journal ofKorean Studies For the accolades that truly match this leader's sagacity, the Koreans prudently let foreigners do the talking: Immortal Kimilsungism is throwing brilliant rays all over the universe as the highest revolutionary idea representing die present era and the future of mankind . . . . As you die Great Leader, die Sun of Juche, are standing high in the centre of the era, tightly holding the control stick of history, the world revolution is daringly racing ahead on die track of Juche, despite the rowdyism of imperialism [the U.S.] and dominationism [the U. S.S.R.] .... You the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung are, indeed, die great tiiinker and dieoretician . . . the genius of creation and construction . . . with the art of contracting time, and die blessed Sun of all peoples.2 A typical issue of the Nodong sinmun, the newspaper of the Korean Worker's party, will feature on the front page a quote from "a certain Pak, peasant in South Korea," who was heard to say, "Kim Il Sung, the respected and beloved leader, is indeed our iron-willed, ever-victorious commander-in-chief." Nearby will be a statement from the head of the Institute for the Study of Juche in, say, Burundi: "Great Kimilsungism is shining rays across the world." A full-page editorial of about sixty paragraphs will have between thirty and forty of them beginning with the phrase, "Our respected and beloved great leader Kim Il Sung. . . ," using every possible honorific in the Korean language. Quotations from the Leader are usually in boldface. Monthly periodicals, whether dealing with politics, social sciences, or culture, will simply reproduce the precipitate of articles in Nodong sinmun for the month, in endlessly repetitious articles featuring quotes from Kim on every page. Prizes for arts and letters go almost exclusively to artists who extol Kim's merits. Two decades ago books could be written after an obligatory quote from Kim on the frontispiece, but now most books on contemporary politics, economics, or society quote him on page after page. The Dictionary of Politics begins with a long section on Kim's life, while ordinary language dictionaries illustrate the meaning of words as follows: "benevolent: chaaeroun. Lead a happy life under the benevolent care of the fatherly Leader."3 Gigantic statues of Kim greet visitors to Korea: some are sixty feet tall. Ceremonious tablets mark Kim's visits for "on-the-spot guidance": more than two hundred such with die Korean original in Nodong sinmun where possible; however...