culture

Shortly ago, a playground for children appeared at neighbourhood unit No. 42 of Thapje-dong No. 1, Taedonggang District in Pyongyang.

It is furnished with horizontal bars, swings, a slide, flower stands going well with the resting place, lawn, etc., with a background wall painted with humorous pictures to suit the sentiment of children.

“This creation is greatly associated with the efforts of the head of our neighbourhood unit. She is really a hard worker with warm humanity, fiery passion and great power of tenacious execution,” members of the neighbourhood unit said unanimously, wearing a gratifying smile on their faces at the playground. 

Twenty-four years have passed since Choe Hyon Ok became head of the community.

At that time when she moved there, the residents were suffering inconvenience due to a deficient water-supply system.

She started her work as head of the neighbourhood unit with the solving of the water problem.

She visited relevant officials of the district and Pyongyang Municipality several times to get some help from them for completing the water-supply works in a short time.

“All of us were delighted to see water gushing out of taps, but what pleased us more was that we came to have a dependable head of the neighbourhood unit,” said Jo Hu Nam, an elderly resident of the community.

Choe paid special attention to making all families help one another and share affection. And she and the residents evenly paved the multi-forked paths in the yard, giving a facelift to their quarters.

She has taken care of the living of members of the neighbourhood unit with maternal affection.

She often shared special foods with needy families and even prepared for the wedding ceremony of an orphaned girl with parental care, providing her with a set of kitchen utensils.

One of her neighbours had been suffering from an incurable disease for more than 20 years.

“Although I had given up hope of my mother’s recovery, the head of the neighbourhood unit took meticulous care of her to remarkably improve her condition,” said Kim Ryon Hui.

Hyon Ok’s genuine sincerity made the neighbourhood unit brim with warm affection.

“They share special foods with each other and regard others’ delight as their own. When a resident is hospitalized, all the neighbours are concerned about his health and show their every sincerity. It is commonplace at the neighbourhood unit,” said head of the dong office Ri Yong Nam.

Members of the neighbourhood unit pooled efforts to build their village in a cultured and hygienic way, thereby taking the first place in Pyongyang in a relevant competition.

“When neighbourhood units are harmonious, our society will be more beautiful and national affairs will run smoothly. I only tried to fulfil my duty as head of a neighbourhood unit,” said Choe.