culture

Choe Pyong Man, a war veteran living in Chonggye-dong No. 1 of Hwasong District, Pyongyang, has a “large family”.

Many people visit his house on not only national holidays but ordinary days to look after him and ensure he has a pleasant time every day.

The doctor in charge, neighbours, officials of the dong office and many others are now so familiar with his family as they have taken care of his health and provided every convenience for his daily life.

Among them is Pang Song Hui living in Sosong District who has been “adopted” as his “granddaughter” for 10 years.

Actually, Pang was not a relative of his family.

According to her, her enterprise had once arranged a meeting with war veteran Choe Pyong Man on the occasion of the war victory day. That day, he had told about fierce battles in a shower of bullets and bombs, his feelings when he had vowed revenge before the fallen comrades-in-arms, the days when he had made his way to his unit together with a wounded fellow soldier and the stirring period of postwar reconstruction when they had worked 24-7 to rebuild Pyongyang from the war debris. “The war veterans are really admirable. We cannot think of today apart from them. They did a great thing, but they talk about it so plainly and simply,” said Pang, recalling the day.

Their impression created a bond between the heroic generation in the great years and the rising generation and the passage of ten years made them a “real family”.

“Many people are so eager to take care of my family as I am a war veteran. Enjoying social respect among such good people, I feel great joy of life and pleasure as if I have become young again and highly encouraged,” said Choe.

But many of those who have bonded with the war veteran say that it is not the war veteran, but themselves who are greatly encouraged.

Whenever they faced difficulties, they came and had a talk with him to regain courage and strength, they said.