On The Juche Idea

by Kim Jong-Il

Man cannot, of course, live outside the world; he lives and conducts his activity in the world. Nature is the object of man's labour and also is the material source of his life. Society is a community where people live and conduct activities. Natural environments and social conditions have a great effect on human activity. Whether natural environments are good or bad and, in particular, whether the political and economic systems of a society are progressive or reactionary -- these factors may favourably affect human endeavour to remake nature and develop society or limit and restrict that activity.

Genres: Politics, Theory, Nonfiction, Philosophy

68 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2004

Reviews

[Seng Wee Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rated this book 5 stars because I believe all who are interested in the mysterious country should give this book a try. This book was recommended to me by my tour guide as she said that all North Koreans have digested this book thoroughly as part of the education system. I am sad that most nuances of the original publication might have been lost during the translation from Korean to English. The book is largely gibberish and it is hard for readers to focus on the points that the book is trying to express.

I was taught to write essays in the PEEL format, namely
Point,
Evidence,
Explain,
Link. Throughout the whole book, there are only 'P's and no 'EEL's. Hard to read. Nonetheless, the writing style is not the main point here, we should focus on the content.

You can feel the coherence between the content of the book and the actions of the current leader of DPRK where the state emphasizes A LOT on self-reliance. Juche in essence is the emphasis of socialism and self-reliance. To my surprise, the book actually mentioned a lot about self empowerment where the masses should stand up for themselves and encouraged the citizens to treat education seriously. Science and technology are being mentioned too, stating the importance of S&T to bring progress to the country. The North Koreans are also aware of the power of machineries to alleviate the current agricultural situation. (many paddy fields in NK, very common sight in the country)

If I may direct your attention to page 48 where the book says, Building an independent natural economy on the principle of self-reliance does not mean building an economy in isolation. An independent economy is opposed to foreign economic domination and subjugation; but it does not rule out international economic cooperation. Close economic and technical cooperation between socialist countries and newly emerging nations, in particular, plays an important part in ensuring economic self-sufficiencies in these countries and in increasing their economic power.

In case you think that North Korea will collapse just because China is no longer an ally, you are probably wrong. There are still few countries maintaining mysterious ties with North Korea.

My review can go on and on but it is better for you to read it yourself. :) Enjoy!

I wrote a commentary on this book in my blog post here.

[Orion Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

While looking through the reviews of this book I became discouraged to read Kim's all-inclusive summary of his predecessor's work with the Juche idea, but soon into reading it I could tell that most previous reader simply did not understand the fundamentals of what Kim was writing. The top review for example equates quotes from Marx and Kim that are about two clearly different times of history and the dialectical process, the former being of man's state in capitalism, and the latter regarding man's inherent state that will demonstrate itself in full communism. These two quotes compared were contradictory, as capitalism and full communism are, so in reality the author of that review was only showing a true continuity between Marxism and the expansion of it through Korean Juche.
While reading this, Kim stood out to me as a master in this subject (and of nature, for he as well is a human, ha!). He shed light on the liberal misunderstandings that today commonly follow the DPRK in the media, such as its "isolationist" policy. Kim explains how self sufficiency is necessary in the international struggle against capitalism, and the human is an independent, creative, and conscious being, expounding on the DPRK's staunch collective individualism.

[Σταμάτης Καρασαββίδης · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely amazing work by Kim Jong Il. One of the most important and basic works to really start to understand the Juche idea and its originality (although not the only one). Appart from the elucidation of the concepts of Independence(chachusong), Creativity and Consciousness, a really good thing that was made clear in it was the importance on preserving a national culture under socialism that filters the regressive parts of it that prevent independence and critically "importing" progressive elements of foreign culture that can help the people, all this while reminding the leader not to resort to conservativism and the need to "return to the past". Another good part was the analysis of Juche on international relations. Every country should be and should strive to be self sufficient and not completely rely on foreign aid but simultaneously accepting foreign aid from other socialist and newly developed post colonial nations. This solved the question between the Marxist-Leninist ("stalinist") socialism in one country and the trotskyite "international revolution". The Juche stance is that while ofcourse the revolution cannot be exported, as different material conditions exist in different countries, foreign aid, especially to nations fighting against imperialism and colonialism should be absolutely provided thus creating a truly independent co operation between nations. An absolutely great work overall with the only negative although it didnt affect the overall reading was how repetitive it was at some points. But i dont think i can blame Kim Jong Il for that since there are alot of things that still people get wrong about the Juche idea which need to be repeted if needed.

5/5

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Juche idea is a new philosophical thought which centres on man. As the leader said, the Juche idea is based on the philosophical principle that man is the master of everything
and decides everything. [...] That man is the master of everything means that he is the master of the world and of his own destiny; that man decides everything means that he plays the decisive role in transforming the world and in shaping his destiny." - Kim Jong-il

"Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past." - Marx

"Never forget the class struggle." - Mao

[Jamie Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting application of Marxist theory to the specific conditions of Korea. It is a reflection of Korean culture in that it is a people-centric ideology; it elevates "the masses" to the highest level of historical development, rather than the classical materialist conception that "economic conditions" are the driving force of history. A thought-provoking read indeed. It's no wonder the US military occupation government of the south has banned this book. It lays out a hopeful picture for the peninsula, one without imperialist domination.

[Static · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marxismo orwelliano

[Jack · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Juche idea has become an accepted contemporary thought."

Has it, Kim? Has it really?

[Marcos92 · Rating 3 out of 5]

No sé cómo puntuar este libro. Realmente tiene cosas interesantes. No es más que un remozamiento de la vieja teoría marxista en su modalidad leninista, pero a la que se ha procedido a dar un acabado distinto para justificar un alejamiento de la órbita de Moscú. La idea Juche se basa en la independencia: independencia sociopolítica de las masas (lo que culmina con la revolución comunista), independencia de las servidumbres de la naturaleza (a través del desarrollo ininterrumpido de las fuerzas productivas que sólo durante el comunismo se pueden poner al servicio de la colectividad) e independencia del hombre de las teorías que lo mantienen aherrojado. Nada que contravenga el credo marxista, pero sí un esfuerzo por sacudirse el yugo soviético. Otra clave: el espíritu creador. El ser humano crea, transformando la naturaleza, o los regímenes sociales. El espíritu creativo debe prevalecer, rechazando el dogmatismo y la aplicación mecánica de recetas foráneas. De nuevo, la teoría presta auxilio a una práctica política que tiene como fin desarrollar una política exterior libre de intromisiones sin por ello renunciar al marxismo. No sorprende por ello la relación amistosa que entabló Kim Il Sung con Santiago Carrillo. Ambos quisieron desprenderse de la influencia del gigante soviético, un gigante, como se vio a posteriori, con pies de barro. Ambos desarrollaron una teoría consecuente con ese objetivo, si bien desde coordenadas distintas. Se podría decir sin demasiado escándalo que el eurocomunismo fue el Juche occidental. Si bien el Juche, por muy exótico que nos parezca, ha demostrado una mayor capacidad de adaptación y ha logrado la supervivencia en un mundo hostil.

[Verba Non Res · Rating 1 out of 5]

De estos ensayos escritos por el hijo fundador de Corea del Norte, leí únicamente “Sobre la idea Zuche” (más comúnmente transliterada como Juche). Esperaba encontrar en este texto al menos un primer acercamiento a esta tan peculiar rama del marxismo-leninismo. Y en cierta forma lo encontré, pero no en el orden teórico. Lo que entendí, después de leer este ensayo, es que no hay ninguna idea verdaderamente novedosa detrás del régimen norcoreano, y que sus particularidades habrá que buscarlas más bien en sus raíces históricas y especialmente en su práctica implacable del poder. “Sobre la idea Zuche” es un texto lleno de palabrerío, y escrito muy evidentemente para la gilada. Habla mucho de la dichosa idea, con grandes adjetivos y tintes místicos, pero en ningún momento se ocupa por definirla. Veamos un ejemplo:

“La idea Zuche ejerce poderosa influencia sobre la vida ideológico-espiritual de la humanidad y el proceso de transformación revolucionaria del mundo. Goza de gran simpatía entre los pueblos del orbe y da un fuerte impulso al movimiento histórico de nuestra época”

Como la Tercera Teoría de Gaddafi, y con la misma escasez de fundamentos, la idea Zuche se arroga también el mérito de haber resuelto todos los problemas de la humanidad:

“Puesto que ya se había dado una solución materialista al problema del origen del mundo, la idea Zuche planteó originalmente como una cuestión fundamental de la filosofía la posición y el papel que el hombre ocupa en el mundo y dio respuesta al problema de quién es el dueño del mundo.”

El texto debe ser leído y reverenciado y memorizado en Corea del Norte, solo por el hecho de haber sido escrito por el Amo Indiscutible del Universo. Fuera de ese país, su valor teórico es nulo, y a lo sumo podría tener algún valor documental (de todas maneras lo dudo) dada la extraordinaria suerte del régimen de los Kim. En The Cleanest Race, Brian Reynolds Myers sostiene que este tipo de textos son, efectivamente, para la gilada foránea, mientras que la auténtica cosmovisión de los norcoreanos tiene muy poco que ver con la famosa idea Zuche.

[Guilherme Phelipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

based. na verdade isso explica muito a relação dos norte coreanos com o temido "personalismo" e "culto a personalidade". eles entendem o ser humano como um ser que tem a benção da consciência e que com ela pode mudar o seu contexto afim de servir a seus próprios interesses. você como ser humano deve ter a liberdade de se desenvolver e de viver o melhor possível, sempre destacando a individualidade e importância dos seus atos em relação aos outros. Kim Il Sung foi o nosso lider, ele nos levou a ascensão como nação, ele nos libertou do imperialismo com sua base ideológica firme e, mais importante que tudo, com foco no nosso bem estar, hoje nós podemos entender que, sem ele, estaríamos fadados ao fracasso na luta anti imperialista por não termos garantido a hegemonia ideológica comunista e coletivista.

[eléanor ☆彡 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with a lot of this! Especially the socialist and anti-imperialist bits. However,

[Nativeabuse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really weird, didn't learn much at all from it other than what I got from reading the wiki page on Juche before hand, it basically just rambles on for 75 pages and reads as though it was a rough draft with no editing. It confused the hell out of me.

It was overall a very interesting read, and I am really looking forward to Kim's books on film making, and some 11 volumes of works by Kim Il Sung I found at my library.

[Avesta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kim Jong Il provides a very idealistic framework for Juche - and as such, much of his ideals are not prevalent in practice i.e. not present in North Korean society.

Anyhow. No explicit mention to the need for isolation (in fact, he opposes the need for it!); the supposed need for the atrocities the 'Juche' regime forces upon its citizens, who blindly follow it thanks to the brutal indoctrination which casts a god-like cult of personality upon the Kim dynasty.

What a pipe dream...

[Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book for curious people to understand the Juche Idea.

[Paul Wildermann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Close Yet Far

Juche, the guiding communist ideology of the DPRK is an interesting one. Its stance on many things may seem contradictory or strange at first, however, overall many things that are proclaimed are that which is similar to other forms of Marxism-Leninism. Two major issues, however, that Juche presents and uploads is a human dominance over nature and a sense of isolationist rhetoric that holds the workers of the world at a standstill.

It may be a modern perspective, however, the anti-nature sentiments throughout the work seem frightening. Man being above all nature isn't necessarily a problematic idea, however, when one continues to the conclusion that man should transform nature to its will and ignore the world itself, that is when it becomes problematic. Of course, the Soviets and other communist movements have not put a clear focus on the world and its inherent health, Juche takes a strong stance on nature's un-importance.

Isolationism is a strong aspect of Juche. Of course, they claim that it is not purely isolationism, however, the ideals are fiercely similar. Self reliance is key, which is, once again, not inherently a problematic stance. However, when developed to the point of actively participating in immense isolationism, that is when issues arise. This ideal, alongside the man-centered environmentalism stances creates an uncomfortable system that both uplifts the working class, and ignores some key issues of social interaction and environmental strides.

[Shulamith Farhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

North Korea calls itself a communist country. NK is neither Marxist nor Leninist. Instead, it bases itself on a patriotic nationalistic ideology called Juche (pronounced jew-che) which translates the German word subjekt. It basically consists of one idea, namely that isolation is necessary in a world driven by mastery relations. It's reasonable to insist on autonomy, but Juche fetishizes it, making separation and decoupling a positive state to be encouraged rather than an unfortunate limitation to be overcome. Unsurprisingly, NK's official ideology cultishly devotes itself to worshipping the dear leader with a capital D. Juche prioritizes political agitation with the masses over any form of thought that requires formulas.

It's not all awful though. NK's simplified 2D caricature of Marxism makes the important point that doubling and imitation are not especially substantive or meaningful. I also agree that "waiting with folded arms is tantamount to not making revolution." Workers of the world, unfold your arms!

[Shiva Sankalpa · Rating 3 out of 5]

“अन द जुछे आइडिया” उत्तरकोरियाली नेता किम जोङ इलको नाममा प्रकाशित उत्तर कोरियाको“जुछे” भनिने राजनैतिक विचारधाराका सिद्धान्तहरूको सँगालो हो । सन् १९८२मा उत्तर कोरियाका तत्कालीन नेता तथा किम जोङ इलका पिता किम इल सङको ७० औँ जन्मदिनका अवसरमा प्रकाशित यस संग्रहमा जुछे विचारधाराका आधारभूत सिद्धान्तहरूकोे व्याख्या गरिएको छ । मार्क्सवादी भौतिकवादबाट अघि बढ्दै जुछे विचारधाराले नयाँ ढङ्गको दर्शन प्रस्तुत गरेको छ । मानवलाई केन्द्रमा राखेको यस सिद्धान्तले मानवलाई स्वतन्त्र, सिर्जनशील र चेतन सत्ताको रूपमा व्याख्या गरेको छ । यसै गरी यस सिद्धान्त अनुसार श्रमिक जनताको शोषक वर्गसित नभै मानवको प्रकृति र समाजसितको संघर्ष र तिनको रूपान्तरणको प्रयासलाई केन्द्रमा राखिएको छ । आर्थिक आत्मनिर्भरता र हरेक कुरामा सिर्जनशील चेत यस सिद्धान्तका अन्य पक्ष मानिएका छन् । देशप्रेम, राजनीतिमा सैनिकको प्रधानता आदि अन्य सिद्धान्तहरू जुछे विचारधाराका थप पाटा हुन् ।
Review in Nepali

[Franklin Beale · Rating 1 out of 5]

80 pages of repetition. The author, with circular reasoning, advertises the Juche philosophy while failing to distinguish it from the basic tenets of Marxism. The content of the work can be summarised in several sentences: The Juche philosophy is the guiding philosophy of the North Korean approach to self-proclaimed Communism. It decries the distractions of metaphysics, utopianism and flankeyism, while emphasising the materialist notion that man is the master of his destiny.

One can derive most of the content of the book from the Juche philosophy Wikipedia page.

[George Bidwell]

Very important analysis of how situational events transform theory from the abstract to the practical and also obviously an incredible guide to an idea which, whilst not easily transferred or universally applicable, was vital to Korean revolution and independence.

[Monkey D Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

left idea always make a good theories and guide to what they need to do but the problem is always in implementation. if north korea really do what they write in this book i think north korea have a chance to be great nation like china

[Bailey Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, the political framework for Korea laid out makes sense, especially concerning the history of Korea. However, where I disagree is on the philosophy of man as I couldn't agree that man is an independent creature above all other animals.

[Anton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas but kinda poorly written tbh

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually by… dang, I forgot the name. The important thing is that Juche seems deeply confused about what it wants, but is generally on the right track.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 3 out of 5]

But isn’t the whole point of communism that the whole concept of ideology/ worldview/ weltanschauung is an insufficient way of explaining the world?

[Low-Ruh Lemon]

This book makes no fucking sense and the translator used the word elucidate like 6 times per page. 10/10 best book by best leader.

[Genesis Phelan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very informative on the Juche ideology. Of course, I disagree with the statist and centralisation that is espoused in the book but the general stuff of educating the masses, etc. I agree with.

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kim Il Sung gets first prize in the undereducated megalomaniac dictator award (pipping Tito at the last hurdle). This is a fine example of his witterings.

[Brain Temple · Rating 2 out of 5]

it is the Correct Way b/c it is correct; therefore, 1 must follow the Correct Way of juche b/c it is correct tO follow the Correct Way.

[Izak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful analysis of the Juche Idea written by Dear Leader Comrade Kim Jong-il. It provides an insightful and in-depth analysis of the tenets of Juche thought which guide the glorious revolution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Through this book, I have been able to increase my knowledge in this philosophy and I have grown to love it more and more.