Recorded in the history of
During his visit to the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery in Sinmi-ri on September 19 Juche 87 (1998), the Chairman looked round every gravestone on which the images of martyrs are engraved for a long time till it got dark and said that some people were not buried there, suddenly calling the name of Hyon Ho Bom.
He said that Hyon was a loyalist remembered by our Party who worked devotedly to the last moment of his life and was died of illness, and contributed in the 1970s when the foundations for carrying forward the Juche cause were being laid down including the work to find out historic materials associated with revolutionary activities in the days of
It had been over two decades since he died and he remained dim in the memory of lecturers who had worked with him for decades, but the Chairman did not forget him, kept him deep in his mind and put him on the hill of eternity. Then who is he?
Born in September Juche 14 (1925) in Songphyong District, Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, Hyon Ho Bom graduated from
He was settled in the mind of the Chairman since he had good luck of giving lectures on political economy to
Throughout his revolutionary activities in the university,
Whenever he met Hyon every morning, he would ask his health and thank for his lecture after lectures. Once he read the signs of sickness from his face in a lecture and sent him rare tonics he had prepared as he accompanied President
The affection and favour were not all he showed to his mentor.
He was one of a few lecturers who were honoured with having a photo taken with the Chairman after he received a diploma of graduation and honour student citation in the 17th graduation ceremony of
Later, though he was busy taking care of all state affairs, even they are negligible or serious, he did not forget him but frequently made phone calls to ask the health of him and other lecturers, and sometimes called him to the Party Central Committee to learn about his work and life and put him forward at every opportunity.
Once, there was commendation of awarding watches bearing the name of the President to officials for the first time in the country. At the time the Chairman ensured that Hyon's name was put at a prior place, saying he has so far worked faithfully for the Party and country and thus he should naturally be placed above others. As he checked the nominal list of delegates to be participated in an international workshop in other country, he noticed that the lecturer was not included in the delegation and made a phone call to relevant officials to stress the need to send him to the workshop. He saw it that he was sent there in the capacity of head of the delegation, saying he should get familiar with the external situation and broaden his outlook through contacts with a wide range of scholars in the world. After their return, he was very pleased to know their success, said that the Party highly appreciates the achievement they have made in the recent international workshop and wished them great success in their work. He called Hyon to the place of glory whenever the opportunity presented itself, including the celebration event of the 30th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, and gave high state commendations as well as gifts to be handed down through generations. As the Chairman always kept him in his heart, he assured his mentor whenever he made a retrievably serious mistake.
For the lecturer,
That is why he devoted his wisdom and effort to the implementation of the Party's policy of education as a Juche-oriented lecturer revolutionary to the last of his life.
When there were construction projects for the building of statue of the President, revolutionary museum and gift show room in the university and Paeksong-ri revolutionary site as well, he threw himself into them above anybody else and dedicated his all despite he was a scholar. In particular, he took an active part in the undertaking for the discovery and arrangement of information about the Chairman's revolutionary activities associated in the university, thereby making tangible contribution to consolidating the foundation of the Party. He proposed newly establishing subject "Comrade
He worked devotedly to repay the warm love of the Chairman with loyalty, but died of an incurable disease in June Juche 67 (1978).
The Chairman was so heartbroken after being reported about his death that he referred to the need to conduct a public funeral for the deceased, confer a high state commendation on him and certificates of socialist patriotic sacrifice on his family members, call back his eldest son from the army and send him university to become a lecturer like his father after graduation. Later, he recalled him on several occasions, telling officials that he was not only an outstanding lecturer and scholar in the academic and theoretical circles but also an official who contributed to consolidating the foundations for carrying forward the Juche cause in the 1970s. He made sure that the happy life of his family was widely introduced through media and bestowed favours of providing his wife with modern dwelling house and birthday party on her 70th birth anniversary.
In the eternal embrace of life of the Chairman who defended and cared for his whole life and guaranteed and added brilliance to his soul, Hyon Ho Bom became to lead the most worthwhile life on the hill of eternity like patriotic martyrs.
Under Chairman
