"Mae(hawk) Rock" of Mt Chilbo renamed by Chairman Kim Jong Il

Mt Chilbo, a celebrated mountain of Korea, boasting of its long history and brilliant culture with unique natural phenomena and rare natural resources, has a legendary tale showing the ardent love of Chairman Kim Jong Il for the people, his outstanding power of observation on the things and his brilliant wisdom.

Chairman Kim Jong Il said:

"Mt Chilbo presents characteristic scenery of mysteriously-shaped peaks, rocks and cliffs; it is one of the scenic spots in our country."

Chairman Kim Jong Il visited Mt Chilbo in early November, 1996 with the noble intention and will to turn it into a world-famous mountain and a cultural recreation ground for the people.

Guided by the cicerone, Chairman Kim Jong Il looked round various scenic spots and stopped for a while before a mysteriously-looking rock called "Hakmudae (Crane Stage) Rock".

Listening to the cicerone's explanation that the rock got its name as it resembled the crane ready to fly with fluttering feathers, Chairman Kim Jong Il looked at the rock carefully for a while and said, shaking his head gently, that it did not look like a crane, but a hawk, and that the head of the rock really resembled a hawk.

The officials examined the shape of the rock again and couldn't help being amazed and admiring.

As the officials agreed with the cicerone's explanation, they looked at the rock again and again thinking that it would look differently depending on the explanation about it, but it obviously looked like a hawk.

Looking at the rock again, Chairman Kim Jong Il personally named it "Mae(hawk) Rock" instead of its original name "Hakmudae Rock".

Photo. "Mae(hawk) Rock" of Mt Chilbo

Mae Rock!

Indeed, it was a proper name for the shape of the rock.

It was not until the day that Hakmudae Rock of Mt Chilbo had a proper name for its shape and the natural environment of Mt Chilbo was harmonized with Mae Rock to create a wonderful view.

Today Mt Chilbo, a celebrated mountain of Korea, is known to the world as a scenic spot favoured by all the people, conveying the legendary tale.