Cotton Socks Bought on the Road of Field Guidance

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said:

"Even though the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung was held in high respect and admiration by our people and progressive people around the world, he rejected any special favour or privilege for himself, and always led a simple and frugal life with his people."

Among the stories of how he lived a simple life like ordinary people is the story of a pair of cotton socks he bought during his field guidance.

The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung, who had always harbored a deep concern on improving the living standards of the people in Kangwon Province, visited Wonsan Department Store on March 13, Juche 47 (1958).

Looking round various sections of the department store, he gave detailed instructions and continued to the textile, clothes and underwear sections of the second floor and made his way to the department of socks.

Various socks, long and short, for men, women and children ranging from a variety of colors and patterns were neatly arranged and displayed at the socks section. Looking at them with satisfaction, he pointed to a bunch of socks and asked for a pair to the saleswoman.

The socks he asked for were locally produced socks in Wonsan which had poor, loose texture and a frequently drooping mouth.

It was the postwar period and life went on in the country under difficult situations at that time so people weren't concerned on the quality of the socks and just wore any pairs of socks like these ones.

However, here was the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung humbly asking for them even though there were beautifully colored imported socks and good-quality socks with patterns made in Pyongyang on display.

No one thought that he would ask for a pair of socks, especially that of poor quality.

The saleswoman could do nothing but look up to him after thinking of how she could dare to give such locally-produced socks to the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung, a benevolent father who was always on the tireless road of field guidance to factories and farms to improve the people's standard of living.

The great leader, as if he was aware of the saleswoman's feeling, said that he wanted to try them on, asking her why he shouldn't buy the same socks ordinary people wear, and asked for the receipt in a warm tone.

Unable to reject his warm request, the saleswoman wrapped it up neatly on a white sheet of paper and presented it to him with the receipt.

The saleswoman and officials looked up to the leader and were deeply moved when he said those socks might not be high-quality or luxurious but it was what the people wore and so would he, accepting the wrapped product from the saleswoman with satisfaction.

They didn't know, however, that the great leader would mend them every time they became worn out and put them on again.

These bluish grey cotton socks bought by the great leader on the road of field guidance reflect his friendly character that can only be possessed by a true leader of the people and show his benevolent and noble desire for all officials to live and work as true servants of the people.