The respected Comrade
"Even though he was held in high respect and admiration by our people and progressive people around the world, Comrade
Among many anecdotes which show the popular traits of the President, who led an ever frugal life among people, not allowing any privilege for himself, there is one anecdote called "noodle price" story.
On October 3rd, 1945, the President climbed up Moran Hill with anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters and dropped in at then Somun Noodle Restaurant on his way back at lunchtime.
He exchanged greeting with the owner of the Noodle Restaurant, saying that he came here upon hearing that this noodle restaurant served very good noodles. He then told his companions about the history of the famous Pyongyang cold noodle and personally handed over the trays to them.
At the end of the meal, the President encouraged the owner of the Noodle Restaurant to contribute to the building of a new country which had just been liberated, and personally paid for noodles.
Even though the President liberated the country fighting his way across tens of thousands of ri in the bloody war against the Japanese imperialists he paid even the single tray of noodle which people had served him.
There is another anecdote.
It was on February 12th, 1946.
The President stopped his car in front of an ordinary noddle restaurant on his way from Pyongyang to Sinuiju. He then stepped into the court, calling for the owner.
The owner of the restaurant led him into the room, thinking that he was an ordinary guest who dropped in for a meal.
The President went into the plain room with a wide and bright smile and kindly asked the owner how he had set up a noodle restaurant there.
Being fascinated by the unassuming character of the President the owner of the restaurant told him that he had set up the noodle restaurant to earn some money and improve his poor living conditions, but nothing had been changed that much.
He also talked to several farmers who were having noodles in the room about farming. Then, the President told them that since the country had been liberated, they had to strive to change the unfair world and do farming well so that they could live a wealthy life.
It was the first time that the farmers had such an impressive talk in their lives. They were all moved by the President's teachings, not realizing the flow of time.
Then somebody in the kitchen said the noodles were ready. The farmers, assuming he was a very important official, tried to leave the restaurant, not to spoil his meal.
However, the President stopped them, sat at the table together with them and personally put chopsticks in their hands. He said that he really enjoyed talking to them and let them continue talking while having noodles.
After the meal, he spoke highly of the taste of the noodle and told his companions to pay for the noodles. The owner said that he had no idea who he was, but couldn't take the money.
Upon hearing the owner's sincere plea, the President warmly grasped his hands and said that the noodles had to be paid. He also said that when the farmers of that village became rich, he would come there again to have free noodles.
After promising the owner to visit the noodle restaurant again, he walked slowly to the car.
After the car had left, the owner of the restaurant heard from officials that the man who had just visited his restaurant was the President. He regretted for taking the money from the President who had liberated the country and were carrying out the agrarian reform.
All these anecdotes show the popular trait of the President who always led a simple and frugal life with his people, rejecting any special favour or privilege for himself.
