On the sea, west of Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province, is the Pansong Archipelago, a chain of islands consisting of Jang, Chaek, Won and Suun.
Suun was named thus, as its inhabitants carried drinking water from the land in the past. Interestingly, this remote island where only the sound of waves is heard has a school for children. It is a branch of the primary school attached to the Teacher Training College under Phyongbuk University.
Han Hye Yong is the only teacher on the island, and she has taught the children of the island’s lighthouse keepers for the past four decades.
In October Juche 63 (1974), the state took a measure to build schools on islands with lighthouses, as the people there missed their children, of whom were studying far off on the land. As a result, a branch school was set up on the island in September Juche 66 (1977).
Han, a female teacher at the principal school at the time, volunteered to teach at the new branch school. There, she devoted her all to teaching the students, imparting them with a deep set of knowledge, with the goal of training them to become future pillars of the country.
Teacher Han got married to a discharged soldier who, having heard of her sincerity and commitment to her students, came to settle on the island.
She often burnt the midnight oil making teaching aids and procuring stuffed specimens, storybooks and reference books as she frequented the land.
As children on islands lacked knowledge about natural things, Han built a plant plot and forest as teaching aids in spite of the unfavourable weather and other conditions on the island. She, together with her students, planted and grew trees including clammy locust, cryptomeria, oak, maple and linden in order to instil in them ardent love for their country.
In recognition of her long years of devotion to younger generations, the state awarded teacher Han with the Kim Il Sung Youth Honour Prize and called her to the Eighth Congress of the Korean Children’s Union, the 13th National Conference of Educational Workers, the Third National Meeting of Mothers, National Meeting of Heroes and other state-level meetings.
As part of her recognition, teacher Han was honoured to have a photo taken with Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. With the honour in mind, she is still devoting herself to teaching the island children.