North Korea's Juche, Songun, and Confucian Political Control

Introduction: The Hermit Kingdom

The first words used in the National Geographic Explorer episode on North Korea, before any other introduction, are "mysterious" and "terrifying." The state of North Korea is known as the Hermit Kingdom because it has been literally cut off from the rest of the world for decades. The narrator calls it the "most isolated country on earth." Cellular phones are banned, and there is no way of knowing what is going on over the border. North Korea is "terrifying" because fear is at the basis of the regime's method of social and political control.

There are many reasons why North Korea has imposed a strict form of self-isolation. The root cause, as explained in the documentary, is that the Korean peninsula had been invaded one too many times. After the Japanese occupation, the Americans came to impose their will, and finally the communist North decided that the only way to prevent future invasions was to create a tightly controlled dictatorship. A series of political philosophies were then developed to enforce social conformity with the ideals of the North Korean state.

During the rule of Kim Il-sung, the concept of juche was developed and perfected. Juche refers to extreme self-reliance: the country will accept no outside help under any circumstances, especially during times of crisis. It has become a matter of great national pride, even though the results of juche have been disastrous. Another aspect of North Korean political culture is a reinterpretation of the ancient doctrine of Confucianism, which holds that harmony results from social conformity and obedience to rules. Finally, the importance of songun — militaristic politics — shapes the country's governance. The combination of juche, Confucianism, and songun explains how and why North Korea is the way it is today.

Dynastic Rule and the Cult of Leadership

When the film was produced, Kim Jong-il was the supreme leader. He had taken over from his father in what the film describes as the "first communist dynastic handover" in the world. In other words, communism typically does not produce family lines of dictators — the party chooses the next leader based on political motives. In the case of North Korea, Kim Jong-un is now the leader because he was the son of Kim Jong-il and the grandson of Kim Il-sung.

The leaders are worshipped like gods, as is evident in the film by the way people wave their hands and bow down with tears streaming down their cheeks. Even after a Nepalese doctor performs eye surgery and restores patients' sight, the people do not thank the doctor — they thank the "dear leader," shouting praise before portraits of Kim Jong-il and his father. The effect resembles a religious revivalist meeting, reflecting how deeply the population has been conditioned to accept the system.

Juche: The Politics of Self-Reliance

Juche, the "politics of self-reliance," was first proposed and developed into its current form by Kim Il-sung. The film substantiates French's claim that "juche permeates every aspect of North Korean life and is officially the ruling creed of the country, forming its national mythology" (30). As seen in the documentary, the people believe strongly that their leader has provided them with the best possible life. Americans are scapegoated and portrayed as the ultimate enemies of the North Korean state.

Because of the philosophy of juche, North Koreans are taught that everything they have is due to the benevolence of the great leader. It is a source of national pride and identity, even when children are dying of starvation. The negative consequences of juche are never openly acknowledged within North Korea. The film shows footage of starving children, yet none of the people interviewed are willing to admit that the supreme leader could be responsible for anything wrong. When the narrator asks one subject whether the leader can do wrong, he replies simply, "I don't understand the question."