System of year-numbering used in North Korea
The
Juche
calendar
, named after the
Juche
ideology, is the system of year-numbering used in
North Korea
. It begins with the birth of
Kim Il Sung
, the founder of North Korea. His birth year, 1912 in the
Gregorian calendar
, is "
Juche
1" in the
Juche
calendar. The calendar was adopted in 1997, three years after the
death of Kim Il Sung
.
History
[
edit
]
The calendar borrows elements from two historical calendars used in
Korea
, the traditional system of
Korean era names
and the Gregorian calendar in which years are tied to the traditional birth of
Jesus
. In contrast to these two, the
Juche
calendar begins with the birth of the founder of the Democratic People's Republic,
Kim Il Sung
.
[1]
The decree on the
Juche
calendar was adopted on 8 July 1997, on the third anniversary of the death of Kim Il Sung. The same decree also designated the birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung as the
Day of the Sun
. The birth year of Kim Il Sung, 1912 in the Gregorian calendar, became "
Juche
1" in the
Juche
calendar.
[2]
[3]
The calendar began to be implemented on 9 September 1997, the
Day of the Foundation of the Republic
.
[2]
On that date, newspapers, news agencies, radio stations, public transport, and birth certificates began to use
Juche
years.
[4]
Usage
[
edit
]
The year 1912 is "
Juche
1" in the
Juche
calendar. There are no "before
Juche
" years; years before 1912 are given numbers based on the Gregorian calendar only. Ranges of years that begin before 1912 and end after it are also given in Christian calendar numbers only.
[5]
Any other years after 1912 will be given in either
Juche
years only, or in
Juche
years and the corresponding year in the Christian calendar in parentheses. In material pertaining to relations with foreign countries, "the
Juche
Era and the Christian Era may be used on the principles of independence, equality and reciprocity."
[5]
The
Juche
calendar is a popular
souvenir
among tourists visiting North Korea.
[6]
Examples
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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Systems
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In wide use
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In more
limited use
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Historical
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By specialty
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Reform proposals
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Displays and
applications
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Year naming
and numbering
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Fictional
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