North Korea, an isolated nation widely known for its hostile foreign policy, is located at the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and is known for its unique style of governance. The process of timekeeping in North Korea is quite unique, with their own calendar system that is largely based on traditional Korean customs, yet follows the Gregorian Calendar. It is known as the Juche calendar, with Juche being the official state ideology of North Korea.
The year numbers begin in 1912, the year of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the country’s founder and „eternal President”. Therefore, the current year in North Korea is 109, as of 2021.
However, the North Korean calendar is not used as extensively as the Gregorian calendar that is used in the rest of the world. For example, all official changes of government, government-run events and commemorations are calculated according to the Gregorian calendar. This is done to maintain the relationship with North Korea’s allies, especially China.
In North Korea, there is no leap year and no leap second, as was decided by the Korean Central Historical Academy in 1972. This academy also decrees when days begin and end; according to their research, the day starts at 12 am and ends at 1 pm. This is why North Korea has adopted a unique system of calculating the number of days in between government events or announcements.
Apart from the calendar system, North Korea has its own unique time zone. They call it Pyongyang Time, which is 8 hours ahead of UTC time. Although it is intended for use within the country, some websites and servers recognize Pyongyang Time as a valid time zone.
The Juche calendar is also used as a term of expression, particularly when talking about North Korean politics. When using the Juche calendar, the “era” of Kim Il-sung, i.e. the period of his rule, is referred to as „Juche”, while the „era” of his son and successor, Kim Jong-il, is referred to as „Songun”. This is used to describe the “one-man rule” that the Kim family is notorious for employing.
The Gregorian Calendar has been a mainstay in the Western world for centuries, so it is no surprise that this calendar system is used widely in North Korea. It is also used by the international community for reasons of practicality. The Juche calendar is only used for ceremonial or symbolic purposes, such as in birth and holiday dates. Thus, North Koreans are familiar with both calendars and use both for different occasions.
What Is the Juche Calendar Based On?
The Juche Calendar is based on the traditional Korean calendar system and it repurposes the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Originally, the Juche calendar was based on the founding of the Korean Workers Party in 1945. However, in 1997, North Korean officials decreed that the Juche calendar should be based on Kim Il-sung’s birth year, which is 1912.
The Juche calendar is divided into 12 months with 29 or 30 days each, which follows the traditional Korean system of telling time. A traditional Korean day contains 24 hours, instead of the usual 24 hours used in the West. Thus, every hour in the Juche calendar is divided into two parts with the first half lasting 47 minutes and the second half lasting 44 minutes.
In the Juche calendar, the names of the months are based on the order in which the Chinese Zodiacs appear. Moreover, the North Korean calendar follows the same system of leap years as well as the Chinese lunisolar calendar. Nonetheless, the North Koreans count years differently, where each new year starts in January 1 and the year number is calculated from the birth of Kim Il-sung.
How Is the Juche Calendar Marked in North Korea?
In North Korea, the birthday of the late president Kim Il-sung is marked as a national holiday and the entire country goes into a festive mood for three days. Furthermore, the national day starts at 12 noon in North Korea, which sets it apart from other countries who celebrate the New Year at midnight. On New Year’s Day, the entire country stops to listen to a speech from the Leader to get his New Year’s resolution, something that is similar to other countries.
Furthermore, the Juche Calendar is also printed on North Korean stamps and money, and is often used within the country when expressing dates. It is also used to calculate the ages of North Koreans, although the fundamental term is determined using the Gregorian Calendar.
What Are the Primary Uses of the Juche Calendar Outside of North Korea?
Apart from being popular within North Korea, the Juche Calendar is also gaining attention in the rest of the world. Some activists and North Korean supporters are promoting the calendar as a way of signaling support for North Korea’s regime. Furthermore, the Juche Calendar is also being advertised as a unique way of understanding the country’s culture, values and rituals.
The Juche Calendar is also being used in some publications, including books and articles about North Korea. As a result, people outside of North Korea are starting to gain an understanding of the calendar and its uses in the country. Additionally, there is also a general curiosity about the Juche Calendar among historians and academics who are seeking to learn more about North Korea’s unique culture.
Conclusion and Implications
The Juche Calendar is a unique form of timekeeping used in North Korea. It is based on the Gregorian Calendar, yet differs in important aspects of measurement, such as the length of a day and month and the year number. This calendar system is used to calculate government events, commemorative holidays and other notable days in the country. The calendar is also popular among North Korean supporters, activists and historians. Thus, the Juche Calendar serves as a useful tool in understanding the country through its terms of measurement.
