| Juche calendar | |
.jpg) AJuche wall calendar forJuche 99 (2010) | |
| Juche calendar | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 주체력 |
| Hanja | 主體曆 |
| RR | Jucheryeok |
| MR | Chuch'eryŏk |
| Juche Era | |
| Hangul | 주체년호 |
| Hanja | 主體年號 |
| RR | Juche nyeonho |
| MR | Chuch'e nyŏnho |
TheJuche calendar (Korean: 주체력) was the system of year-numbering used inNorth Korea between 1997 and 2024. Named after akey concept of North Korea's state ideology, it begins with the birth of founding fatherKim Il Sung, whose birth year, 1912 in theGregorian calendar, isJuche 1 in theJuche calendar. The calendar was adopted in 1997, three years after thedeath of Kim Il Sung. It has been reported that as of October 2024 the calendar is no longer in use, in favour of the Gregorian calendar.[1]
The calendar borrows elements from two historical calendars used inKorea, the traditional system ofKorean era names and the Gregorian calendar in which years are tied to the traditional birth ofJesus. In contrast to these two, theJuche calendar begins with the birth of the founder of the Democratic People's Republic,Kim Il Sung.[2]
The decree on theJuche 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 theDay of the Sun. The birth year of Kim Il Sung, 1912 in the Gregorian calendar, became "Juche 1" in theJuche calendar.[3][4]
The calendar began to be implemented on 9 September 1997, theDay of the Foundation of the Republic.[3] On that date, newspapers, news agencies, radio stations, public transport, and birth certificates began to useJuche years.[5] The Gregorian calendar was used alongside theJuche calendar until 2022.[6]
In October 2024, North Korea started to stop using theJuche calendar. On 13 October 2024,Rodong Sinmun stopped using the calendar in favour of solely using the Gregorian calendar.[7][8] The new official calendars for the year 2025, released on 1 January, were the first in decades to not show theJuche year, replacing what would have beenJuche 114 with 2025 instead. It is believed that the abandonment of theJuche calendar is intended to de-emphasize the cult of personality around the founder of North Korea, Kim Il Sung, in order to strengthen that ofKim Jong Un.[9]
The year 1912 was "Juche 1" in theJuche calendar. There were no "beforeJuche" years; years before 1912 were given numbers based on the Gregorian calendar only. Ranges of years that began before 1912 and end after it were also given in Christian calendar numbers only.[10]
Any other years after 1912 would be given in eitherJuche years only, or inJuche years and the corresponding year in the Christian calendar in parentheses. In material pertaining to relations with foreign countries, "theJuche Era and the Christian Era [might] be used on the principles of independence, equality and reciprocity."[10]
During the system's period of use between 1997 and 2024, theJuche calendar was a popularsouvenir amongtourists visiting North Korea.[11]
| Juche year | Gregorian year | Dangun year | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1912 | 4245 | Kim Il Sung's birth |
| 8 | 1919 | 4252 | March First Movement againstJapanese rule |
| 30 | 1941 | 4274 | Kim Jong Il's birth (Soviet records) |
| 31 | 1942 | 4275 | Kim Jong Il's birth (North Korean records) |
| 34 | 1945 | 4278 | Liberation of Korea from Japanese rule |
| 37 | 1948 | 4281 | Establishment of North Korea |
| 39–42 | 1950–1953 | 4283–4286 | Korean War |
| 71 | 1982 | 4315 | Kim Jong Un's birth (North Korean records) |
| 72 | 1983 | 4316 | Kim Jong Un's birth (South Korean and U.S. records) |
| 83 | 1994 | 4327 | Kim Il Sung's death |
| 83–87 | 1994–1998 | 4327–4331 | North Korean famine (Arduous March) |
| 86 | 1997 | 4330 | Introduction of theJuche calendar |
| 100 | 2011 | 4344 | Kim Jong Il's death |
| 113 | 2024 | 4357 | Abolition of theJuche calendar |
| 114 | 2025 | 4358 | Current year |
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