Controversy Over Marking Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-un's Birthdays in Red... Ministry of Unification Says "For Internal Use"

Ministry of Unification "Regrets One-Sided Criticism"

The 2022 calendar produced by the Ministry of Unification includes entries such as "Kim Jong-un's Birthday," "Kim Il-sung's Birthday," and "Founding Day of the Korean People's Army." / Photo by Tae Young-ho, Office of the People Power Party lawmaker

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The Ministry of Unification has sparked controversy by marking North Korean commemorative dates such as the birthdays of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-un on its 2022 desk calendar. The Ministry stated that "it has been produced for internal reference since the past."

At a regular briefing on the 31st, Deputy Spokesperson Cha Deok-cheol responded to related questions by saying, "The Ministry of Unification calendar has been produced not only under the current government but also in the past for Ministry employees as an internal reference containing major North Korean schedules related to inter-Korean relations," adding, "We regret that some have unilaterally criticized this without verifying the facts."

Looking at the desk calendar for next year produced by the Ministry of Unification, February 8 and February 16 are marked in red letters as 'Buk (North), Korean People's Army Founding Day (48)' and 'Buk, Kim Jong-il Birthday (42)' respectively. The numbers in parentheses refer to the year the People's Army was founded in 1948 and the year Kim Jong-il was born in 1942.

Additionally, Kim Il-sung's birthday on April 15 is marked in red, and September 9, 'Buk, Regime Establishment Day (48),' is also marked in the same color.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission's birthday on January 8 is written as 'Buk, Chairman Kim Jong-un Birthday (84)' but in black letters, unlike the birthdays of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.

Furthermore, February 10 is marked with 'Kaesong Industrial Complex Full Suspension Announcement (16)', 'Buk, Nuclear Weapons Possession Declaration (05)', February 12 'Buk 3rd Nuclear Test (13)', and February 19 'Inter-Korean Basic Agreement Effective (92)', 'Korean Peninsula Denuclearization Joint Declaration Effective (92)' in black letters.

Cha Deok-cheol, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification, is holding a regular briefing at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 25th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Hwang Gyu-hwan, spokesperson for the People Power Party Central Election Committee, criticized on the 30th, saying, "Is it not enough to unilaterally give to North Korea, now you want to even celebrate their commemorative days?" He urged for the recall of all calendars and an apology from Minister of Unification Lee In-young.

He added, "The Ministry of Unification has continued a one-sided courtship ignoring reality, forgetting its original purpose of dialogue and exchange. The absurd distribution of the calendar by the Ministry is proof that this administration has not come to its senses even after being treated like this for four years."

However, some argue that this controversy is a hasty action stemming from a misunderstanding of the Ministry of Unification's work nature. Due to the closed nature of the North Korean regime, it is difficult to track the movements of the supreme leader and high-ranking officials, and their appearances are mainly captured when Chairman Kim Jong-un makes public activities on commemorative occasions.

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Unification, this calendar was also produced during the conservative administrations of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.