Revolutionary Poet Ri Chan

Ri Chan is a famous poet who wrote many patriotic poems before liberation of the country. Hearing legend-like stories about President Kim Il Sung, he wished to meet the President only once.

His wish was well reflected in his lyric poems "At Snowing Night in Posong" and "At Night on the Border" which were written in the area along the River Amnok.

The destiny of poet Ri Chan was changed after President Kim Il Sung liberated the country.

In April １９４６, Ri Chan was honored to recite ode "A Song in Praise of General Kim Il Sung" before the President, in reflection of deep trust and respect for the peerlessly great man.

That day, Kim Chaek told Ri Chan that our people composed the revolutionary song "Star of Korea" in praise of the President as morning star illumining the rosy future of the motherland and people in the first period of the revolution started by him.

Kim Chaek earnestly said that our people should have the song of the sun to be sung in the liberated country and encouraged Ri Chan to sing "Our Sun" and "Sun of Mankind" as he represented in his poem.

Later Ri Chan received a notebook containing １００-odd revolutionary songs from anti-Japanese war heroine Kim Jong Suk.

Comrade Kim Jong Suk spoke to Ri Chan about various impressive stories she experienced during the anti-Japanese armed struggle led by the President and gave Ri Chan precious instructions related to the creation of the ode.

So, Ri Chan successfully wrote the immortal revolutionary song "Song of General Kim Il Sung".

After that Ri Chan wrote many poems encouraging our people and contributing to the development of literature of poetry.

Chairman Kim Jong Il put forward Ri Chan who wrote the revolutionary song "Song of General Kim Il Sung" and many other good works as a revolutionary poet and saw that he was awarded with the certificate of anti-Japanese patriotic martyr in praise of his patriotic activities before the liberation of the country.

Revolutionary poet Ri Chan is still remembered by the country and people along with the immortal revolutionary song "Song of General Kim Il Sung".

Rodong Sinmun