Juche calendar
1997–2024 North Korean year-numbering system
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The Juche calendar (Korean: 주체력) was the system of year-numbering used in North Korea between 1997 and 2024. Named after a key concept of North Korea's state ideology, it begins with the birth of founding father Kim Il Sung, whose 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. It has been reported that as of October 2024 the calendar is no longer in use, in favor of the Gregorian calendar.[1]
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18 Liùyuè, Bǐngwǔnián
(Dashu, 7 days until Liqiu)
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History
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.[2]
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.[3][4]
The calendar began to be implemented on 9 September 1997, the Day of the Foundation of the Republic.[3] On that date, newspapers, news agencies, radio stations, public transport, and birth certificates began to use Juche years.[5] The Gregorian calendar was used alongside the Juche calendar until 2022.[6]
Relinquishment
North Korea began phasing out the Juche calendar in October 2024, as Rodong Sinmun stopped using the Juche calendar in favor of the Gregorian calendar.[7][8] Official calendars for the year 2025, released on 1 January, replaced what would have been Juche 114 with 2025 instead. It is believed that the Juche calendar's abandonment is intended to de-emphasize the cult of personality around the founder of North Korea, Kim Il Sung, in order to strengthen that of Kim Jong Un.[9]
Usage
The year 1912 was "Juche 1" in the Juche calendar. There were no "before Juche" 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 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 [might] be used on the principles of independence, equality and reciprocity."[10]
During the system's period of use between 1997 and 2024, the Juche calendar was a popular souvenir among tourists visiting North Korea.[11]
Examples
| Juche year | Gregorian year | Dangun year | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1912 | 4245 | Kim Il Sung's birth |
| 8 | 1919 | 4252 | March First Movement against Japanese 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 the Juche calendar |
| 100 | 2011 | 4344 | Kim Jong Il's death |
| 113 | 2024 | 4357 | Abolition of the Juche calendar |
| 115 | 2026 | 4359 | Current year |
