Written by Han Tok Su and set to music by Ri Myon Sang, “Endless Is Our Pride” is very popular with Koreans resident in Japan.

The song created in the 1960s sings of the pride of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and its members who are striving for their democratic rights and the prosperity of their motherland, although they live in a foreign country.

After he won back the independence of Korea on August 15, 1945 by leading the 20-year-long anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung wisely led the work to form an organization for helping the Korean compatriots in Japan shape their destiny and develop their movement. The formation of the association, a new-type organization of overseas compatriots, on May 25, 1955 was a historic event that brought about a radical change in the life of Korean compatriots in Japan.

After the association was formed, its members waged a dynamic organized struggle to safeguard the democratic rights of Koreans in Japan while smashing the suppression and persecution by Japanese reactionaries, in the course of which they made great achievements.

In less than 10 years after the founding of the association, they built its subordinate organizations in all parts of Japan where the Korean compatriots lived, and set up primary, middle and high schools, let alone Korea University, as they worked united closely. They also launched patriotic undertakings cherishing great national dignity and pride as overseas citizens of the DPRK which was building socialism.

The song was created with this as the historical background. It was an eruption of the strong will of the Korean compatriots to staunchly defend their motherland and the spirit of Koreans against all odds.

It gripped the hearts of the compatriots as soon as it was released.

It was selected as the theme song for the mass gymnastics performance, “Ode to the Homeland” held in May 1965 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the formation of Chongryon and for the music and dance epic “Under the Sunshine of Motherland” staged in December 1966.

It was widely sung across the Korean community.

In 1990 a grand concert of Korean compatriots was held in Tokyo in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the formation of Chongryon, involving Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, a renowned conductor from the DPRK and a chorus of nearly 2 000 Korean compatriots. “Endless Is Our Pride” caused great sensation in the concert.

Now the Korean compatriots in Japan are working in high spirits for the prosperity of Chongryon, singing the song which epitomizes the proud history of the movement of Koreans in Japan.

Kim Tae Song