In late December last year, amid the great interest of the whole country, the Ninth Congress of the Korean Children’s Union was held in a grand style in Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. When one studies the course of development of the KCU, one can get a glimpse into the future of KCU members and of their country.
KCU with 70-Year History
On June 6, 1946, 77 years ago, a joint meeting of children’s organizations in Pyongyang for founding the Korean Children’s Union was held in the capital city of Pyongyang.
It was when nine months had passed since the Workers’ Party of Korea was founded on October 10, 1945 and when less than one year had passed since the country was liberated from the Japanese military occupation (1905-1945) on August 15, 1945.
Kim Il Sung (1912-1994), the eternal President of the country, attended the joint meeting, and said that success or failure of the country would be decided according to how much efforts the students and children put in, and earnestly asked them to become masters of the country who love their motherland and people only, run factories, manage schools and build culture.
Then, the history of the KCU began, and a radical change was brought about in the life of KCU members.
Regarding KCU work as an important undertaking that has a bearing on the future of the country and nation, Kim Il Sung always showed close concern about it. On important occasions on the road of the Republic’s development, he had the KCU congresses arranged, and lavished all kinds of affection and benevolence on its members. In June 1994, the last year of his life, he had the Fifth Congress of the KCU held in a grand way, sent a letter of congratulation to the participants in the congress, and had a photo session with them. 
Chairman Kim Jong Il (1942-2011), inheriting the ideas and cause of the President, took every possible measure for bringing KCU members up into masters of the socialist Korea, and had the Sixth Congress of the KCU held in Pyongyang on a grand scale in June 2006. 
Sure Guarantee for the Future of the Country
Today the KCU has greeted the heyday of its development thanks to the affection of Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, for the rising generations. 
Slowing down one step in the education of the younger generation means a ten-step, nay one-hundred-step, delay in the advance of the country; we must not consider economic value if it were for the benefit of coming generations; only when all the KCU members grow up stoutly into excellent sons and daughters of their socialist motherland, can the national power grow unquenchable and our future become brighter–this is a view on the rising generations cherished by   Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, and basis of his affection for the future.
His view on the younger generation opened a new chapter of history of affection for them in the past decade.
He made it a tradition to celebrate the founding anniversary of the KCU on a large scale every year, and participated in the KCU congresses and its joint national meetings, where he delivered speeches of congratulation, enjoyed artistic performances with the delegates and posed for photos with them. When the Ninth Congress of the KCU was held last year he sent a letter to the participants in the congress, had a photo session with them on the New Year’s Day and gave them gifts. One day he saw games of young football players at the Songdowon International Children’s Camp; another day he called on a family that had moved into a new flat and gave his blessing to the young boys of the family; and still another day when he visited a children’s union camp he sent for the schoolchildren, who had left for mountain hiking, and waited long for them before posing for a photo with them.   
His love for the younger generation is reflected in the numerous architectural structures that have sprung up in the country.
Under his meticulous guidance, the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace was renovated into a fantastic structure, and the Songdowon International Children’s Camp, which is located on the picturesque eastern coast, was rebuilt into a structure fully furnished with all necessary conditions. In different parts of the country baby homes, orphanages, and primary and secondary schools for orphans were built and schoolchildren’s palaces and camps were built or renovated. Factories which specialize in producing students’ bags, notebooks and other school supplies were built in different parts of the country.

Delegates arriving in Pyongyang from different parts of the country to participate in the Ninth Congress of the Korean Children’s Union
Enjoying Kim Jong Un’s warm affection, KCU members are growing up into dependable pillars and a reserve for the Korean revolution, who will shoulder the future of socialist Korea. Bright and promising is the future of the country which is advancing by dint of his affection for them.

The Ninth Congress of the KCU held in a grand fashion in Pyongyang in late December 2022
Visiting President Kim Il Sung’s birthplace in Mangyongdae
On receiving gifts