Korean Children's Union

The Korean Children's Union (KCU) is the precursor to the Socialist Patriotic Youth League of North Korea contributing to North Korean youth movement and pioneer movement. It is for children aged six to fifteen and is a political organisation linked to the Workers' Party of Korea. Its uniformed branch is known as the Young Pioneer Corps (which also includes cadets from the Red Flag Mangyongdae Revolutionary School), which admits children and pre-teens ages nine to 15. The organization operates chapters in elementary and secondary schools nationwide. It teaches children about Juche, and other ideologies behind the North Korean system. Youth above the age of 15 may join the Socialist Patriotic Youth League.

Korean Children's Union 조선소년단 Chosŏn Sonyeondan
Emblem of Korean Children's Union, with the motto "Always ready!" (항상 준비!)
Flag of the Korean Children's Union
Founded	6 June 1946
Headquarters	Pyongyang, North Korea
Ideology	Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism Juche
Mother party	Workers' Party of Korea

Korean Children's Union
A member of the Korean Children's Union at Mangyongdae Children's Palace
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	조선소년단
Hancha	朝鮮少年團
Revised Romanization	Joson Sonyontan
McCune–Reischauer	Chosŏn Sonyŏndan

Prospective members are usually welcomed formally on an important public holiday such as the Day of the Sun, the Military Foundation Day, or the Day of the Foundation of the Republic. It is considered an important occasion in a child's life. On such days, kindergarten-grade children are officially admitted and red neckerchiefs and pins handed out. Third graders from primary schools are usually welcomed into the KCU on investiture ceremonies on these days.

See also

• Socialist Patriotic Youth League
• Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation
• Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization

Further reading

• Kim Jong-un (2017). Let KCU Members Become the True Sons and Daughters, Young Revolutionaries, of the Socialist Country (PDF). Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House.