A host of exploratory marches of various names take place throughout the year in North Korea. They are a sort of learning through experience in which participants tour "scenes of battles of the revolution" or "historical sites of the revolution," enshrined at a number of places, for the purpose of renewing their allegiance to the late North Korean founder and president Kim Il Sung and his son and current paramount leader Kim Jong Il, as well as nurturing strong willpower and physical strength.

The events vary widely depending on which organizations sponsor them, who participates in them, when they take place and what routes are taken. Famous among those taken part by the young and students are the "Cholli (1,000 ri or 400km) Learning Route" and the "Cholli Independence Route."

The "Cholli Learning Route" originates from Kim Il Sung's alleged march on foot in March 1923 at the age of 12 from Badaogou, Jilin province, China, formally Manchuria, where he was then living, to his home Mangyongdae in Pyongyang. He is said to have trekked the course under his father's instruction, "You must know your fatherland." The "Cholli Independence Route" refers to the same course the late North Korean founder is alleged to have trekked on the way back to his home in Manchuria two years later.

The exploratory marches take place every year in the North since Pyongyang, under the instruction of National Defense Commission chairman Kim Jong Il, designated the "Cholli Learning Route" as an exploratory march course in March 1974, and the "Cholli Independence Route" two years later. Participated in by over 10,000 students, the march is held as a nationwide event, covered by the media everyday.

Eligible to take part in the event are two students from each senior high school in the country. Representing their schools are usually Boy Scouts or youth league leaders from among seniors and juniors. In terms of the number of students in the North, participants have to win a ticket at a rate of one out of 1,000. Hence the ticket to the "Cholli Independence Route" constitutes a "lifetime honor" not only for participants themselves but their families as well.

Before they leave for Pyongyang, where the journey starts, chosen students attend colorful sendoff ceremonies at cities and counties. Welcoming events await them at Pyongyang Station, where well-wishers wave flower bundles and shout loudly. During a week-long tour of the capital city, the students lay wreaths at the Kim Il Sung statue at Mansudae and tour the Mount Kumsu Commemoration Palace, the Tower of Juche (self-reliance) Ideology and the People's Culture Palace, among others. Given that relatively few North Koreans have ever been to the capital city, the Pyongyang tour is quite a privilege in itself.

The starting day of the march is marked by an allegiance-resolving meeting at Kim Il Sung's birthplace of Mangyongdae, or the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Institute, following which they set off on the long journey in units of 75. The 21-day-long journey takes the participants from Mangyongdae to Kaechon (South Pyongan province), Kujang (North Pyongan), Hyangsan and Hoechon (Jagang), Chongun, Koin, Jonchon, Songgan, Kanggye, Huksu, Hwapyong and the final destination Popyong in Kim Hyong Jik County, formerly Huchang County, of Yanggang province.

The participants' attire is normally the khaki uniform of the Anti-Japanese Children's Corps, dubbed "Red Guard" uniforms, and they wear caps with red stars. Under the principle of literally following the course trekked by Kim Il Sung, they travel up to Kaechon by train. From Kaechon, they have to march on foot. From this point on, broadcasting cars and ambulances as well as reporters accompany the columns.

Since the march takes place in mid-winter and many are making the 400km-long journey for the first time in their lives, it represents a real struggle against oneself. On the way they have to camp in tents or billets and attend night events. Along the route they tour historical sites or remnants and pledge anew their allegiance to the leadership, listening to explanations given by instructors.

Climaxing the exploratory journey is the presentation of Kim Jong Il's special gifts. The special gifts are airlifted by helicopters to a specified spot midway along the route, Myongmun Hill between Chongun and Koin, Pulgilryong Ridge between Songgang and Kanggye or Hwapyong. As special gift packages are lowered to the ground by helicopters, a spectacular scene unfolds with music blaring and propagandists virtually roaring from speakers installed in the broadcasting vehicle.

Packed in cartons are a quality leather-covered volume of Kim Il Sung edicts and Kim Jong Il remarks, a gold-tipped fountain pen and notebook with "In commemoration of the Cholli Independence Route Exploratory March" inscribed, a 20-gram ginseng root, fruit, canned fish, beef, cucumber and garlic, many of which the participants have rarely seen before. At the scene students taste bits of some items, following which the special gift cartons are transported to their respective schools. Upon returning to their schools after the journey is finished, the participants open cartons and make their contents public, some of which are shared with teachers and friends.

When the group reaches the final destination of Popyong along the Yalu River, a meeting is held formally concluding the journey, at which Kim Jung Il's letter of congratulation is handed to each participating student. As far as the young and students are concerned, the letter of congratulation is most honored in the North, next only to "Kim Il Sung Youth (Children) Prize of Honor." The letter, hung on the most conspicuous place in the house, is preserved as a house treasure.

(Kim Kwang In, kki@chosun.com )