"Comrade Huh, what kind of behavior is that in front of your teachers? Take off the sunglasses, promptly." This is a piece of a dialogue exchanged on the wearing of sunglasses, as carried in the 'Youth Vanguards,' the organ of the North Korean League of Socialist Working Youth.

Under the name of 'Communist morality,' North Korea has recently been emphasizing the importance of education in public morality and etiquette through the public media. 'The Etiquette of the Country of Courteous People in the East (Korea)" calls for the young to take off sunglasses not only when they enter a room of elder people to talk to them, but also when they encounter their teachers or elders in the street, according to the Youth Vanguard. One should refrain from wearing sunglasses dark enough to hide his or her eyes, large enough to hide their faces, and unfitting the shape of his or her face, which should be borne in mind particularly by females, the journal stresses.

In an article discussing etiquette when people greet each other, the Workers' Party organ 'Rodong Shinmun' recommended that they exchange greetings by bowing the head or the waist, avoiding "handshakes" as much as possible. Greeting by bowing one's waist represents "our traditional style of etiquette," while handshakes, "originating in the West have nothing to do with our noble traditional etiquette," maintains the daily. Handshaking, furthermore, it says, is unsanitary because of possible germ transfer through physical contacts.

In an article entitled 'Noble Etiquette of Korean Ladies,' the Rodong Shinmun made some suggestions as to proper languages and dresses to be used and worn by ladies. When women request something from others, the organ paper recommended that they make the requests not in a direct, but roundabout way so as to display womanly beauty and softness. For instance, "It would be better if we go faster" rather than "Let's go faster." The same goes with women's clothing. Wearing short skirts baring one's knees and unseemly trousers and dresses the designs or colors of which are excessively bright, the daily maintains, is not only incompatible with "our traditional style," but also constitutes an immoral act giving others a sense of displeasure.

"While watching games in playgrounds or stadiums, it's not a virtue to watch them quietly. To passionately cheer athletes on playgrounds by giving them enthusiastic applause and acclamation constitutes the proper behavior that spectators should observe," stresses the popular monthly 'Chollima.' "Because it incites and encourages athletes to harbor a sense of limitless love toward their fatherland, people, organizations and groups, and display their maximum skills and willpower in their games."

Attempting to board a bus or streetcar by elbowing others out of the way is regarded as "a shameful act aimed at taking a seat before others and a base act seeking one's own ease." When one boards a streetcar, he or she should have a ticket ready before handing it to the conductor or putting in into the receptacle. Boarding a streetcar unmanned by a conductor without depositing a ticket or making a payment should be shunned as it is "an act clearly disgracing one's dignity."

In a program on etiquette in telephone conversations, the Korea Central TV Broadcasting Station urged those receiving telephone calls to respond at proper junctures "Yes, it is so" or "Yes, you're right" in a bid to express his or her understanding or consent. It's quite rude toward the other person to sneeze, cough or yawn while conversing on the telephone, the station added.

(Kim Kwang-in, kki@chosun.com )