Many child prodigies are produced in the DPRK thanks to the efforts of kindergarten teachers who value and cultivate the buds of natural talents of children.

Promising little pianist

Kim Ta Hyon is one of the children who are growing up to be pianists in the future at Sojang Kindergarten in Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, which is dedicated to early art education.

According to teacher Pu Jin Mi, Kim is very smart and highly receptive to music.

As she has slender fingers and an excellent memory for musical notes, the teacher decided to train her as a pianist.

Thanks to Pu’s high instructing ability and enthusiasm, Kim’s playing skills improved day by day.

She is also receiving education in singing, sound detection and rhythm from teachers specializing in these subjects.

“Whenever I see my daughter’s skill developing conspicuously thanks to the good educational conditions and environment as well as the competent teachers, I feel really pleased and also very grateful to the socialist educational system,” said Kim Hyo Jong, mother of Ta Hyon.

Ta Hyon was highly appreciated as a promising little pianist for her excellent rendition of compulsory and free pieces at a children’s skill presentation recently held at the kindergarten.

Kayagum prodigy

“Since my daughter was three years old, she would never drop her eyes from the screen when artistes or kindergarteners were playing the kayagum on TV, even though she was in the middle of playing some interesting games,” said Kim Hye Sim, mother of Kang Ju Un who is learning to play the kayagum at Sojang Kindergarten.

Kang’s dream of playing kayagum, a national musical instrument, is coming true at this kindergarten.

Teacher Jo Kum Song taught Kang, who has a good ear and a suitable physical constitution for playing the kayagum, different techniques of playing the instrument, including thrumming and strumming, as well as the tunes.

Jo said that when she teaches Kang one thing, she would realize more things and that is why the teachers are calling her a kayagum prodigy. Now that she has learned all the techniques of playing the kayagum to be completed at the kindergarten stage, her future development is really promising, Jo added.

“I love kayagum very much,” said Kang Ju Un. “I will learn hard and become a good kayagum player.”

Boy contributes to team’s victory

The Moranbong district team came first in the boys’ team event of the children’s category of the 2025 Pyongyang municipal open paduk competition held from May 6 to 13.

In the competition, Hwang Sin Hyok, a six-year-old who attends Pipha Kindergarten No. 2 in Moranbong District, made a decisive contribution to the victory of the team.

When the team’s situation was not favourable, Hwang boldly went into the opponent’s base and destroyed the crosses and thus reversed the tide of the game by dint of strong offensive.

Even the coaches were struck with admiration by Hwang’s bold and extraordinary move, said his teacher Ri Jin Ae.

According to her, Sin Hyok began learning paduk as he entered the kindergarten, but the intelligent boy turned out to be a fast learner.

He took the first place in the paduk competition (individual event) held in the district last autumn.

His dream is to become a famous paduk player and exalt the honour of the country.