How to Pronounce Juche

Meaning and Context

Juche (주체), formally introduced by Kim Il-sung in a 1955 speech titled "On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work," is the foundational state philosophy of North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). It posits that the masses are the masters of their own destiny and must achieve revolution and construction independently through self-reliance (자립자강), with the nation acting as the central actor in its own historical development. While often described as a variant of Marxism-Leninism adapted to Korean conditions, Juche has evolved into a comprehensive ideological system governing all aspects of North Korean life, from its command economy and juche agriculture to its cultural policy and military-first (Songun) strategy. The ideology centers on the supreme leadership of the Suryong, or leader, creating a tenet where the people's autonomy is realized through absolute loyalty to the Kim dynasty, making it a cornerstone of North Korean propaganda and the regime's legitimacy. Its principles are enshrined in the DPRK constitution and are a mandatory subject of study for all citizens, influencing the country's isolationist foreign policy and its pursuit of autarky despite significant economic challenges.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The term "Juche" is a transliteration of the Korean word "주체," and its spelling in the Latin alphabet is standardized in English as "Juche," following the Revised Romanization of Korean system. Common misspellings and variants include "Juché" (adding an unnecessary accent), "Juchee," or "Juchi," often arising from phonetic guesses. Another frequent error is the conflation or misspelling of "Juche" as "Juche Idea," which is its full formal title in English-language North Korean materials. In historical documents, one might encounter the McCune-Reischauer romanization "Chuch'e," though this is largely obsolete in contemporary usage. It is also sometimes incorrectly capitalized in full as "JUCHE" or written in a plural form ("Juches"), which is grammatically incorrect as it is a singular, uncountable noun referring to an ideology.

Example Sentences

The government's latest five-year plan reiterated its commitment to the principles of Juche, aiming to reduce dependency on imported grain through advanced farming techniques.

Scholars debate whether Juche represents a genuine philosophical innovation or is primarily a tool for political control and nationalist mobilization.

During the Arduous March of the 1990s, the regime insisted that strict adherence to Juche would guide the nation through the famine, despite international offers of aid.

The Tower of the Juche Idea, a prominent monument in Pyongyang, stands as a physical symbol of the philosophy's central role in North Korean society.

Critics argue that the policy of self-reliance, while a core Juche tenet, has often led to economic stagnation and technological isolation.

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