How Do You Spell JUCHE?

1. Juche, also known as Kim Il-sungism, is a political ideology and state philosophy that originated in North Korea. The term, derived from Korean words "ju" (meaning master or the main element) and "che" (meaning body or self-reliance), can be roughly translated as "self-reliance." It was introduced by the country's founder Kim Il-sung in the mid-20th century and continues to be an important guiding principle in the country's governance.

   Juche ideology emphasizes the belief in national self-determination, independence, and self-sufficiency. It advocates for a strong political, economic, and military framework where the country can rely on its own resources and efforts rather than external influences. Self-reliance in agriculture, industry, education, defense, and other areas is considered crucial to defend the country's interests and maintain its sovereignty.

   Juche emphasizes the leadership role of the Workers' Party of Korea and its leaders, especially the Kim family. It combines elements of Marxism-Leninism with an emphasis on Korean nationalism and patriotism. The philosophy seeks to unify the people of North Korea under a single ideology and a collective consciousness that places the welfare and interests of the nation above personal desires.

   Juche has been a significant aspect of North Korea's political culture, shaping both domestic policies and foreign relations. It serves as the guiding principle for economic planning, policy formulation, and the country's pursuit of both technological advances and nuclear weapons program. Additionally, the ideology promotes the image of a self-reliant and proud nation that stands up against perceived outside threats and influences.

The word "juche" is a Korean term, and its etymology can be traced back to the Chinese character "主" (pronounced "zhu" in Mandarin). In Chinese, this character signifies "master" or "lord". During the Han Dynasty in China, this character was pronounced as "chhu".

In the Korean language, Chinese characters are sometimes employed, and their pronunciations are adapted to fit Korean phonetics. When "主" was introduced, it was pronounced as "ju" in Korean.

Later, during the Japanese colonization of Korea in the early 20th century, the pronunciations of many Chinese characters were further adjusted. The character "主" started to be pronounced as "juchu" in Korean, following the Japanese pronunciation conventions at that time.

After the liberation of Korea from Japan in 1945, the Korean language underwent further reforms.