There is Ssuk Islet in the middle of the Taedong River meandering through the capital city of Pyongyang. The islet was named so since it abounds in wormwood, but it is now known as the islet of science and learning.
House of Learning
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a construction site on June 1, 2014, to oversee the Ssuk Islet development project.
Originally it was planned to build an indoor football stadium on the site.
While looking round the construction site, Kim Jong Un said to the accompanying officials that it does not suit the country’s situation to build an indoor football stadium in the place, and stated his intention to build on the islet a hub that disseminates sci-tech information among all the people across the country. The rise and fall of a country depend on the development of science and technology, so it is good to turn this into an islet of science, he said. And he named that hub “Sci-Tech Complex.”
He said that the Sci-Tech Complex should be built into a structure that fully embodies the Party’s idea of giving importance to science and technology and into a dear home to scientists, technicians, researchers and students among others, which they would visit to acquire knowledge to their heart’s content.
“Ticket Office”
One October day in 2015, Kim Jong Un visited the Sci-Tech Complex prior to its inauguration.
He acquainted himself with the preparations of the complex, making the rounds of it for hours.
An official briefed him on the establishment of the complex’s comprehensive information service system. Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction over it, wearing a bright smile on his face.
He said: We have built the Sci-Tech Complex in the face of difficulties. It is not because we had manpower, funds and materials to spare that we have built it. This reflects our Party’s decision and will to advance the revolution with science and technology as the engine.
Anyone who wants to advance the revolution towards the future must learn science and technology, and for this, they need to frequent the Sci-Tech Complex; this complex is as good as an office which sells tickets for the train that is bound for a bright future.
First Thing in New Year
On New Year’s Day in 2016, Kim Jong Un attended the inauguration ceremony of the Sci-Tech Complex.
Looking round the complex with officials, he said that he started his new year’s field guidance with attending the inauguration event to cut the tape, adding that we have opened the door of science as the first thing in the year.
He continued: Without the development of science and technology, we cannot think of the building of an economic power and the buildup of the defence capabilities, so I am here first though there are many institutions including the People’s Army units which are waiting for me.
Since it opened under such a close guidance, the complex has welcomed millions of working people from all walks of life and schoolchildren, with the online visits amounting to hundreds of million.
