KOREAN LITERATURE CORNER - Jan 2026

By Josh Kim

Myth of Chollima

Chollima Movement Propaganda Poster

This month, our myth incorporates 20th century history, and the use of mythology in government propaganda. 

Chollima (천리마) is a mythical horse that originated in Chinese lore. The name refers to its ability to travel a thousand miles in a day. No mortal man could ride it, and it was known for accomplishing the greatest victories with the riding heroes. 

In 1956, North Korean dictator Kim Il Sung proposed a five year plan to transition North Korea to a thriving socialist state, where workers would work in overdrive to support the government plans. At a meeting, he said: “Let us produce more, practice economy, and overfulfill the five-year plan ahead of schedule!"

As propaganda, Kim introduced the image of Chollima to push workers to be like this mythical horse, seeking to accomplish previously unattainable feats. The term ‘Chollima Rider’ was even given to workers who surpassed their quotas. This was seen for example when a steel factory doubled its output from 60k to 120k tons of steel. The slogan ‘Let us dash forward in the spirit of Chollima’ also was spread amongst the people for inspiration. 

In the end, while short-term output grew, it came at the expense of quality, which diminished. Workers became exhausted as they were pushed to the brink, and by the end of the five years in 1961, economic output had fallen, with workers unable to continue at the pace. 

Kim Il Sung never recognized the program’s failure. Chollima is still used and supported by the current North Korean regime.