Central People's Committee Kim Il-Sung Guard Badge

[RedLion142]

Hello, I just got this badge in the mail and I am corrcet to say that this is the The DPRK Central People's Committee Kim Il-Sung Guard Badge?
Also would be most likely to wear this badge? A soldier in the Korean People's Army? or someone else?

[CtahhR]

"Police" I believe as the place they guard is a tourist attraction. There are at least 2 variations of this badge (different style text on the rear). They are of the standard DPRK production quality - quite light and easily damaged.

[RedLion142]

Thank you very much. You should writing books on North Korean Orders and Medal. Maybe on uniforms as well.

[CtahhR]

The front of the badge reads "금성친위" which translates as "(A contraction of) Kim Il-Sung Guard. Trying to translate this the conventional way isn't possible without knowing that "금성" is used in the DPRK as a contraction of Kim Il-Sung (김일성)

As the award system and uniforms of the DPRK are still changing with time and there is still a LOT of information to come out of the DPRK, I'm holding back from any such endeavour until I can be certain I can do something completely concise and unabridged, which may be never, until then I find this forum a brilliant fluid place to share information on the topic which can be changed as new information arises. For now we are all "absolute beginners". In saying that you could probably get a book out of the Order Of The National Flag 3rd Class alone.

Here is Type 1 Variation 1.

[CtahhR]

Type 1 Variation 2.

[CtahhR]

Here is Type 2 with the more mirrored reverse.

[medals73]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

As the award system and uniforms of the DPRK are still changing with time and there is still a LOT of information to come out of the DPRK, I'm holding back from any such endeavour until I can be certain I can do something completely concise and unabridged, which may be never, until then I find this forum a brilliant fluid place to share information on the topic which can be changed as new information arises. For now we are all "absolute beginners". In saying that you could probably get a book out of the Order Of The National Flag 3rd Class alone.

If historians (whether professional or amateur) waited to get EVERYTHING, they'd never publish anything. Maybe the world and its forests would be better off, but we'd all be missing out on information, however tentative, incomplete, and subject to future revision. The only texts that claim completeless and finality are religious texts and, of course, we know the validity of those claims.

[CtahhR]

I was thinking of "complete" in the sense that "for whatever reason" the DPRK would not be producing any more new awards, types or variations. If a book had been published last year on the DPRK awards this year it would be far from complete with a large array of newly instituted awards and changes to designs etc..

A time will come when the "complete" selection can be presented. Until then it may be possible to specialise in awards of certain time periods such as 1948-53 or during the life of Kim Il-Sung or the such.

If the DPRK were to open their doors and assist in publications about their history a vast amount of progress could be made.

It is all about time for now.