Chollima Badge

[medals73]

Not sure what it is, but since it has the Cholima emblem and says "Cholima" on the suspension . . . .

I can't read the reverse, hence the detail -- greyscale for legibility.

[CtahhR]

The reverses of these badges read "조선농업근로자동맹중앙위원회" which is the "Central Committee Of The Union Of Agricultural Workers Of Korea".

These badges are extremely commonplace although rarely correctly identified. There are a number of types and variations although nearly all of them are completely abundant and can be bought by the "sack" for around 10 to the dollar. I currently have over 100 of these to arrange into variations included half a dozen which are unissued in their original polythene packets.

[medals73]

Thanks. But what is the name and/or proper identification. For what and to whom was it issued?

Disappointingly so many references these days (such as the Sessler and McDaniel book) focus on varieties, sub-varieties, and micro-varieties, but seem unconcerned with basic details about what the award is, for what it was awarded, when it was awarded, and to whom it was awarded.

[CtahhR]

I believe the correct name is the "Chollima Badge" as just like most DPRK awards it is exactly what it says on the tin. This is a post December 1961 "Agricultural presentation" award which was originally serial numbered and will have been awarded to new collectivised agricultural workers in a similar sort of fashion as the Brezhnev era annual "competition" Badges. Very much an award for being on agricultural production target. I believe this award has been discontinued in more recent years due to the situation with the results of agriculture as an industry in the DPRK.

With the extreme difficulty in researching DPRK awards it can be far more profitable to focus on different font dies than actual research for the time being but as for what the future brings who knows? There certainly are hundreds of variations and types of awards out there to spend a serious amount of time being frustrated over as finding the citations is all but an impossibility for the foreseeable future.

I'll continue to dig up as much as I can but there won't be miracles.

[medals73]

Thanks. I'm not expecting detailed research by notification or by citation or serial number, just that whenever we know (or can reliably guess) knowing for what a thing was awarded and to whom is helpful. And I know full well the problems of getting reliable information (ref. my work on PDRA, Iraqi, and even Indian awards), it is just that we need to be honest enough to say we don't know when we don't know. For some, that seems difficult.

[CtahhR]

Here is an early type of the Chollima Badge. This earlier type is noticeably different in many ways. It is smaller, features a totally different style Chollima, has a numbered reverse and is made from silver not copper. This type has a very similar feel to it as the Hero Of Labour. Considerably less common that the larger lighter later types.

Here is one numbered in the 7550-7599 range and a comparative shot.

[CtahhR]

Here are 6 of the later Badges unissued and in their original "Deluxe Cases".

[CtahhR]

Here is a late aluminium example. Very lightweight with the standard pin clasp.

[CtahhR]

Here is a newer and smaller example awarded by the renamed "Central Agency". Lightweight aluminium.

A comparative shot to gauge sizes too.

[CtahhR]

As many may have noticed their are two types of Chollima shown, not winged (like the early solid silver Badge) and winged.

This is a nice early copper example without wings.