Imagine waking up and realizing you aren’t in 2026 anymore. Instead, you’re in year 115. That isn't some weird sci-fi plot or a glitch in your phone’s software. If you land in Pyongyang, that’s just Tuesday. The calendar in North Korea is one of those things that sounds like a quirky trivia fact until you actually see it printed on a newspaper or stamped on a government document. It’s a total shift in perspective.
Time is usually something we agree on globally. We have the Gregorian calendar, and for the most part, the world just goes along with it for the sake of trade and not missing flights. But North Korea decided they wanted something that felt more "theirs." They didn't just want to change the names of the months; they reset the entire starting point of history to revolve around one man: Kim Il Sung.
It's called the Juche calendar.
What is the Juche Calendar?
Most of us measure time from the birth of Christ. In North Korea, they measure it from the birth of the "Eternal President," Kim Il Sung. He was born in 1912. So, in their eyes, 1912 is "Juche 1." It’s pretty straightforward math, honestly. You just subtract 1911 from whatever year it is now.
But here’s the kicker: they didn’t actually start using this until 1997.
👉 See also: Why Pictures of Newborn Hedgehogs Are Not What You Think
That was three years after Kim Il Sung died. His son, Kim Jong Il, introduced the system to solidify the personality cult and the ideology of "Juche," which basically means self-reliance. It was a way of saying that the North Korean identity is so distinct that it needs its own timeline. They didn't scrap the Gregorian system entirely, though. They use them side-by-side. If you look at the Rodong Sinmun (the state newspaper), you’ll see the Juche year first, followed by the Gregorian year in parentheses. It looks like this: Juche 115 (2026).
The Weirdness of New Year’s
You’d think with a custom calendar, they’d have a different New Year, right? Not really. They still celebrate January 1st. But the biggest holiday—the one that really matters—is April 15th. That’s the "Day of the Sun." It’s Kim Il Sung’s birthday.
Think of it as Christmas, the Fourth of July, and your own birthday rolled into one massive state-mandated party. Everything in the country stops. People get extra food rations—sometimes meat, sometimes sweets for the kids. There are massive mass dances in public squares where thousands of people move in perfect synchronization. If you're a tourist visiting during this time, you’ll see the calendar in North Korea come to life in the most intense way possible. The streets are lined with flowers, specifically the "Kimilsungia," a purple orchid bred to bloom right on time for the festivities.
Why Changing the Year Actually Matters
It’s about control. Plain and simple. When you control how people perceive time, you control their reality. By tethering the year to the birth of the founder, the state ensures that every time a citizen writes the date, they are performing a micro-act of devotion.
It’s deeply psychological.
- It creates a "Before Kim" and "After Kim" era.
- It separates the nation from the "imperialist" West.
- It reinforces the idea that North Korea is the center of the universe.
There’s also the "Day of the Shining Star." That’s February 16th, Kim Jong Il’s birthday. While it doesn't reset the year, it functions as the second most important pillar of their temporal world. The calendar in North Korea isn't just a grid of days; it’s a political map.
Does Anyone Actually Use the "Old" Calendar?
Technically, the Gregorian calendar is still "there." In international diplomacy, North Korean officials have to use the standard year. You can’t exactly send a letter to the UN dated "Juche 115" and expect everyone to know what you’re talking about without context.
But internally? It’s Juche all the way.
School textbooks, birth certificates, and marriage licenses all lead with the Juche year. Even the time zones got messy for a bit. Back in 2015, North Korea decided to create "Pyongyang Time." They moved their clocks back 30 minutes to break away from "wicked Japanese imperialism" (since the previous time zone was established during Japanese occupation). They eventually switched back in 2018 to align with South Korea during a brief period of diplomatic thawing, but it shows how willing they are to mess with the literal fabric of time to make a political point.
Navigating the Seasonal Holidays
If you look at a physical calendar in North Korea, you'll see a lot of red. Red dates are holidays. Beyond the birthdays of the Kims, they have standard socialist holidays like International Women’s Day (March 8) and May Day (May 1).
But then there are the military ones.
- Foundation of the KPA (Korean People’s Army): This one has moved around a few times, which is confusing. It’s currently celebrated on February 8.
- Victory Day: July 27. This marks the signing of the armistice that ended the fighting in the Korean War. They don't call it a stalemate; they call it a total victory over the U.S.
- National Foundation Day: September 9. This is when the DPRK was officially established in 1948.
The weird thing is that traditional Korean holidays like Chuseok (Harvest Festival) and Seollal (Lunar New Year) are also observed, but they are often treated with less "official" fanfare than the political ones. In the 1970s, the state actually tried to discourage Lunar New Year celebrations because they were seen as "old-fashioned" and "feudal." They eventually gave up because people loved them too much, so now they’re back on the calendar, though they usually only get a day or two off compared to the massive week-long celebrations for the Kims.
Living by the "Work Week"
The rhythm of life isn't just about the months. It's about the "8-8-8" system and the "Seven-Day Battle."
In North Korea, the calendar is also defined by "loyalty periods." Before a major holiday like the Day of the Sun, the country often enters a "Speed Battle." This is a set period—maybe 70 days or 100 days—where everyone is expected to work extra hard to finish construction projects or meet factory quotas as a "gift" to the leaders.
You aren't just living through April; you're living through the "100-Day Battle of April." It makes time feel frantic. It's a constant sprint.
Fact-Checking the Myths
You might have heard that North Koreans believe Kim Jong Il was born under a double rainbow on Mount Paektu and that his birth changed the seasons. While that’s what the state propaganda says, and it’s reflected in the "spiritual" significance of the calendar, most North Koreans are pragmatic. They know how the weather works.
However, the weight of the calendar in North Korea is heavy. You can't just ignore it. If you're a student, your exams are scheduled around these dates. If you're a farmer, your harvest cycle is framed by "advice" given by the leaders on specific historical dates.
It’s worth noting that North Korea isn't the only country to have its own calendar. Iran uses the Solar Hijri calendar. Thailand uses the Buddhist calendar (where it’s currently 2569). The difference is the purely secular, personality-driven nature of the Juche system. It’s not about religion; it’s about a family dynasty.
Practical Realities for Travelers and Researchers
If you ever find yourself looking at a North Korean visa, look at the date of issue. It will likely have two years on it.
For researchers, this creates a lot of paperwork headaches. If you’re looking at archival data from the 1950s, you have to remember that the Juche year didn't exist yet. They only retroactively applied it. So, a document from 1955 would just say 1955. But a modern reprint of that same document? It’ll say Juche 44 (1955).
It’s an extra layer of translation that has nothing to do with language and everything to do with politics.
Actionable Insights: Understanding the Timeline
If you're trying to grasp how the calendar in North Korea functions in a practical sense, keep these points in mind:
- The Zero Point: 1912 is Year 1. There is no "Year 0."
- Dual Dating: Almost all official external communication uses both the Juche and Gregorian years to avoid confusion.
- The "Big Three" Holidays: If you are tracking North Korean news or missile tests (which often happen on symbolic dates), watch April 15, February 16, and September 9.
- The Lunar Factor: Despite the Juche system, the moon still dictates the timing of Chuseok and Seollal, meaning some holidays "drift" on the Juche calendar just like they do on ours.
The most important takeaway is that the calendar is a tool. It’s not just a way to count days; it’s a way to ensure that the populace is always thinking about the state. Every time someone checks the date to see if it's Friday, they are reminded of the "Eternal President." It's one of the most effective, subtle forms of propaganda ever devised because it’s so mundane. You can’t escape the date. It’s everywhere.
🔗 Read more: Is Islam Older Than Christianity? The Real Timeline Explained Simply
For those studying the region, mastering the Juche conversion is the first step in reading between the lines of state pronouncements. It’s the pulse of the country.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge:
- Cross-Reference Dates: Use a conversion tool or the "minus 1911" rule whenever you see a Juche year to place it in a global historical context.
- Monitor State Media: Check sites like the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on the "Day of the Sun" (April 15) to see how the calendar influences the scale of national reporting.
- Observe Seasonal Shifts: Look for "Speed Battles" announced in the months leading up to major Juche anniversaries, as these often signal shifts in the country's economic or military focus.