North Korea Welcomes First Set of Quintuplets with Names Reflecting Loyalty
On January 31, five quintuplets were born in North Korea, and they were discharged from Pyongyang Maternity Hospital on June 19. The quintuplets, consisting of three girls and two boys, are the children of 28-year-old Park Kyung-sim and 32-year-old Son Chung-hyo, a student at Pyongyang Commercial University. The names of the quintuplets are 충정 (Chungjeong), 성룡 (Seongryong), 다정 (Dajeong), 하룡 (Haryong), and 리정 (Rijeong), which together form the phrase '충성다하리' (Chungseongdahari), symbolizing loyalty.
The Korean newspaper, Choson Sinbo, reported that the quintuplets weighed around 5 kg each and are in good health. The birth of quintuplets is a significant event in North Korea, as it is the first recorded case in the country. The medical team at Pyongyang Maternity Hospital faced considerable challenges during this delivery, highlighting the complexities of such births.
North Korea is currently grappling with low birth rates, with the total fertility rate estimated at 1.59 children per woman in 2025, which, while higher than South Korea's rate of 0.65, still falls below the replacement level of 2.1 needed for population maintenance since the 1990s. In response, the North Korean government is actively promoting policies to encourage larger families, including incentives for families with multiple births. Families that welcome triplets or quadruplets receive gifts such as silver and gold rings based on the children's gender, along with clothing, first birthday celebrations, and financial support for raising the children. Regular health check-ups are also provided until the children reach the age of 17.
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