On September 25, 1979 Chairman Kim Jong Il came to an exhibition hall to see sample padded coats to be presented to all agricultural workers across the country.

Displayed there were men’s padded coats of 12 forms in 7 colours and women’s padded coats of 17 forms in 8 colours.

Entering the exhibition hall, Kim Jong Il asked officials whether they had any consultations with farmers about forms of padded coat.The officials failed to answer him. Stressing the need to listen to farmers’ opinion, Kim Jong Il picked a sample padded coat to feel its back. Kim Jong Il picked another to spread and turn over its sleeves.

Emphasizing again that it is necessary to listen to their opinions in order to make padded coats well, Kim Jong Il stepped up to the farmers wearing padded coats of different kinds. Kim Jong Il asked a girl farmer standing in front whether she liked quilted one or non-quilted one.

She replied that she liked non-quilted one, but she also liked quilted one, too.

Smiling her reply, Kim Jong Il said that it was necessary to make padded coats in various forms—both quilted and non-quilted, long and short in different colours—in keeping with their likings and put on buttons instead of zippers for elderly ones.

That day Kim Jong Il pointed out such 9 matters as putting more cottons in the padded coats and coupling nylon wind-proof sleeves and hood to them for the completion of farmers’ padded coats.