The 10^th Pyongyang Musical Instrument Exhibition which was held in the Pyongyang International House of Culture amidst interests of many experts and fans awarded the Science and Technology Top Prize to a violin made by Kim Sung Il, a worker of the Korean Art Association of the Disabled.

Then, how could Kim with hearing defect make a violin which is one of the most delicate stringed musical instruments?

Kim was diagnosed as a deaf few months after his birth.

But Kim graduated primary and secondary schools and became a member of the Korean Art Association of the Disabled thanks to the grateful socialist country. He danced on stages of art performance and entered the (then) Korea Vocational Training School for Persons with Disabilities to learn skills.

Kim was more dexterous than others. Kim was determined to pay up love of the grateful socialist country by making a creation with his hands. One day he knew that the art association was preparing to make violins.

Kim wanted to join a team of making violin, but he hesitated as he could not hear. Officials of the association read his mind and made decision to let him join the team and to help him.

Many people taught him how to play the violin. They did their best to make Kim feel the pitch through violin vibrations while playing.

Thanks to those who devoted their heart and soul to realize the hope of a disabled, a son of an ordinary worker, Kim became able to feel and distinguish all the pitches through different vibrations and finally made a fine violin.

The 9^th Pyongyang Musical Instrument Exhibition awarded a technical prize to the first violin Kim made under the collective help. He made another violin two years later and he became the winner of the Science and Technology Top Prize.

Generally deaf people communicate with ordinary ones by writing. Most of writings on Kim’s notebook are the word “thank you!”

By making violins, he expresses thanks for the grateful country where there are people with disabilities but there are no unhappy ones.