Juche is the main guiding philosophy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). It emphasises on political independence, economic self-sufficiency, and self-reliance in national defence. Created under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung, the first president of Juche Korea, and developed further by his successors, Juche is more than just an ideology of governance, it is a comprehensive theory that promotes autonomy, dignity, and national self-determination in the face of external forces and pressures. Meanwhile, Cambodia is a country with long history of foreign intervention, foreign invasions, colonial domination, and modern struggles which presents a very compelling case for exploring the application of the principles of the Juche Philosophy. This writing examines how the Cambodian context offers a testing ground of how Juche might inspire Cambodia’s path toward national dignity, cultural integrity, and development.
At the centre of Juche is the believe in the people of the country. Juche places the people as the masters of their own destiny, and that a strong nation must do its best to persist foreign pressures to preserve sovereignty. Sovereignty is crucial to the livelihood of the nation. Cambodia’s past is marked by scars from external forces, from being colonised by the French for about 90 years from 1863 until 1953, to being dragged into brutal wars by the American imperialists during the Cold War. Even today, Cambodia still navigates pressures from major powers such as the United States and China. Applying Korea’s Juche Philosophy would mean prioritising Cambodia’s political independence, ensuring that policies are made in Phnom Penh rather than dictated by external powers. This approach could strengthen the voice of ordinary Cambodians citizens as well as boosting Cambodia’s voice in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the wider international community.
Juche advocates for economic self-sufficiency. This means reducing dependency on foreign aid and imports. As former Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Hun Sen has warned, some foreign aids bring disaster to the nation, and they can be used as tools to promote foreign agendas (Pressocm, 2017). Cambodia’s economy, while growing at a rapid rate, remains heavily reliant on external markets and foreign investments, particularly in important sectors such as garments, tourism, hospitality, and infrastructure projects. This is not ideal for Cambodia. These foreign investments, while being beneficial for the country’s economy, are ways that foreign nations can leverage on national Cambodian society politics. In this case, Cambodia can aim to diversify its industries, strengthen domestic agricultural productivity, and encourage local products and innovation. However, this is not to say that Cambodia should close its market to foreign investments. It is an urgent call to think about the over reliance on foreign investment and the lack of home-grown industries. Overall, Juche inspired strategies would encourage Cambodia to seek a more balanced economic relations and protect itself against overdependence on poisonous external aids and partners.
A Juche-oriented approach would also emphasise on mobilising the creative potential of the Cambodian people and the young population of Cambodia. Instead of relying on foreigners, Cambodia could encourage its youthful population to start localising enterprises which can directly support national needs. Such moves would not only stimulate domestic production but also create a sense of ownership and pride among Cambodians, promoting the belief that prosperity must come from the united efforts of the people, just as the banner “Cambodians Can Do!” in Sihanoukville Province. This is also a great opportunity for the Khmer people to polish their skills and build a sharper innovative mind. It is one way to ensure that Cambodia’s development would be grounded in its own resources and human capital rather than external dependency. It is “Cambodians Can Do!” in action.
The Juche philosophy also stresses the importance of cultural independence, preserving national traditions while adapting them to modern society. Cambodia, a country known for its rich cultural heritage, including the world’s famous Angkor Wat temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other magnificent temples, is a cornerstone of national identity. If there is a country that knows well about the value of national culture, it is Cambodia. Cambodian’s culture is the heart and soul of Cambodians, and they are also a great economic driver as Khmer temples generate thousands of jobs and bring in millions of dollars to the country through the tourism industry annually. However, globalisation and recently foreign cultural influence risk minimising and polluting Cambodian values and traditions. Applying Juche philosophy here would mean strengthening Khmer cultural pride, promoting Khmer culture heritage, and safeguarding national history in the education system. A Juche-inspired cultural policy would balance the ongoing globalisation and modernisation with the preservation of the unique Cambodian values. This is one way to ensure that modernisation does not come at the expense of the Khmer national identity.
In addition, Juche Philosophy underlines the importance of self-reliance in defence. The theory says that a nation’s sovereignty cannot be safeguarded without strong national armed forces. Cambodia which is located in a geopolitically sensitive region of the world, faces challenges from border disputes and shifting alliances. While currently Cambodia cannot realistically maintain a military capability equal to the superpowers or even the regional powers like Vietnam, Juche Philosophy would stress building and upgrading the national forces to a higher level. The modernisation of the Cambodia’s armed forces and the political will the safeguard independence would be crucial to the protection of national interests and autonomy. Juche can also inspire the Khmer people to think positively of the armed forces and install the thinking that only Cambodians can protect Cambodia. Only the people of Cambodia have the willingness to die for Cambodia. In this sense, Cambodia could pursue security policies that reduce reliance on foreign military aids and start to invest more in the national defence sector, reinforcing Phnom Penh’s neutral stance and also boosting national pride through modern armed forces.
Applying the Juche Philosophy to Cambodia’s context could help protect sovereignty in decision-making. However, it is important to notice that due to Cambodia’s political system and landscape, applying this theory would not mean replicating the exact DPRK model, but rather selectively applying and adopting principles of self-reliance, interdependence, and cultural pride suited to the Cambodian realities. This essay is just piece of thinking where Juche is applied to Cambodia. It has described the possible advantages that Cambodia could gain if implement correctly the political philosophy of Juche.
Juche Philosophy, when contextualised for the case of Cambodia, provides a scenario in which can positively impact national independence, economic self-sufficiency, cultural identity, and sovereign defence. Juche inspires a mindset of self-reliance which can guide policymaking and practicing. By adapting this philosophy, Cambodia can pursue a path toward a future where all Cambodians are free from heavy external pressures. In a world where everything change rapidly, Juche becomes an interesting political philosophy and ideology which can be tested in many countries in the world such as Cambodia.
Ly Kimlong
Assistant Researcher of the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea
BA (Hons) Sociology, The Open University, UK
MA International Relations, University of Suffolk, UK
Reference:
Pressocm, (2017), Selected Comments Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Meeting with Workers/Employees at 7NG Area, Available at: https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/17744#:~:text=We%20must%20hold%20on%20to,Thank%20You.%E2%80%9D (Accessed: 22 April 2026)
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