One day in August 2009, Chairman Kim Jong Il visited the newly-built Pothonggang Shop.

After looking round the ground floor counters where various kinds of fruits were displayed, Kim Jong Il went to the first floor counters where meat and processed meat were shown.

He saw the counters with a broad smile on his face.

Going down from the first floor, the Chairman suddenly stopped and asked if there was a lift here.

An official said that the lift was not designed as the shop was a two-storied building.

No one thought that it was necessary to install the lift in the building with over 20 stairs between the ground and first floors.

But the Chairman thought differently as he placed the interests and convenience of the people above all else.

He said that it would be all right for the young people but that the elderly and women would feel inconvenience when they went upstairs and downstairs with goods, adding that whatever we do, we must do it perfectly lest the people feel inconvenience. And he told the officials again and again to install the lift.

Thus, the lift began to be installed soon, and the shop opened afterwards. -0-