May Day is one of the holidays observed in Korea every year along with the successful advance of the Juche-oriented socialist cause.

From the early days of his revolutionary activities President Kim Il Sung had given priority to awakening and rallying the popular masses to lay a mass foundation and build domestic revolutionary forces before launching an anti-Japanese war. He paid close attention to the celebration of May Day even during the hard-fought war.

Under his guidance May Day celebrations took place on the Xiaodeshui plateau in Juche 28 (1939) after successfully concluding a one-hundred-day-long arduous march.

He participated in a Pyongyang mass rally held for the first time after the liberation of the country to inspire the working people to the efforts for building a new country.

During the Fatherland Liberation war (June 1950-July 1953) he issued an order of the supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, "On the Occasion of May Day", in order to give confidence in victory in the war to the servicepersons and people.

He kindled the flame of the Chollima Movement at the Kangson Steel Plant in the 1950s and guided the working people to render distinguished services in socialist construction in each period and stage of the developing revolution.

In the Songun era, too, May Day has continued to be celebrated significantly in the country under the leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.