• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.119-130
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• 2018

In the late 1950s, departing from their unquestioning following of Soviet architecture, North Koreans attempted to discover the specificities of traditional Korean architecture and apply them to their contemporary monuments. This paper examines the ways in which North Korean architects developed their unique version of Socialist realism in the making of Pyongyang Grand Theater. The traditional elements in harmony with North Korea's political ideology-an early form of Juche ideology-and modern building technologies were to be viewed as contemporary elements, and not as a simple revival of the past. This study applies Socialist realism's compositional principle "national in form and socialist in content" to Pyongyang Grand Theater and examines specifically what "socialist content" and "national form" were and how the two were combined in the construction of Pyongyang Grand Theater. By situating the building in the context of localization of Socialist realism which is universal art principle of the communist world, this study contributes to the deeper and wider understanding of North Korea's Modern Joseon Architecture.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.66-74
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• 2016

In what way is the urban landscape of North Korea used today, and what features do people prefer in the North Korean landscape? This study analyzed the characteristics of Pyongyang landscapes and their effects, based on an analysis of Western tourists motivation for tourism in North Korea and preferred enjoyment-seeking experiences. Using data from the tourist agency specializing in Western tourism in North Korea and a location based photo-sharing service, the study interprets the visual distinctiveness of Pyongyang landscape. The study concluded that widely known risk to travelers in North Korea is in fact an attraction, making people want to visit directly. However, this risk was mitigated in practical experience by the overall intermediation of the tourism agency and locals' conscious behavior to keep their distance from foreigners. Next, the scope of National ritual attributes was expanded to the locals' daily life as well as large-scale events such as mass games and military parades only if for national holidays. Also, the most preferred factors contributing to North Korean tourism were based on departure from routine through mobilization of the residents. This indicates the extension that the nature of North Korea as a theater state. The Pyongyang landscape represents a world politically isolated, people's congregated motion to display to the world, and people's lives hidden beneath a veil. These visualities fulfill the fantasy of Westerners regarding North Korea. Furthermore, these are superficial images that help create a basis to maintain the North Korea regime.