Culture of North Korea is rich and fascinating and helps you to understand the country in a better perspective. It goes without saying that the contemporary culture of North Korea owes its origin to the traditional Korean culture and it was developed after the establishment of North Korea in 1948. Culture of North Korea is unique in the sense that it has been enriched from the constant interchange and influence between the neighboring cultures for nearly 2000 years.
Literature and art, an essential part of Culture of North Korea, is mainly didactic. Cultural expression acts as an instrument for infusing the Juche ideology and underlines the need to continue the struggle for revolution and reunification of the Korean Peninsula. The three most recurrent themes in most of the cultural expressions are martyrdom during the revolutionary struggle, the contentment of the present society and the genius of the ‘great leader’. Literature such as The Sea of Blood is a fine example of the theme of martyrdom.
The popular and vernacular styles and themes in literature, art, music and dance reflect the spirit of the Korean nation which is so unique. Efforts are there to restore and reintroduce cultural forms with ‘proletarian’ or ‘folk’ feel. As a result of this, group folk dances and choral singing are traditionally practiced in North Korea and are being promoted throughout North Korea in the early 1990s among school and university students. Farmers' musical bands have also been revived precisely with the same purpose.
An important part of Culture of North Korea is the ‘mass games’ which are exhibitions where thousands of North Koreans perform highly choreographed traditional dances and gymnastics with simultaneous rhythms of movement. ‘Revolutionary Operas’ must be mentioned for North Korea Culture. This form of opera has been derived from traditional Korean operas known as ‘ch'angguk’ and it often utilizes variations on Korean folk songs. Old fairy tales have also been transformed into revolutionary themes. Motion pictures, an inseparable part of Culture of North Korea, are considered as one of the most powerful mediums for mass awareness as well as playing a pivotal role in ‘social education’.
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