siegfried_chu. Jung Gun Sung, guide interpreter of Sinchon Museum, who was also a survivor of a Massacre during the Korean War. Sinchon County, South Hwanghae Province, Dec.23, 2015.
#NorthKorea #documentaryphotography #50mmlens
Besides the alternative facts spewed out to the world through the country’s infamous propaganda mill, rarely is a global audience given insight into the secretive land of North Korea. While we are all fully aware that there is no possible way the former dictator Kim Jong Il never once used the bathroom in his 70 years on earth, and that is it highly unlikely his son and current ruler Kim Jong Un was capable of driving a car at three years old, this closed off section of the world is a mystery to anyone who isn’t actually there.
Inaccessible through Google Maps, there is very little imagery concerning North Korea online that isn’t state approved. Photojournalists are permitted to document only certain areas of the country, and there are many rules and regulations as to the depiction of its people and traditions. Visitors are required to hand over “communication devices” at the airport and tourist guides strictly monitor holiday snaps. The extreme restrictions of internet usage limits North Koreans to only 28 websites, and there is little to no concept of universal social media sites.
Penetrating the “hermit kingdom”, however, is a number of Instagram accounts focusing on the daily life of its inhabitants. From tour guides to teachers to amateur photographers, here are five of our favourite accounts sharing the closest thing to candid photographs of North Korea you will ever see.
Siegfried Chu
A Chinese photojournalist working inside Pyongyang for the past two years.
siegfried_chu. Passengers on the newly manufactured subway train which was recently put into use. Jan. 6, 2016. #NorthKorea #dprk #pyongyang #documentaryphotography #50mmlens
siegfried_chu. Pyongyang citizens attended a rally held on the “Day of Struggle against U.S.” , Kim Il Sung Square, June.25, 2016. #northkorea #dprk #pyongyang #everydaydprk #everydaynorthkorea #everydayeverywhere #documentaryphotography #streetphotography #streetphotographer #conon #canon5dmarkii #50mmlens
siegfried_chu. A girl of Pyongyang Orphan’s Secondary School shed tears when she was singing a song which eulogize the top leader Kim Jong Un, September 2, 2016. #northkorea #dprk #pyongyang #everydaydprk #everydayeverywhere #documentaryphotography #canon #canon5dmarkii
siegfried_chu. A dancing show was given by tens of thousands young students at Kim Il Sung Square in the evening of May.10 to celebrate the success of the7th Congress of the ruling Party of North Korea. #northkorea #dprk #pyongyang #everydaydprk #everydaynorthkorea #everydayeverywhere #documentaryphotography #streetphotography #streetphotographer #conon #conon5dmarkII #50mmlens
siegfried_chu. Pyongyang opened 1st Taedonggang beer festival on August 12, 2016. #northkorea #dprk #pyongyang #everydaydprk #everydaynorthkorea #everydayeverywhere #documentaryphotography #streetphotography #streetphotographer #conon #canon5dmarkii #50mmlens
Shane Horan
Based in Beijing, Horan travels to North Korea frequently as a guide for Young Pioneer Tours.
shaneohodhrain. Seen at a kindergarten outside Pyongyang #northkorea
shaneohodhrain. Emotional farewell at Pyongyang train station. These girls are saying goodbye to their families as they leave North Korea for China. They are off to Baishan, Jilin province, to work as waitresses in a DPRK restaurant for 3 years #northkorea
shaneohodhrain. Pyongyang’s ever changing fashion trends #northkorea
shaneohodhrain. Homeless man outlines the details of his life story on a Beijing pavement this afternoon #beijing #instabeijing
shaneohodhrain. The Kimjongilia, commonly seen on billboards around Pyongyang, is designed to bloom every year on Kim Jong-Il’s birthday, February 16. #Pyongyang #northkorea
Drew Kelly
Kelly uses his iPhone to snap photographs of North Korea, where he has been living as a teacher for a number of years.
drewkelly. Worker at the Chollima Steel Complex applies touch up paint on a political slogan board ||| #Northkorea #latergram
drewkelly. University students lineup and stretch after morning classes ||| #pyongyang #northkorea
drewkelly. Koryo Hugs ||| #koryoseries
drewkelly. Koryo Rubbish Bin ||| Not easy finding a trash can in this city let alone litter ???. The city is on par with Singapore as the cleanest city I’ve ever been to ||| #koryoseries #northkorea #pyongyang
drewkelly. Koryo Curtain Call ||| Acrobatic performers conclude a show in Pyongyang. The arts are celebrated and encouraged in the country, though always include a nod to the Party ||| #pyongyang #koryoseries #Northkorea
Eric Lafforgue
Lafforgue is no stranger to trouble in North Korea. Working as a National Geographic photographer, he’s visited the country six times and was nearly detained for images deemed unsuitable by officials.
ericlafforgue. #northkorea #pink #army #ericlafforgue
ericlafforgue. Girl eating a #hamburger in #pyongyang #northkorea . As North Koreans discover hamburger (they think dear leader Kim Jong il invested it) they use plastic gloves to eat it and stay clean! By #ericlafforgue
ericlafforgue. In a North Korean house , the frames of the dear leaders by #ericlafforgue #northkorea #propaganda
ericlafforgue. The #northkorean boy who wanted to stop my bus. A very rare thing in #northkorea : breaking the rules by #ericlafforgue
ericlafforgue. In North Korea, once you are member of the Workers Party, you will keep on showing how loyal you are with the regime to get the luxury items that every north korean dream to have: a TV set, a computer, some clothes, a car, a good house in the new buildings (with running water) and of course some food rations. Everything that can hardly be bought with a north korean salary. By #ericlafforgue #dprk #northkorea #tv #luxury #flower #asia #wpk #party #communism
Taylor Pemberton
American creative director, designer, photographer, and entrepreneur Taylor Pemberton once used his Instagram to publish photographs from a trip to North Korea.
pemberton. One of the first things you do in North Korea is go pay respect to the great Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. These bronze statues are 22 meters high and part of a monument complex that was constructed in downtown Pyongyang. You could argue that the two figures depicted here are North Korea’s equivalent of Jesus, the Pope, the Dalai Lama, and Gandhi combined (which still may not even communicate the importance these two hold in North Korean lives). Paying respect here is pretty simple: patrons purchase flowers, lay them at the base of the monument, make a bow, and go on their way. It’s mandatory to do so. #contrateur
pemberton. Hospitality is taken very seriously in North Korea. The Yanggakdo hotel is perfectly staffed with a wide array of workers to always suit your needs. Food is plentiful, rooms are tidy, the entire presentation feels very grandeur. Since you can’t leave the hotel, you have several amenities that exist throughout the building: various shops, a casino, several restaurants, a bowling alley, a billiards room, a karaoke room, ping pong, and more. This shot was taken at the rooftop restaurant, which is a 360 degree panorama room that slowly rotates during open hours. This was a popular hangout spot where we’d drink beer and enjoy each others company, particularly favorable since everything felt so eccentric and retro. #contrateur
pemberton. North Korea has no internet, no television, no free information. This is the only public news I saw in Pyongyang, where each headline and each image is a tribute to the DPRK and great leader. It’s difficult to wrap your head around the sheer magnitude this imposes for an ecosystem and it’s people. Want to openly make art? Want to freely listen to music, or watch films? Want to create or learn anything outside the constructs of formal structure? Sorry, not possible. Even something as trivial as Instagram has had a huge impact on my ability to grow creatively. I’m able to practice the art of photography and documentary. I can be inspired by people I’ve never met. I feel the competition, the pressure to keep growing and exploring. I don’t know where I’d be without the accessibility of free information. I grew up on the Internet. I’ve formed my own conclusions. And for that, I feel very grateful. #contrateur
pemberton. North Korea considers itself a self-reliant socialist state. One of the benefits, they proclaim, is the subsidizing of core necessities: housing, healthcare, education, food, general commodities, etc. One of the things I noticed right away is that clothing choices appear standardized. Men generally wear slacks, dress shoes, and collared shirts. There are no consumer brands, no logos, no advertisements. There is most definitely nothing provocative or alluring worn or presented in public. It reminded me of simpler times, perhaps the early 20th century (minus the hats). After asking about this, I was told there are very few options to choose from, almost a ’rationing’ of sorts. It was tough to get a clear answer, and I think the mere curiosity seemed confusing to begin with. One thing you can always expect to see, however, is the pin displayed near the breast pocket… this time, a dual representation of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. #contrateur