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Five facts about the North Korean Arirang festival

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) on Aug 12th 2010 at 8:00AM

North Korea's Arirang festival is in motion, and people from all over the world are traveling to the isolated communist country to watch what truly is an impressive undertaking. But, what do we really know about it? So much about North Korea is shrouded in mystery, making it hard to really learn much about what goes on there.

Instead of relying on the accounts of tourists, the western media or other "unreliable" sources, let's go straight to the horse's mouth. The Korea Central News Agency is the ~~country's official news organization~~ regime's mouthpiece, and has plenty of carefully selected stories to share with people outside North Korea ... since nobody in the country has a whole lot of access to the website, which is based in Japan.

So, let's learn a little about Arirang – from the folks who know it best!

1. Truly performed by masses: 100,000 performers participate in the Arirang festival, which is "admired by the spectators for its kaleidoscopic background and wonderful scenes"

2. New this decade: Arirang was introduced in 2002 to celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung

3. Countless of performances: Over its eight-year life, Arirang has been performed "several hundred times"

4. World record-setting: The Guinness Book of World Records picked up Arirang in August 2007, but that's not nearly as impressive the fact that it was "the first to receive Peace Order and its diploma in April of the same year since it was instituted by "Protectors of Arts for the Century", a Russian international charity fund, to appreciate epoch-making masterpieces, inventions and works"

5. Millions and millions served: Apparently, 12,127,000 people have viewed all the Arirang performances held, 118,000 of them foreigners ... but who's counting?

Of course, according to the KCNA: "'Arirang' is recognized as cultural asset of humankind."

[photo by yeowatzup via Flickr]

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Asia, North Korea

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)

stephen Aug 15th 2010 11:49PM

Arirang was introduced in 2002 to celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung. Between 1950 and 1953 he led his nation in the Korean War.

Caper Aug 16th 2010 12:15AM

Good Lord, guy, couldn't you find something else to waste your time and money on? I hear there's a farting contest in Alaska, and you can see Russia from there!

Yon Aug 16th 2010 12:31AM

It reminds me very much of the mass displays organized by the Soviets and also by another old friend, the Nazi regime. What do the Nazis, the Soviets and the N.Koreans have in common?

ManicD Aug 16th 2010 12:41AM

I can't say for sure Yon, but my best guess would have to be, "They all voted for Obama?"

rail128 Aug 16th 2010 1:08AM

No surprise, NONE of your readers have the slightest conception of North Korean history. The Japanese illegally invaded & occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945. The North Koreans courageously resisted this evil imperial empire. When the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1932, it was the North Koreans who fought them in a bloody guerrilla war for 13 years. When the US occupied southern Korea in 1945, we JAILED all the courageous resisters and INSTALLED the collaborators into power. The North Koreans have good cause to hate Americans. Get the facts, read Bruce Cumings' recent book. "The Korean War". Pull your heads out of the sand and LEARN SOMETHING, you arrogant, ignorant fools !!

stephen Aug 16th 2010 1:51AM

Kim Il-Sung had arrived in North Korea on August 22 after 26 years in exile. In September 1945, Kim was installed by the Soviets as head of the Provisional People’s Committee. He was not, at this time, the head of the Communist Party, whose headquarters were in Seoul in the U.S.-occupied south.By 1949, North Korea was a full-fledged Communist dictatorship.Between 1950 and 1953 he led his nation in the Korean War.

ziggy Aug 16th 2010 4:31AM

i guess u forgive the present leader kim eat dung and all HIS C R A P he's dishing out to the rest of the globe...who has THERE Head In The Sand...America is only a piece of the pie reguardless how big a piece it is...he does'nt even show compassion for His Own People...yea correct way to steer the masses away from the R E A L dog HE IS...