Moranbong is a female band with excellent performance and instrument playing abilities, handpicked by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
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| The all-female Moranbong Band is seen as a symbol of North Korea's transformation towards a more modern direction. According to Business Insider, Mr. Kim founded Moranbong in July 2012, initially with 5 members. The band often appears in paramilitary uniforms, each playing a musical instrument. In the photo, Mr. Kim Jong-un and his wife, Ms. Ri Sol-ju (in black), came to congratulate the band during a performance in 2014. Photo: KCNA/Reuters |
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| At the time of the band's birth, North Korea's state news agency KCNA wrote: "Kim Jong-un established Moranbong at the request of the new century, driven by a grand plan to bring about a drastic change in the field of literature and art." The band was named after the Moranbong district in the capital Pyongyang, where the Chinese embassy is located and where Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un's grandfather, gave his first speech after taking control of the city. Photo: AP |
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| According to SCMP, Moranbong has about 20 members. Each individual has a certain position in the army. Therefore, Moranbong is essentially a performing arts troupe. Photo: AP |
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| Sino NK, a group of scholars specializing in the history and culture of Northeast Asia, said shops often close early and streets are deserted when the band performs on national television. |
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| At the first performance, Moranbong members wore evening gowns, miniskirts and featured Disney characters on stage. North Korean state media described the performance as "unique, special and modern". Photo: KCNA/Reuters |
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| Hyon Song-wol, leader of the Moranbong Band. She was reportedly executed in 2013 for allegedly filming herself having sex, but reappeared in 2014, dispelling the rumors. According to Inquisitr, Mr. Kim once gave Ms. Hyon special praise for her "stunning performances." Photo: Reuters/KCNA |
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| Moranbong members are all professional performers, playing a variety of instruments from violin, saxophone to drums or bass guitar. Moranbong's performances are often accompanied by a large symphony orchestra. Photo: Reuters/KCNA |
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| Some foreign newspapers and media outlets such as Telegraph, Wall Street Journal or IBTimes have nicknamed Moranbong "North Korea's Spice Girls". Spice Girls is a five-member British pop group formed in 1994 and became famous worldwide. Although the band has military origins, observers say Moranbong's fashion style is clearly influenced by the West. Photo: Reuters/KCNA |
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| Moranbong has performed at many military camps, often covering Frank Sinatra's "My Way," the theme song from the 1976 film "Rocky," and propaganda songs praising North Korea. To play so well by simply memorizing music scores and without a conductor requires "systematic and very arduous training," said Shirley Cheung, a senior lecturer at the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council. According to Cheung, the songs Moranbong performs are more or less similar to Chinese and Japanese pop music from the 1980s. Photo: AP |
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| Last summer, rumors circulated in North Korea that Moranbong had been "erased" after not performing for months. It was thought that the group had been replaced by the newly formed band Chongbong. However, in September, Moranbong reappeared, performing in front of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a delegation from Cuba. Pictured is the Chongbong band. Photo: Business Insider |
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| In December 2015, Moranbong planned to perform three shows in China but were canceled at the last minute. AFP quoted a senior South Korean government official as saying the band decided to return home because of pressure from the Chinese government to remove a long-range missile launch scene on the stage screen. Chinese authorities discovered the scene during a rehearsal and asked the band to cut the scene because the audience was full of high-ranking guests, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Moranbong did not agree, causing Xi and other officials to decide not to attend. Pyongyang responded by canceling the band's first overseas performance. Photo: Reuters |
According to VNE
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