Propaganda posters reveal the lives of North Korean people
The DPRK has always favored the use of propaganda posters to convey government messages to the general public. And the collection of propaganda posters below also reveals many things about life in North Korea.
Katharina Zellweger, who lived in Pyongyang for five years while working for the Swiss government, has collected more than 100 North Korean propaganda paintings. Twenty-five of them were recently exhibited in Hong Kong.
Agriculture is the top priority. |
The prominent role of women
"Make the autumn fertile when seeds and fruits ripen." |
“The farmers in the posters were mostly smiling girls, promoting new agricultural policies with rabbit farming and more cotton production,” Ms. Zellweger commented.
Necessary mass media propaganda
Like many other places in the world, the North Korean government uses propaganda posters as a channel to disseminate information to the public. In North Korea, access to the internet is very limited while television channels are only counted on the fingers, so propaganda posters are one of the effective ways to propagate information to many places in this country.
"Let's take better care of Pyongyang, the capital of innovation". |
North Korea also uses many anti-smoking posters. In 2005, the country joined the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Reflecting developments in North Korea
North Korea's propaganda posters can also be seen as a testament to change within the country. Over time, the government's policy priorities are reflected in the posters.
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Most are still hand drawn.
"Let's raise more herbivores!" |
Evidence of literacy rate
Most propaganda posters in North Korea include enlarged text. CNN (USA) reported that education in North Korea is free and compulsory. Although North Korea's literacy rate is not necessarily 100% as announced by the country's officials, Ms. Zellweger said that the design of the posters shows that most North Koreans can read.
Color also matters
North Korean propaganda posters are often brightly colored. But aside from the obvious appeal, the choice of bright colors also has its own meaning.
"Spinning the top is so much fun" |
“The traditional Korean color symbolism is based on five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. And most Korean propaganda posters use five basic colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and black,” Zellweger explains.
“These colors all have meanings. Red is the color of passion and socialism. Blue is synonymous with peace, harmony, and integrity and is often used in educational posters. Black represents darkness and evil and often appears in anti-American and anti-Japanese posters. Yellow is a symbol of glory and prosperity,” Zellweger analyzed.
