Culture is “a system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts” (ACAC, 2006). It is a mechanism that a society uses to decipher and understand the world around them and helps members understand one another. The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, or North Korea for short, is an interesting socio-cultural case study in that the central government dictates all aspects of society. The areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people, and events of North Korea are all, in one way or another, under the control of the North Korean regime. There is no room for individual expression in North Korea and its culture is fabricated to support the regime. This essay will examine the North Korean culture and highlight
…show more content…
One aspect that defines a culture is beliefs. Beliefs are “concepts and ideas that are accepted as true” (ACAC, 2006, p. 3-7). The cultural and political philosophy of Juche plays an important role in the belief system of North Korea. Moreover, writers and artists in North Korea are all assigned to government institutions and the regimes uses the work they produce to promote the “superiority and independence of Korean culture” (Jung et al, 2018). In addition to Juche, the people of North Korea believe there are hostile forces working against them at all times, mainly the United States and South Korea (Albert, 2018). Much of this belief, created and disseminated to the population by the regime through propaganda, is based on the country’s history of occupation and war. The notion that outsiders continuously target North Korea, that the Korean people are self-reliant, and the belief in the superiority of the North Korean people are all aspects of the belief system that contribute to North Korean …show more content…
These are “the concrete expression of the belief systems shared by members of a particular culture” (ACAC, 2006, p. 3-8). In North Korea the cultural forms that exist are entirely based on communist ideology. It is present in the country’s rituals, symbols, ceremonies, and narratives. Mansudae Grand Monument, where statues of Kim Il-Sung and King Jong-Il stand tall, is treated as a holy site and public art glorifying the communist revolution is seen on the streets and in the homes of citizens (Jung et al. 2018). In Pyongyang alone, there are numerous cultural sites, including the Juche Tower, the Monument to the Korean Worker’s Party, and the Korean Revolution Museum, to name a few. Cultural activities in the country are strictly controlled and geared toward group activities such as rallies in support of the regime and museum tours (Jung et al. 2018). The narrative, defined as “the means through which ideologies are expressed and absorbed by members of a society”, is the most important cultural form (ACAC, 2006, p. 3-8). Consequently, all cultural forms in North Korea enhance and promote the narrative of the Juche philosophy and the importance of the regime in North Korean daily
One aspect that defines a culture is beliefs. Beliefs are “concepts and ideas that are accepted as true” (ACAC, 2006, p. 3-7). The cultural and political philosophy of Juche plays an important role in the belief system of North Korea. Moreover, writers and artists in North Korea are all assigned to government institutions and the regimes uses the work they produce to promote the “superiority and independence of Korean culture” (Jung et al, 2018). In addition to Juche, the people of North Korea believe there are hostile forces working against them at all times, mainly the United States and South Korea (Albert, 2018). Much of this belief, created and disseminated to the population by the regime through propaganda, is based on the country’s history of occupation and war. The notion that outsiders continuously target North Korea, that the Korean people are self-reliant, and the belief in the superiority of the North Korean people are all aspects of the belief system that contribute to North Korean …show more content…
These are “the concrete expression of the belief systems shared by members of a particular culture” (ACAC, 2006, p. 3-8). In North Korea the cultural forms that exist are entirely based on communist ideology. It is present in the country’s rituals, symbols, ceremonies, and narratives. Mansudae Grand Monument, where statues of Kim Il-Sung and King Jong-Il stand tall, is treated as a holy site and public art glorifying the communist revolution is seen on the streets and in the homes of citizens (Jung et al. 2018). In Pyongyang alone, there are numerous cultural sites, including the Juche Tower, the Monument to the Korean Worker’s Party, and the Korean Revolution Museum, to name a few. Cultural activities in the country are strictly controlled and geared toward group activities such as rallies in support of the regime and museum tours (Jung et al. 2018). The narrative, defined as “the means through which ideologies are expressed and absorbed by members of a society”, is the most important cultural form (ACAC, 2006, p. 3-8). Consequently, all cultural forms in North Korea enhance and promote the narrative of the Juche philosophy and the importance of the regime in North Korean daily