The Land of the People

   Kural Orhan, a Turkish tourist, aged 69, who visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from September 9 to 13, 2019, said to a journalist: “I am happy to be here from Turkey with my friends. I believe more groups are coming here. I am a professor and I have worked for 44 years at Istanbul University of Technology. Now I am working as a lecturer. My house is like a museum. I wrote 17 books on tourism and I will put Pyongyang in my book again.”

   Then he introduced the tourists of his group who came to Pyongyang with him and continued: “I am visiting the DPRK with my friends and we saw many changes. Everything is modern and people are nice. I couldn’t believe; so many changes took place for 19 years’ period. Of course there are some rumors by Americans; they say that people are dying of hunger, but they are all lies. People are leading a happy life and I am going to tell the Turkish people about that. Turkey is a country with a population of 80 million. People want to see new places so they should come. I don’t like luxury; I live very simple and I made my house as a museum. Life style here is perfectly like my style so I am always comfortable here and I am sure I will come again.”

   And he added: “I saw many shows in the US and Paris, but this is the best show. We are holding the same idea. The students, teachers and the workers–they were not professionals, but the show was perfect. It was unbelievable. It was excellent. It was first time I saw the show. We have visited many places in the DPRK for three days; the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the war museum, the schoolchildren’s palace and other places were all wonderful and impressive. We took many photographs and I am going to share them in my You Tube Channel. I will let the people know how nice this country is and how nice its people are. Women are wearing traditional dresses nicely; their national costumes are beautiful, they are smiling. Everything is very impressive. Instead of going to Paris, London and Rome I think people should come here and see the happy people.”

   He said he would do his best to develop tourism between the DPRK and Turkey and said as follows: “I have a TV shop and I am a famous person in Turkey. My TV shows every Saturday for about 20 years and there is also a radio program on tourism. I am going to write articles about you. I write articles to the newspapers and I have a You Tube Channel of about 60 000 people. I will use all of this. People are very curious about you, and they want to know about you, so I will try to promote you and I will try to let the Turkish people know about the truth about you.”

   The tourists from Turkey who visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from September 9 to 13, 2019 unanimously expressed their pleasure to be in the DPRK and said as follows.

   Tourist 1: I am very happy to be here. It’s very beautiful; there are many historic places and the nature is very beautiful. 

   Tourist 2: I am very excited about the education system here. I very much like to show the Turkish people the performance of the students’ and children’s palace. I am very happy to be here.

   Tourist 3: I am proud of being here, especially on my birthday. I believe in the DPRK. 

   The National Sculpture and Handicraft Festival is expected to take place at the Pyongyang International House of Culture from November 7 to 21, Juche 108 (2019).

   Art works depicting the national symbols like dog, bird, tree and flower and the life of the people of the DPRK will be displayed in the festival, the first of its kind in the country.

   The venue will be beautifully decorated with stone, wood, metal and plastic sculptures and various kinds of handicraft works of ceramics, horn, glass, lacquer, mother-of-pearl and embroidery, made with unique techniques and in different forms by sculptors, handicraftsmen and art fans.

   One month before the national festival, provincial and county festivals will be held, and works that are highly estimated will be displayed in the national festival. 

   Tourists visiting the DPRK in this period can visit the festival.

   On August 13, Juche 108 (2019), Norimatsu Satoko, a 54-year-old Japanese tourist, expressed her impressions of the grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance The Land of the People:

   “I think the most impressive part of this performance was the act, titled, Reunification–By Our Nation Itself, in which the September Pyongyang Joint Declaration and the burning desire of the Korean people for country’s reunification were portrayed in an artistic way. In particular, the scene in which two women from the north and the south hug each other was the most meaningful part. Also impressive was the scene depicting the Korean war. I had already been deeply moved at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum.”

   Another 34-year-old Japanese tourist, Ozawa Yui, said:

   “My impression was that the ability of the Korean people is great indeed. The performers seemed to be trained intensely. Most impressive was the act of Friendship, in which the performers, dressed in national costumes of the various countries of the world, gave satisfaction to the foreign tourists with world-famous music and dance. The performers and audience became one in their feeling.”

   On August 14, Juche 108 (2019), Nicolas Aaron Ehinger Platt, a 21-year-old Canadian tourist, expressed his impressions of the grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance The Land of the People:

   “It is an absolutely incredible performance. So many people getting back together to perform such amazing feats of athletics, mass gymnastics and music, altogether as one, is absolutely incredible. It is probably the most amazing performance I have ever seen. It is very hard to put the impressions of this performance of the world, almost impossible, actually. I think the most meaningful part of this performance is the story about the DPRK since it was founded by President Kim Il Sung, from old days to modern days, which is described in an artistic way so that the people who do not speak Korean language can understand the story and history of the DPRK.”

   After seeing the grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance The Land of the People on August 13, Juche 108 (2019), Ivan Dmitriev, a 44-year-old Russian tourist, said;

   “The performance was really characteristic and touched my heart. It was so dazzling that I enjoyed it with bated breath. Every scene was flawless, and it was wonderful as a whole. So, it is hard for me to say which was more wonderful. If I have to say, the magic dance performed by girls was very impressive. They changed their gloves so swiftly that I was surprised. ”

   The grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance The Land of the People is continuing with splendor. 

   Tourists who saw the performance do not hide their excitement.

   Per Castellanos Ekerhovd, a Norwegian tourist, said, “ It was an excellent artistic performance. All the performers, even the kindergarten kids, demonstrated their wonderful and expert skills. The girls jumping from 30 m-height were cool. I really enjoyed the performance from the first scene of mountains to the scenes showing happy life of the Korean people, difficult days, bumper harvest, etc. And all other scenes including fireworks display were good. While I was expecting what other new things would be shown, the performance was over. I really would like to see again such a good performance.” 

   The extravaganza continues. 

   Kirill Kryzhanovskii, a 28-year-old Russian tourist, said after enjoying the grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance on August 6, Juche 108 (2019):

   “During my stay in Korea I saw the grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance The Land of the People. I was greatly impressed. The impression is so great that I don’t know what to say first.

   “The opportunity to see such a wonderful performance is not easily available for every one. It is an honour that I’ve seen it.

   “First I would like to extend thanks to all its performers and creative workers.

   “Every item of the performance was impressive, but more impressive was the scene of the girls singing while playing the kayagum, a traditional instrument of Korea, the finale and the scene of acrobats performing stunts while flying like a rocket in the air.

   “Last I once again express my thanks to all the performers and creative workers.”

   The Korea International Travel Company plans to arrange a tour by train between October 27 and November 6, Juche 108 (2019).

   Travelling along the railways connecting major cities of the country and scenic attractions including Mt Myohyang, tourists enjoy the views of mountains, fields, cities and towns of the country.

   Along the Pyongyang-Hyangsan-Wonsan course, picturesque natural scenes of inland Korea come in sight, and along the Wonsan-Hamhung-Chongjin course, the seascape of crystal-clear water of the East Sea of Korea is really wonderful and sunrise on the horizon is magnificent. In particular, steam locomotives run between Kujang and Hyangsan and between Chongjin and Ranam, bringing greater pleasure to the tourists. 

   Sometimes the tourists will have to spend a night in the train to go to their destinations, and this will also prove a wonderful experience thanks to the sincere services provided in the train. 

   For detailed information, please contact the Juche Travel Services of the UK.

   Add: Surrey, East Molesey

   Tel: +44 7754 670186

   Email: info@juchetravelservices.com

    Between October 23 and 25, Juche 108 (2019) Pyongyang will host a tour for cultural exchanges between the elderly from the DPRK and China.

   Such tours were held in March and May. This tour, the third of its kind this year, has greater significance as it is to be held to mark the 69th anniversary of the participation of the Chinese People’s Volunteers in the Korean war.

   During the previous tours, the elderly from the two countries held artistic performances prepared by themselves, developing friendship with each other.

   During the tour the elderly are scheduled to enjoy a view of the banks of the picturesque Taedong in Pyongyang on a floating restaurant Taedonggang. They can also go to the country’s famous tourist attractions in Pyongyang, Kaesong and Hyangsan. 

   This type of tour will be organized in the future, too.

   The 2nd Pyongyang International Green Building Materials and Furniture Exhibition is to be held at the Three-Revolution Exhibition House between October 28 and 31, Juche 108 (2019).

   Having made its debut last year, this specialist exhibition of the construction sector brings together the experts and fans from home and abroad, who produce, use or sell the furniture and household utensils. It contributes to satisfying the demand of the people for better green buildings and furniture.

   The participants will have a pleasant time during their visit to such famous tourist attractions as Pyongyang, Kaesong and Hyangsan.