POP CULTURE OF THE RENEGADE COUNTRY

While South Korean pop stars with billions of views are adored by the world’s youth, the North Korean ‘popular genre’ can be divided into two regime-compliant types: revolutionary music and state-controlled popular music.

Not surprisingly, the revolutionary music is performed by various choirs of the Korean People’s Army. Their songs are usually about the struggle against imperialism, about victory and patriotism.

The unique genre of North Korean light music is represented by groups such as the Moranbong Band, a favourite of the ‘Dear Leader’, the Unhasu Orchestra, the Wangjaesan Light Music Band, the Chongbong Band, the Yun I-sang Orchestra, and the Mansudae Art Troupe, which also performs operas. Their sound is almost pop music, their performers also use electric instruments, but they mostly sing about the incessant fight, industry and the life of the people.

Kim Il-Sung and his successor, Kim Jong-il, considered themselves veritable ‘cinephiles’ and advocated the production of propaganda films based on Juche ideology. Film production in the country is, of course, controlled by the state party.

Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

The mausoleum in the city of Turkestan was commissioned in 1389 by Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur, to replace a smaller 12th-century mausoleum of the famous Turkic poet and Sufi mystic, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (1093–1166). The UNESCO recognized it as the country's first site of patrimony, declaring it a World Heritage Site in 2003.

Astana

Kazakhstan’s second largest city is a modern, planned city which has dramatically changed when it became the capital of the country in 1997. Following the masterplan of Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, Astana is home to a range of futuristic buildings, including many skyscrapers.

Nur-Astana Mosque

The third largest mosque in Central Asia can be found in Astana. The 40-metre height symbolises the age of the Islamic prophet Muhammad when he received the revelations, and the height of the minarets are 63 metres, the age Muhammad was when he died.

J. C. Sharman