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'The World's Last Gulag'

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Posted on September 22, 2009 by Haley Dillan
Topics: Economic Development, Governance, Informal Economy
Countries: North Korea, South Korea

Not a lot is known about North Korea. Westerners are rarely granted permission to enter the country. And we almost never get to see images other than those from state-coordinated photo ops.

But in May, Foreign Policy magazine published seven photos of North Korea taken by documentary photographer Tomas van Houtryve. Pretending to be a businessman looking to open a chocolate factory, van Houtryve toured Pyongyang under the watchful eye of his state-assigned guides. Despite his escorts, van Houtryve covertly snapped photos of life in and around Pyongyang.

The resulting photo essay, "The Land of No Smiles," shows empty streets, somber faces and dimly lit subways. They also offer a glimpse of what van Houtryve calls “emergency capitalism” — factories set up in special economic zones along the North-South border that allow South Korean companies to hire cheap North Korean labor.

Click here to see the photos — and don't forget to read the captions, which are nearly as fascinating as the images they describe.

Bookmark/Search this post with
Keywords: emergency capitalism, gulag, photojournalism, Pyongyang, special economic zones

Comments

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:46 — Anonymous (not verified)

What an insightful look into

What an insightful look into an ambiguous culture. The way that a government plays a toll on the physical and aesthetic aspects of a country puts me at awe. In comparing photos from all over the world, you can learn so much about the freedom, and joy a country possess.

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:48 — Stephanie Roach (not verified) in San Antonio

one picture is worth one thousand words

I have always appreciated how photography can bridge the lapses in memory from my past. I see a picture of me playing basketball and I remember how much effort I put into that State Championship game and what a let down it was to loose. Tomas Van Houtryve has been able to make me appreciate even more how much pictures can stir our emotions. Every one of his photos made me think aloud and reflect on how what I thought about North Korea previously was only a fraction of how bad it truely is. The first picture of the people riding dow the escalator to the subway is so overcast, and dark and depressing. No one is on a cell phone, no one seems to be talking to anyone else, all of the people are wearing drab colors and the only thing that has color is the out-of-place bouquet. The second picture of and empty main street is baffaling. Even at 3 in the morning, on certain streets in San Antonio can you see more cars in 10 minutes then on theirs in the day time during normal work hours. The third picture makes me so angry. A shop keeper huddling in the dark because she isn't allowed to turn on heat or light unless for American customers. To have such laws against your own people and shopping, that just seem ludacris. The seventh picture really makes me think of art during the cultural revoltion in China. Atleast now China allows contact with the rest of the world! The last picture bothers me most. The title of "Cult of Personality" is dead on. It is crazy to me to hear that people join a cult and then later commit mass suicide for that cult. It is even more insane to think about a whole country forced into cult and under the lead of a man who makes himself seem like a god. These pictures are amazingly charged with emotion and should be viewed by as many people as possible.

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:52 — Anonymous (not verified)

It is really interesting to

It is really interesting to see the shap devided between life in North and South Korea. Yet another proof of the flawed nature of a communist society.

Tue, 09/29/2009 - 01:21 — The Daily Reviewer (not verified)

Hi! Congratulations! Your

Hi!

Congratulations! Your readers have submitted and voted for your blog at The Daily Reviewer. We compiled an exclusive list of the Top 100 social entrepreneurship Blogs, and we are glad to let you know that your blog was included! You can see it at http://thedailyreviewer.com/top/social-entrepreneurship/3

You can claim your Top 100 Blogs Award here : http://thedailyreviewer.com/pages/badges/social-entrepreneurship

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Fri, 10/02/2009 - 04:51 — Benjamin Barnett (not verified)

Pyongyang

What a drab, weary looking place. I have to think it's a reflection of the government control... government oppression. I would not like to live my life in a place like this. Everyone says the same thing after visiting North Korea. I feel so sorry for the people that live there. online casino

Sun, 10/18/2009 - 20:15 — Anonymous (not verified)

Are you talking about

Are you talking about Guantanamo?

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