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North Korea: A cinematic tourist experience in a secretive nation

North Korea: A cinematic tourist experience in a secretive nation
Author: Jordan Shepherd
1 Commentries
North Korea: A cinematic tourist experience in a secretive nation


Author: Jordan Shepherd University: University of Wolverhampton

Abstract:
Ultimately the aim of this paper is to discuss the reality of North Korea's tourism offer to the Western market in terms of its architectural and cultural tourism assets, whilst considering the implications of North Korean rule and society on the visitor experience.

Keywords:
Socialist Tourism, War Tourism, Red Tourism, Rhetoric, Reality, Censorship

Discussion Paper:

The Korean peninsula suffers from a 'stereotyped and negative image' according to Lee & Kang (2013) which is the result of years of tension and war which have been broadcasted in western news headlines for the eyes of western tourism consumers. In the west, North Korea, whose roots are shrouded in communism and soviet sympathy, is held responsible for such hostilities and is seen as the aggressive neighbor to its democratic counterpart in the South. Whilst its' fascinating landscapes, unique culture and historical relevance are more-or-less overlooked in the eyes of the westerner. In present day the North is ruled by the notorious Kim family's 'Workers Party' - an extreme totalitarian rule which has been accused by democratic nations of being paranoid, volatile, brainwashing, manipulative, corrupt and secretive (the list goes on). Until recently I would have been able to give a million reasons to why I would rather save my money than travel to such a place. Yet, with all the recent media attention the nation has received, I began to become more and more intrigued to what North Korea was really like, away from media scrutiny and bias. Is the nation really so dangerous, bleak and secretive that a western tourist like myself could take away from it, no genuine, positive tourist experience? It would seem that many others are also asking these questions as Bridge (2013) states that interest in North Korea from British tourists has increased in light of recent media attention. At present there are according to Campbell (2013) more than 3500 westerners visiting North Korea every year, all of whom he states are kept under 'constant surveillance' on itineraries run with 'military precision'.

The majority of visitor attractions promoted by North Korea are monuments which either commemorate past conflicts, display socialist ideas or pay tribute to the Kim family - virtually all of which are located in the nations' capital, Pyongyang. One such monument is the 'Grand Monument on Mansu Hill'. This huge monument features a colossal statue of the ruling party's founder Kim Il-Sung and on either side two large monuments. One is a deep red, emoting ideas of left wing politics entitled 'Socialist Revolution and Socialist Construction' whilst the other entitled 'Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Struggle' in many ways speaks for itself and features the flag and patriotic colors of the North Korean state. According to the website the site displays 'the immortal history of the Korean people who conducted revolution under the leadership of President Kim Il-Sung' - a description which screams out the rhetoric and fanaticism that has come to shroud the nations' image. Yet the dark side to such monuments could act as a pulling factor to western tourists as China according to Rioux (2007), promotes areas like Jiangxi as 'Red Tourism' sites - places of relevance to the country's involvement in communism.

The capital city of Pyongyang is an urban spectacle, but perhaps not in the way which its government intends. As is the case with the majority of things in North Korea, the capital is not as it seems as Campbell (2013) quotes two British tourists in saying that 'Most of the big hotels and buildings over there are empty inside'. Even hospitals it would seem are not as functioning as the state would wish us to believe as Wollaston (2013) describes BBC Panorama's undercover visit to North Korea in which a hospital was visited where there were no patients to be seen. Stories like these only increase the need for western tourists to read between the lines on any visit to the country, in order to maximize the authenticity of their experience. The capital city is also home to the International cinema hall prided by the state for featuring both domestic and foreign films and also hosting the Pyongyang International Film Festival every two years. Walker (2012) however plays down decoration of the 'cinema hall' as he describes the building as a 'concrete block' and claims that 'during screenings of movies from the west, projectionists cover the lens with cardboard whenever a scene is deemed unsuitable'. Locations like the cinema hall are not without state interference and censorship - though this could potentially increase the sense of adventure and submersion into the local culture thus increasing the tourist experience.

The joint security area on the demilitarized zone (DMZ) near the country's border with South Korea also attracts domestic and international tourists. It is in the JSA where representatives of the UN, North Korea and South Korea can meet in peace in order to negotiate long awaited (and perhaps unlikely) stability in the region. Tours in this area are conducted by tour operators in conjunction with the UN and South Korea therefore although the land is not strictly part of South Korea, one does not have to be guided by North Korean approved guides. Lee & Kang (2013) explain that the JSA is a temporary site and that this could act as a pull factor for the site as a visit could increase the 'prestige' of the tourist on upon their return home.

With its array of assets acting as dark tourism pull factors to international tourists, the socialist state is emerging as a unique alternative tourism destination. The novelty of this destination is not luxury nor is it a place for relaxation, but rather a place to emerge ones-self in a man-made fantasy courtesy of the Kim family's Workers' Party. A trip to North Korea would be unforgettable and incomparable to any other tourist experience on this earth, as tourists enter a film-like set with interesting backdrops, convincing actors and a gripping plot. For this reason Fisher (2012) humorously labels the location as 'Lenin Disney'. In the case of North Korea rhetoric blankets all that is reality, challenging the western tourist to find true meaning in a land of pretense - what could be more niche?

Reference List:

- Lee, T, J & Kang, E-J (2013) 'Living with war - The Korean truce' In: Butler, R & Suntikul, W 'Tourism and War' (Abingdon: Routledge)

- Bridge, A (2013) 'North Korea crisis piques tourists' interests', The Telegraph, 4 April, accessed 2 May 2013, <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9972056/North-Korea-crisis-piques-tourists-interest.html>

- Campbell, A. (2013) 'North Korean tourism: Holidays in a secretive republic', BBC News, 10 April, accessed 1 May 2013, <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22077585>

- Fisher, M. (2012) 'Welcome to Lenin Disney: North Korea's otherworldly tourism experience', The Washington Post, 16 October, accessed 05 May 2013,
< http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/10/16/welcome-to-lenin-disney-north-koreas-otherworldly-tourism-experience/>

- Walker, T. (2012) 'What do North Korea's buildings and landmarks tell us about the totalitarian state?', The Independent, 5 April, accessed 3 May 2013, <http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/architecture/what-do-north-koreas-buildings-and-landmarks-tell-us-about-the-totalitarian-state-7619256.html>

-Wollaston, S. (2013) 'Panorama: North Korea Undercover - TV review', The Guardian, 15 April, accessed 2 May 2013,
< http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2013/apr/15/panorama-inside-north-korea-review>

- Rioux, Y, L. (2007) 'Marketing the revolution: Tourism, landscape and ideology in China', (Ann Arbor: ProQuest)
Commentry on North Korea and niche tourism
Author: Otto Aleksi Poikolainen
This discussion paper describes well the current and past state of North Korea and how North Korea has been very strict and unfamiliar place for westerners. The discussion paper covers very well and compactly how North Korea has always been very different than the media describes it. I think the paper clearly shows what the main questions and complexities have been with the relation between tourists visiting North Korea and the people who are responsible for showing around the carefully considered monuments and sightseeing. North Korea is suffering from its vivid history and it has become very much more interesting in the eyes of western tourists because of its negative image in media and public. North Korea's notorious history and mystical rumours about it makes it appealing to certain tourist segment. It could be perceived also that North Korea has become more popular among these tourists because of its limited number of tourists visiting the country each year.

Although tourists are allowed to visit North Korea it is still very limited experience in a way because western tourists cannot be allowed to see everything that the very limited number of North Korean's are able to witness. Thus tourists are left unaware of what actually happens in North Korea although many tourists are willing to know a lot more about the culture and people in North Korea in order to experience the authentic North Korea.

This discussion paper is clearly carefully constructed and it is a pleasure to read it because it seems like it is well referenced and appears to be very professional and advanced type of writing. It is also a good thing about this discussion paper that it has a lot of relevant subject areas covered such as dark tourism and demilitarized zone between South and North Korea and most importantly the image that visitors have of North Korea when visiting the country.

This discussion paper is citing many relevant authors and references and includes many interesting and even absurd things about North Korea that no one could ever believe and us as westerners could take them as granted. The paper gives a lot of information about North Korea's history and culture and how they have been influenced by many contradictions in North Korea's past.

The discussion paper could have been better if other parts of North Korea were covered and compared to the capital of North Korea. It would have made it more interesting to be able to know whether North Korea is equally corrupted and secretive all around North Korea. It is a very good thing that the border area between North and South Korea has been explained and covered in the discussion paper because the relations between these two countries have been unstable for a very long time and rest of the world supports South Korea and watches anxiously.