Religion in North Korea
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Religion in North Korea
The 'Great Leader' Kim Il-Sung and the 'Dear Leader' Kim Jong-Il (sun and successor of Kim Il-Sung) are praised as if they are gods. There portraits can be found are all over the streets and houses and in songs that children learn at school the leaders are sang about in religious words. Several mythological stories are introduced on their lives. According to North Korean sources, the graves of king Dangun and his wife were found in 1993. Tangun was according to the Korean tradition the sun of Hwan Ung - the sun og Hwan In, the lord of heavel - and a female bear who changed into a (human) woman. According to current North Korean religious propaganda, Kim Jong-Il, like Hwan Ung, descended from heaven at the mountain peaks of Paektusan (=Always White Peak mountain). Currently, this mountain is in the border area of North Korea and China.
 The birth place of Kim Il Sung (?) |
 The pictures of the great leader, his son and the first lady |
The adoration of the Kims goes hand in hand with the suppression of other religions, although this is hidden. Human-right activist point out that religious people in North Korea are being prosecuted and that there is no freedom of religion at all. Details on the number of religious people in North Korea can only be guessed about. Objective information on North Korea is scarce, so also religion and prosecution of devouted people.
Our experience with the religions stays with the visit of two Buddhist temples. The first (and biggest) temple was definately of historic importance to (North) Korea. However, we question whether the "monk" was real. After visiting the second temple we were sure: the monks are fke, actors to make the temple more vibrant. This second "monk" had hair and was wearing a gentlemen's suit. The only thing that made him a Buddhist was a red cloth that he wore. So we can confirm the story above.
Why are we being told and shown that freedom of religion exists in this country? Do local people know of this deception or are they kept unknown? Are guides forced to lie or do they think that what they see is the truth?
 The gods of the four wind directions (two out of four) |
 Suppression of evil |
 Buddhist temple |
 Buddhist monk (well...) |