North Korean literature

This article is about literature of the northern half of the Korean Peninsula following the proclamation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 1948. For the literature of Korea before that date, see Korean literature. For literature of the southern half of the peninsula, see South Korean literature.
See also: Culture of North Korea

A shelf of books with Korean writing on them
Books on display at the Grand People's Study House in Pyongyang
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Reading is a popular pastime in North Korea, where literacy and books enjoy a high cultural standing, elevated by the regime's efforts to disseminate propaganda as texts. Because of this, writers are held in high prestige.[1]

The division of Korea following the Second World War led to a considerable cross-border movement, which included writers moving from North to South or from South to North.

North Korea's subsequent literary tradition was shaped and controlled by the State.[2][3] The "Guidelines for Juche Literature", published by the official Korean Writers' Alliance [ko] (Korean: 조선 작가 동맹), emphasised that literature must extoll the country's leader, Kim Il Sung, and, later, Kim Jong Il.[2] Only members of the Writers' Alliance are authorised to have their works published.[2][4]

  1. ^ Gabroussenko, Tatiana (September 27, 2013). "Benoit Symposium: Writers in the DPRK: The Invisible Stars". Sino-NK. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Matthew Dennis (ed.). ""North Korea: Culture and Lifestyle." World Geography and Culture Online". Facts On File. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference sung was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Hayun Jung (October 2006). "An Interview with Hayun Jung". Words Without Borders. Retrieved August 15, 2015. all publications are strictly controlled by the Choson Writers Alliance