Understand life in North Korea thanks to the waste from its inhabitants

By a luminous afternoon in April. Consequently, just 12 kilometers from the coasts of North Korea, Kang Dong-Wan strolls on the beaches of the South Korean Island of Yeonpyong.

Dressed in a yellow windbreaker. In addition, fitted with a metallic pliers in the right hand and a giant bag in his left hand in order to harvest his treasures, he advances slowly on the beach made of small pebbles. Moreover, His eyes scrutinize the beach and the waves.

Among the finds of the day. Nevertheless, a worn-down toothbrush typical of the North-as we rarely see-a burnt life vest probably from a manufacturing plant and wearing a typical writing style of North Korean propaganda slogans, as well as a yogurt container out of a factory supervised personally by Kim Jong-un.

A bowl of red and white plastic which may seem understand life north korea thanks commonplace also attracts the attention of the researcher. However, It is broken, which makes it possible to examine the different layers of equipment used. In addition, It is labeled New Hopewhich means new hope, which intrigues the professor of political science at Dong-A university, in Pusan.

Most North Korean products mention the “Pyongyang” or “Chosun”. Similarly, This is the first time that I have seen an article labeled “New Hope“. For example, This reflects the new local development policies advocated by Kim Jong-un. Similarly, but this object testifies above all to the extremely precarious living conditions of the North Koreanhe believes.

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Professor Kang’s approach is a cross between archeology. anthropology in real time, political research and citizen commitment.

Kang Dong-Wan has been analyzing the North Korean poverty present on almost all the objects found on the. South Korean island of Yeonpyeong for years.

When you think of North Korea, you often focus on political aspects such as nuclear weapons or Kim Jong-un. But the country also has an art form, industrial art. By analyzing the packaging, you can learn a lot about North Korean design, the characters used, even typography. These elements understand life north korea thanks offer another look at North Koreaavance kang dong-wan.

Before the pandemic, Professor Kang observed North Korea from the demilitarized area. He was interested in slogans and posters using powerful telephoto lens.

When the Restrictions linked to the COVID-19 ended his remote observations, he changed his approach. He turned to the waste that the sea brought back.

For the past four years, Kang Dong-Wan has been searches the beaches of the island of YeonPyeong once a month. This island and the four surrounding people, also occupied by South Korea, form the maritime border with the North.

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The small Fisherman’s Island in Yeonpyeong has been a hot spot for intercreen tensions for years. North Korean bombings in 2010 would even have made between 4 and 20 dead.

Kang Dong-Wan participates in conferences. he published a work on his thousands of finds in the waste rejected by the sea.

It is a meticulous inventory of life fragments. classified by categories of objects testifying to everyday life: confectionery, cookies, drinks, dairy products, condiments, alcohols, cigarettes, drugs.

Korea remains divided. but unification is a dream that we must achieve. understand life north korea thanks Through this waste. I want to recall that our northern brothers live very close to us, that they are like us, but without freedom, without democracy, without rights. My hope is that they can one day share the values ​​we have here.

Even if he has been doing his research for four years, the professor still discovers new products or new windows on North Korean life.

This time, it is a packaging of disinfectant wipes made from natural products. Kang Dong-Wan can even sweep the QR code.

These disinfectant wipes bear the mention Yaksam. I had never seen before. By reading the composition, I discovered that it was a plant, undoubtedly a medicinal herb. What is interesting is that some North Korean products now have a QR code. This, for example, understand life north korea thanks reveals a simple description: disinfectant wipes based on Yaksam, 10 units in a plastic bag.

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While North Korea is more closed on itself than ever. after having tried for a few weeks to reopen its borders this spring, Professor Kang Dong-Wan aims to humanize its inhabitants.

He continues to survey the beaches in search understand life north korea thanks of new clues.