Constructing the Socialist Way of Life: North Korea's Housing and Urban Planning

ISBN 10: 3869226862 / ISBN 13: 9783869226866

Published by DOM Publishers, 2023

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 401430046

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Constructing the Socialist Way of Life: North Korea's Housing and Urban Planning
• Publisher: DOM Publishers
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3869226862
• ISBN 13: 9783869226866
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Mass housing and urban planning constitute a key element of the material foundation of North Korea. In the post-war era, the country attempted to socialise all types of living spaces based on political ideology, from small apartment rooms to urban settings. The idea that North Korea’s political forces are brainwashing their people is superficial – as the testimonies of many defectors reveal. By exploring home culture and daily life, this book aims to capture the actual life of North Koreans who have largely supported the country’s unique but dictatorial political system. To this end, it uses drawings, maps, and diagrams obtained from various archives. While these are neutral forms of communication, they also convey the actual intentions of North Korean architects and planners hidden behind the deceitful claims of political leaders.

About the Author

Inha Jung is teaching architectural history and theory at Hanyang University (ERICA Campus). He graduated from Seoul National University in 1987, and acquired his Ph.D. at the University of Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne), France in 1993. After joining the Hanyang faculty in 1995, he focused his research on Korean modern architecture. Based on the investigation of archival documents, he tried to clarify Korean architects’ role and contribution in the modernization of Korean society.