Pyongyang Metro Map Pdf
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Pyongyang metro map pdf Continue Nutshell: I was part of the first ever group of foreigners to gain access to all stations on both lines of the Pyongyang Metro. It may seem mundane, but pyongyang's limited subway is certainly one of the most mysterious but beautiful transit systems on earth. Each of its sixteen stations is unique but ultra-nationalist in the theme, demonstrating North Korea's revolutionary history, goals and achievements of impressionable passengers through a series of mosaics, frescoes and monuments. It is a luxurious underground museum, long shrouded in foreign conspiracy theory. Sensationalness aside, here's my journey in more than sixty photos of Pyongyang's beating heart, the Pyongyang metro. About: I'm Elliot. I'm the tour director of North Korean tour operator Uri Tours. I travel a lot myself, sometimes to the unusual, the weird and the stupid. Nutshell land is where I share my experience. Interested in visiting North Korea for yourself? Shoot me by email on email protected. To set the scene, here's a small snippet of video going down to the platforms with the sound of revolutionary booming hymns from the antique speakers of the central escalator... The Pyongyang Metro is the deepest metro system in the world at an altitude of 110 meters and conveniently doubles as a nuclear bunker. It's a nearly four-minute descent to get to the rail platforms and corridors protected by thick steel blast doors. You can see them most prominently at Yonggwang and Kaeson stations. This is Pujung Station, the final part of the Chollima line. Until 2010, Pukhung was one of two metro stations that foreign visitors were allowed to visit, even with mandatory guides. Another yonggwang station and it's just one stop ahead. Both stations were the last two to be completed and considered the most generous, probably the reason they are chosen as showcase stations on tourist routes. The mural at the back is entitled Great Leader Kim Il Sung Among Workers. Central mosaics adorn each station, and each of them corresponds to a unique theme. This, of course, is an addition to the general theme of President Kim Il Sung. President Kim Il Sung is pictured here as a modest representation of the sun itself, looking down at the reunion of North Korean and South Korean citizens. All under the North Korean flag, no less. Tongil Station, Chollima Line. Today's headline: Our republic will thrive endlessly along the roadway to Chuche. This caption shows the late President Kim Il Sung, who has died for more than twenty years. Chuche is The National Ideology of North Korea, the brainchild of President Kim Il Sung, which often translates as self-reliance and for all intents and purposes the religion of North Korea, a technically atheist nation. Chuche is the cornerstone of ultra-nationalism, isolation and, it would seem, North Korea's immunity. All media North Korea is tightly controlled and censored by the state. This is the newspaper of the workers Rodong Sinmun, the official press of the Workers' Party of Korea. President Kim Il Sung and I at Kaesong Station. In the past, this statue was a dull, boring white marble depiction of the Great Man, but has since received a brilliant update. Kaeson translates as Triumph, each subway station is called references to the socialist revolution (Comrade, Red Star, Glory, Complete Victory, etc.) rather than by location. Kaeson is the only station to break this rule, referring to the landmark in the Arc de Triomphe. As for the trains, we rode the cream of the harvest. Berlin D-type hand-me-down from Germany that were planned to scrap until North Korea purchased them back in 1999. They are now being claimed as Korean built. All signs of Berlin production have been removed and train numbers have been changed, however, remnants of graffiti with scratches from their past life in Germany can still be made despite attempts to clean them up. They weren't as bad as imported trolley buses on the first level, these stuff still had what appeared to be Banksy's portfolio of works on their windows. Portraits of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il were present in each carriage of the train. By law, they are framed thicker to the top and angle down to control those in any room they placed. Revolutionary hymns filled each carriage until quiet, passengers did not speak or interact with each other, and boarding or boarding the train was an easy, polite process with a self-organized order. This mosaic is a celebration of the Workers' Party of Korea. President Kim Il Sung, noticeably more detailed than his peers, represents an inspiring and revolutionary result of their tough commitment to the juche. It reminded me of Mufasa presenting Simba's Pride Land on Pride Rock's The Lion King, just with more socialism. The banners read: Hurrah to our exceptionally wise leader Kim Il Sung! and Hurrah to the establishment of the Workers' Party of Korea! Those who actively serve in the Korean People's Army are no higher than Pyongyang's most efficient public transport system. Here I was seen and got a stern look from the GENERAL KNA as he lined up to buy a ticket, and any other citizen. In a vase next to the attendant, you can discover both the decorative purple Kimilsungia and the red Kimjongilia. I'm not sure why frosted glass, concealing the identity of the attendants, is necessary. Yonggwang Station, Chollima Line. This is yonggwang station, the second and last stop for most tourists in the past. This arbitrary restriction spawned conspiracy theories that Pyongyang Metro had only two stations in total, and that well-dressed passengers were simply actors assigned to introduce visitors to Impression impressed a public transport system that doesn't really exist. If you hadn't realized it was complete nonsense. As a bye, the frescoes on each wall here are massive eighty meters long. Hooray to the liberation of the women! Chonu Station is a transfer station from Chollima to the only officially recognized line, Hoxin. There has been some evidence to suggest another secretive line or network of lines exist only for government and military use. The evidence includes one prominent defector account and North Korea's inspection of imports of more than twice the required number of train carriages required for their state system, even with spare parts in mind. Train attendants manning the metro entrance above ground. The roles of public service in North Korea require military uniforms. A banner above the escalator reads: Long live General Kim Jong Un, Sun Songun (military-first) Korea! Pukhung Station, Chollima Line. One of our North Korean guides reads a guide to North Korea. This book was allowed into the country after being cleared by customs. He was glued to it for hours, fascinated by the outside view of his beloved country. Hwangumbol station, Hoxin Line. You go, American military! And the National Association are the translations here. Bronze plaques depicting scenes of the Korean War, national performance, reunion or victory celebration are standard inside most stations. Tongil Station, Chollima Line. Two passengers read a daily newspaper waiting for their train. Okay, one passenger reads the daily newspaper and the other gives me a look of death. Hoxin Station, Hoxin Line. Electronic board on the Chollima line (red). Hitting one of the stations along the bottom illuminates your route. I'm standing at Pukhung station. Here you can clearly see how far they previously allowed foreigners, literally one station on the right and then back. Today we have visited both lines since the end. Seriously, the subway is not fake or choreographed, it is an integral service for Pyongyang. Catch the train with some of Pyongyang's locals. I thought it was a subtle snap, watching it later proved otherwise. Passengers were nothing short of polite, offering seats to the elderly and even to us as foreigners. I'm not sure if it was normal or just for us. Hooray glorious Workers' Party of Korea! Trains arrive every five to seven minutes, during peak hours every two minutes. Before leaving, the platforms were packed just as it would have elsewhere in the world. Protected by the flag of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Korean people advance under the leadership of the eternal President Kim Il Sung. You will notice that each item plays a unique role; there are soldiers, naval officer, Air Force pilot, police, engineers, architect, mechanic, cleaner, cook, and a peasant. Each contributes to the wider success and victory of glorious Korea. It motivates people, regardless of their profession. It is one of the brightest monuments in the Pyongyang metro, and my favorite. Kwanbok Station is in relative darkness, illuminated only by this shiny, immaculate statue of Kim Il Sung at the very end. It was pretty awfully frank. Her face can say a thousand words. This is what I assume is either a group of conductors undergoing training or the next shift of dispersal. The group around their hands directly translates as Trainman. Hoxin Station, Hoxin Line. Street entrance to Yonggwang station. The banner translates as: Following the great leader of our party, let's get to the final victory! This is the entrance to Konchuk station. We were the first foreign guests ever allowed to this station. Foreign tour operators have consistently tried to push the boundaries to traditional trips to Pyongyang. As an example, we can cite the subway, until 2010 were available only two stations, then became five, then six, and today we had access to all sixteen stations.