An Analysis of North Korean Depictions of Work and Ideal Workers in the Kim Jong Un Era
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“Everything Can Be Achieved with Revolutionary Spirit!” An Analysis of North Korean Depictions of Work and Ideal Workers in the Kim Jong Un Era Eetu Laustela Master’s Thesis Master’s Programme in Area and Cultural Studies Asian Studies Faculty of Arts University of Helsinki May 2021 Tiedekunta – Fakultet – Faculty Koulutusohjelma – Utbildningsprogram – Degree Programme Faculty of Arts Master’s Programme in Area and Cultural Studies Opintosuunta – Studieinriktning – Study Track Asian Studies Tekijä – Författare – Author Eetu Viljami Laustela Työn nimi – Arbetets titel – Title ”Everything Can Be Achieved with Revolutionary Spirit!”: An Analysis of North Korean Depictions of Work and Ideal Workers in the Kim Jong Un Era Työn laji/Ohjaaja – Arbetets art/Handledare – Level/Instructor Aika – Datum – Month and year Sivumäärä– Sidoantal – Master’s Thesis / Andrew Logie May 2021 Number of pages 91 Tiivistelmä – Referat – Abstract This thesis explores what characteristics and expectations are associated with work and workers in contemporary North Korea and how those representations differ from other socialist countries and North Korea’s own past. The theoretical background demonstrates how different thinkers have conceptualized modern work as an ideological tool, specifically under socialism. Using workers as the nominal subjects in their legitimization narratives, state socialist regimes have utilized various practices to mix the reality and the ideal, praising workers as heroes while maintaining exploitation. The literary review covers previous research on the policy and propaganda about work across the Soviet Union, China, and North Korea, showing how the image of the ideal worker has developed according to material conditions and political goals of each place and period. As contemporary North Korean work has received less attention in studies, this thesis explores the depictions of work and workers in North Korea in 2012–2020. The analysis is conducted by using qualitative content analysis on North Korean English-language media. The data consists of magazines, newspaper articles and two films. Through analysing this sample of journalistic writings, photos and fictional films and texts, repeating patterns of representations about workers emerge as four major categories of characteristics: technological skill and innovativeness, unity and collectivism, correct morals and ideology, and self-reliance. Together these qualities make up the image of the contemporary ideal worker in North Korea. These findings suggest some shifts in North Korean ideology in the last decade compared to the past. The categories mostly follow familiar themes but from new perspectives and with different emphasis. The collectivist tendency and family metaphors are stronger, and the roles between different workers are minimized. The workers are increasingly shown as highly educated innovators and scientists. Despite the rising narratives on science, the revolutionary spirit is equally maintained as an important feature. Avainsanat – Nyckelord – Keywords East Asia, North Korea, work, productivity, ideology, media, propaganda, representation, socialism, qualitative content analysis Säilytyspaikka – Förvaringställe – Where deposited University of Helsinki library (E-thesis) Muita tietoja – Övriga uppgifter – Additional information TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Note on Key Terms and Romanization ....................................................................... 3 2 THEORIZING MODERN WORK .................................................................................... 5 3 LITERARY REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Work under State Socialism ...................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Stakhanovites in the USSR ................................................................................ 10 3.1.2 Model Workers in the PRC ................................................................................ 13 3.1.3 Conceptualizing the ideal socialist worker ........................................................ 17 3.2 Work and the Economic History of the DPRK ......................................................... 18 3.2.1 From rapid development to slow decline: 1945–1991 ....................................... 18 3.2.2 Managing the crisis and entering the Kim Jong Un era: 1991–2020 ................. 25 4 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 33 4.1 On Producing Knowledge about North Korea .......................................................... 33 4.2 Data ........................................................................................................................... 34 4.2.1 Korea Today....................................................................................................... 36 4.2.2 Rodong Sinmun .................................................................................................. 37 4.2.3 Filmography ....................................................................................................... 38 4.3 Method ...................................................................................................................... 40 5 ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................................... 44 5.1 Differences across Format and Time ........................................................................ 44 5.2 Categories of Characteristics ..................................................................................... 48 5.2.1 Scientific knowledge, rationality, and innovativeness ....................................... 48 5.2.2 Collectivism and unity ....................................................................................... 55 5.2.3 Correct moral and ideological qualities ............................................................. 64 5.2.4 Self-reliance ....................................................................................................... 70 6 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................ 75 6.1 Concluding Remarks ................................................................................................. 80 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................... 82 References to the Data.......................................................................................................... 87 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: A worker handling machinery at Ryongaksan Spring Water Factory ...................... 52 Figure 2: A lone worker handling machinery at Taean Heavy Machine Complex ................. 53 Figure 3: The small figure of the main character passing through the halls of Chollima Steel Complex, surrounded by large machinery ............................................................................... 53 Figure 4: Teams of researchers gathering around their inventions at Cutting-Edge Science Research Centre of Kim Il Sung University (left image) and Fishing Information Research Institute (right image) .............................................................................................................. 54 Figure 5: The party chief in his worker outfit in the early parts of the film (upper image) and later in a formal black suit as fit for an official (lower image) ................................................ 58 Figure 6: Construction workers gathered to listen their superior, all clad in the same basic worker clothes, including the commander ............................................................................... 59 Figure 7: Typical visuals of workers in Korea Today, focused on working and showing little emotion .................................................................................................................................... 66 Figure 8: Joyful construction workers (upper image) and the main character smiling through her work at the coal mine (lower image) ................................................................................. 67 1 INTRODUCTION In a speech held in late 2019 at the Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Jong Un praised “the current offensive” as “a gigantic, patriotic struggle to be waged by the high-pitched enthusiasm and creative efforts of millions of the working people … [who] make efforts to increase production and practice economy to the maximum,” while also noting that the “a revolutionary ideology and spirit should lead the times, but the economic work should be conducted firmly in conformity with the practical conditions.”1 As in all modern industrial societies, work and the act of production are the central social activity in The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).2 Even the leader himself is not exempt from the national work ethic, as he engages in a “a no sleep, no- rest, high-intensity schedule” without “any day-offs, holidays or birthdays,” as reported in 2019.3 The workers in North Korea are a constant target of numerous ideological and cultural pressures and expectations to increase the quality and quantity of their outputs. Working is given a significant political importance, but also