Volume 11 | Issue 50 | Number 2 | Article ID 4048 | Dec 15, 2013 The Asia-Pacific Journal | Japan Focus

The Arirang of North 朝鮮民主主義人民共和 国のアリラン祭

Rüdiger Frank

games relegate the individual to the role of a tiny piece in large machinery, how they This article is also available as a pdf. suppress individuality and show that usefulness is only in the group. I will not try to discover Purpose and focus parallels to Neo-Confucian ideals of loyalty and filial piety. I also regard the nationalist content Having grown up in , from early of Arirang as obvious and do not present it as a on I have been familiar with all kinds of mass finding. The same is true for the all too performances, including organized parades, apparent similarities with mass and meetings, or so-called mass games or mass propaganda shows under other totalitarian gymnastics. All of them involved large numbers systems including those of Stalin, Hitler or of people, often in the thousands or tens of Mao; just take the slogan “triumph of the will” thousands.1 The performances were (의지의 승리) in scene 7 of act 2, which is characterized by a high level of synchronism identical with the title of Leni Riefenstahl’s and uniformity. They included music, artistic infamous film about the 1934 Nazi Party components, dancing and marching. They Congress. brimmed over with symbolism. The 대집단체조 와 예술공연 아리랑 (Mass gymnastics and While I am aware of all this, my focus will be artistic performance Arirang), in the West much more simple and straightforward. I will usually known as Arirang Mass Gamesgo through the 2012 Arirang performance (henceforth Arirang) of the DPRK, or North piece by piece, presenting a complete version Korea, thus do not strike me as particularly of the storyline and representative visual “breathtaking”, which seems to be the typical images. My main intention is to analyze the reaction of most visitors. This does not mean, structure of the performance. But where however, that Arirang is less worth of our appropriate, I will try to relatively briefly attention. decode the meaning of the involved images, songs and slogans. What is the message the Technically speaking, Arirang is a visual and creators of the mass games wanted to send? acoustic artistic and gymnastics performance And more importantly, what is the unintended that takes place in a large stadium. It is said to message they are sending? involve 100,000 participants who either perform on stage or as “pixels” in a large It is in the latter where some analytical value of “living” screen, a human canvas on which such an otherwise relatively descriptive various images and slogans are shown. I look at approach is to be found. More often than not, Arirang as part of my attempts atthis comes close to reading tea leaves, but it is understanding the North Korean system worth the effort as we do not have too many through the lens of its own public statements, alternative ways to get deeper into the minds of often referred to as propaganda. I will thus not the system’s current ideologues. Knowing this discuss the aesthetics or explore how the mass mindset is crucial, however. has

1 11 | 50 | 2 APJ | JF nuclear weapons; large parts of its population I do not write about Arirang in all its live on the brink of serious malnutrition or grotesqueness because I want to ridicule North famine; and the human rights situation is Korea; I do so because I want to improve our disastrous. We cannot afford not to useknowledge about it. My premise is that whatever chance we have to learn more about a sometimes we best learn about North Korea by country that in many regards remainscomparing it with earlier versions of itself. This enigmatic, despite the exponential growth of technique can be applied to New Year information about it in the past two decades. I Editorials or Messages; to budget reports do not argue that one single Arirangduring the annual parliamentary session; or to performance can explain all aspects of North any other regular and standardized expression Korean system and its policies. But it provides of the regime’s position. But to achieve the best another piece to this puzzle. possible results through comparative analysis, we need a benchmark. Admittedly, however, very often there simply is no such secret meaning. Taken in isolation, The main purpose of this paper is thus rather most stories and statements contained in the humble: to provide such a point of reference for Arirang performance are fairly clear for anyone comparatively analyzing Arirang performances. who has studied North Korea seriously. Such In this sense, I intend to do basic research obviousness is a necessity, as the performance which is in large part descriptive, but will is made primarily for the nationalist education hopefully lay the foundation for analytical of North Korean citizens. They must be able to research. Based on this article, other scholars understand the message instantly. Aswill be able to look back at the 2005 Abrahamian (2012) notes very pointedly, performance or the current 2013 version and Arirang is “the official national narrative discover and discuss the variations that have bundled into a 90-minute spectacle”. It is emerged. I suggest an analytical framework for hardly surprising that the struggle against the doing so at the end in my conclusion. Japanese, the , the greatness of the leaders and the achievements ofMy safe and comfortable position as a tenured socialism are core themes. Some expressions professor in Austria grants me the luxury of are bizarre in form and contents, at least to the returning to the principle that form should Western eye. All this might be sufficient for follow function, and not vice versa. Too many another derisive and sensational TV report, but excellent publications by young scholars in our it is not enough to justify the time a scholar field end up never being read widely enough invests to write such a paper. because the writers were forced to think strategically in terms of building their So why look at the whole Arirang performance academic CVs. I am thus grateful to the editors then, and why writing about it at all? The of The Asia Pacific Journal, formerly known as reason why I do not focus on a few highlights is Japan Focus, not only for their thorough that I regard Arirang as a complex work that reviewing and editing of this article, but also should be seen in its entirety. Take, for for the opportunity to publish fast, to include a example, the fact that the death of Kim Jong-il whopping 132 images, and to reach thousands is covered in chapter 2, while his birth comes of readers from academia and beyond – later in chapter 3, or the frequency and the impossible in a traditional printed journal, context of references to Kim Jong-unhowever highly it might be ranked in the SSCI throughout the various acts of the whole or whatever index a bureaucracy with a fixation performance. on numbers considers relevant.

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Sources where, despite the growing number of visitors in the past years, physical presence or Although Arirang is mentioned occasionally in fieldwork are still regarded as something books on North Korea, specialized literature on rather exclusive. I was fortunate enough to these mass games in Western languages is have access numerous times since 1991 and surprisingly scarce. Perhaps closest to what I attended Arirang four times so far - in 2005, intend to do is a very nice piece by Scott Fisher 2010, 2012 and 2013. (2002) about a visit to the first Arirang performance. Many scholarly studies have been Another problem is the necessary knowledge of written by musicologists such as Burnett (2013, context. In particular South Korean scholars highly recommendable) and Jin (2012) and thus used to face enormous legal difficulties when focus primarily on the musical aspects. The they tried to learn more about what Brian same is true for a larger, but still rather small, Myers (2010) in his energetic and challenging number of publications in Korean such as Pak book calls “the text”, that is, the propagandistic Yŏng-chŏng (2007) and Hwang Kyŏng-suk story told by the North Korean state to its (2008). Merkel (2013) approaches the topic as people. With the exception of the presidencies a sports event and attempts to analyze it of progressives such as Kim Dae-jung and Roh comparatively, but his study stops short of Moo-hyun (1998-2008), an intense and long- going into the details systematically and suffers term research into the world of thought of from a number of errors and half-truths. Not to North Korea has often exposed researchers to be forgotten is the remarkable documentary “A suspicions about their political convictions. In state of mind” by Nick Bonner’s VeryMuchSo the worst case, it was seen and treated as a Production and Koryo Tours in 2003, which violation of the National Security Law. provides rare insights into the lives of the performers. An outstanding analysis of the For this study, I use the video-recording I made familial relational dynamics of Arirang from the in the evening of September 12, 2012. The perspective of religious studies is Jung (2013) ticket for a first class seat cost me 150 EUR, a who calls it “the paradigmatic worshipridiculously high special price for foreigners ceremony or High Mass of Jucheism” and especially if you consider that a North Korean argues that “the Festival is North Korea at its tablet computer sells for just 30 Euros more highest moment.” (Jung 2013: 96). Among the (see Frank 2013 for a review). But the ticket visual sources Jung lists are three films made in price was actually a bargain considering the North Korea: “Days of the creation of Arirang” other costs involved including time, plane (2002), “Mass gymnastics and artistictickets and hotel bills. performance Arirang” (2005), and “On the green silk” (2007). I focus on my 2012 recording because it is one of the most recent performances I have I would argue that given the nature of the attended, and because it is one of the two event and the attention the regime hascomplete recordings at my disposal. The official received, we observe a relative scarcity of DVDs I found in North Korean bookstores are publications in particular in Westernmerely 20 minute summaries of what the languages. One reason might be access to editors regard as the highlights. Burnett (2013) North Korea. Albeit by no means impossible, it bases her study on Arirang 2005 published on is severely regulated and restricted. It is more DVD by Korea Central Television. Most full- energy consuming than most other journeys to time Arirang recordings found on platforms a foreign country, and it is quite expensive. such as YouTube come from official North North Korea thus is one of the few countries Korean TV. It is hard to find complete

3 11 | 50 | 2 APJ | JF recordings of Arirang that show the main North Korea (1998-2004): Systemic screen (card section) continuously. Most Restrictions, Quantitative Analysis, Ideological versions I encountered have been edited. Their Background. Journal of the Asia Pacific focus switches back and forth between long Economy (Routledge), Vol. 10/3, pp. 278-311 shots and close ups and between the main screen and the foreground, so that not all Frank, Rudiger (2012): North Korea after Kim relevant changes are visible. Jong Il: The Kim Jong Un era and its challenges. The Asia-Pacific Journal Vol. 10/2, January 9, The last Arirang performance I have personally 2012, attended was in September 2013. I am thus http://japanfocus.org/-Ruediger-Frank/3674 aware that the 2012 version has been modified. It is almost certain that we will see another Frank, Rudiger (2013): The North Korean variation in 2014 and later. Having attended Tablet Computer Samjiyon: Hardware, Arirang before (2005 and 2010), I know that Software and Resources, 38 North, Vol. 10, the 2012 version itself has been the result of a October 2013, U.S.-Korea Institute at the continuous adjustment process. Occasionally, I School of Advanced International Studies will point at differences that I have identified. (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, pp. 1-16, This is not done systematically here, since my http://38north.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ intention is to present Arirang 2012 as it is. SamjiyonProductReview_RFrank102213-2.pdf Readers should thus be aware that there are Jin, Yong-seon (2012): Arirang of North Korea, many changes that are unmentioned in this in: Kwon Oh-sung, Kim Young-woon, Lee Yong- article. shik, Jin Yong-seon, Yun Jung-gang:Korean Read on... [LINK] Musicology Series 5, Seoul: National Gugak Center, pp. 161-193 For an example of the 1987 performance in Leipzig, Jung, Hyang Jin (2013):see Jucheism as an http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcE4oRAo2i Apotheosis of the Family: The Case of the A Arirang Festival, Journal of Korean Religions, Vol. 4/2, October 2013, pp. 93-122 Selected References Merkel, Udo (2013): The Grand Mass Abrahamian, Andray (2012): Are the Arirang Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Preparing People for A Chinese (2002–2012): North Korea's Socialist–Realist Path? 38North, 13.08.2012,Response to Global Sports Spectacles,The http://38north.org/2012/08/aabrahamian08131 International Journal of the History of Sport, 2/ 2013, p.1-12

Burnett, Lisa (2013): Let Morning Shine over Myers, Brian (2010): The Cleanest Race: How : The Future-Oriented Nationalism North See Themselves and Why It of North Korea’s Arirang Mass Games.Asian Matters. New York: Melville House Music, Vol. 44/1, Winter/Spring 2013, pp. 3-32 박영정 (2007): 21 세기 북한 공연예술 대집단체조 Fisher, Scott (2002): Arirang Festival,와 예술공연 아리랑. 월인. http://1stopkorea.com/index.htm?nk-trip5.htm~ mainframe 황경숙 (2008): 무용철학: 북한무용의 현황과 대집 단체조와 예술공연 “아리랑”. 움직임의철학: 한국 Frank, Rudiger (2005): Economic Reforms in 체육철학회지, 16(1), 215-227. (Dance

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Philosophy: Status of North Korea Dance - the positions have included Columbia University Large Scale Mass Game and Performing Art) New York and Korea University, Seoul. He is Vice President of the Association for Korean Films mentioned by Jung (2013): Studies in Europe (AKSE) and acting President of the U.S. and Hong Kong-based Asian Politics 대집단체조와 예술공년 아리랑 [Mass gymnastics and History Association (APHA). He is also and artistic performance Arirang], 2005, Deputy Chief Editor of the “European Journal of P’yongyang: Hana Electronics East Asian Studies” and an Associate of “The Asia Pacific Journal”. He is the founding editor 푸른 주단 우에서 [On the green silk], 2007, of a new book series at Brill titled “Security P’yongyang: Mongnan Video and International Relations in East Asia”. His 아리랑 창조의 나날에 [Days of the creation of major research fields are socialist Arirang], 2002, P’yongyang: 조선기록과학영화 transformation in East Asia and Europe (with a focus on North Korea), state-business relations 촬영소 in East Asia, and regional integration in East Recommended citation: Rüdiger Frank, "The Asia. His most recent books are: (with S. Arirang Mass Games of North Korea, The Asia- Burghart, eds., 2010):Driving Forces of Pacific Journal, Volume 11, Issue 50, No. 2, Socialist Transformation: North Korea and the December 16, 2013. Experience of Europe and East Asia, Vienna: Praesens, (ed., 2011): Exploring North Korean The Arirang Mass Games of North Korea" The Arts, Nuremberg: Verlag fuer Moderne Kunst, Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 11, Issue 48, No. 1, (with Heung Chong Kim and Sung-Hoon Park, December 2, 2013. eds., 2012): Korea and East Asia in a Changing Regional and Global Environment, Seoul: KIEP Rüdiger Frank is Chair and Professor of East and (with John Swenson-Wright, eds., 2013): Asian Economy and Society at the University of Korea and East Asia: The Stony Road to Vienna and Head of its Department of East Collective Security, Leiden and Boston: Brill. Asian Studies. He is also an adjunct professor at Korea University and the University of North For more information, see here. Korean Studies (Kyungnam University) in Seoul. He holds an M.A. in Korean Studies, For publications, see here. Economics and International Relations and a Email: [email protected] Ph.D. in Economics. In 1991/1992, he spent one semester as a language student at Kim Il-sung 1The author would like to thank a number of University in P’yongyang and has beenreviewers for their insightful comments, researching North Korea ever since. Visiting criticism and recommendations.

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