National System Building: The Crucial Decade in North Korea (1950s)

When was North Korea's state system formed? There are varying opinions on this matter. Some suggest it was in the 1930s when the country was actively engaged in anti-Japanese activities. Others argue for the 1960s, citing the establishment of a unitary system, while some point to the 1980s when the successor system was solidified. However, the 1950s are often considered the pivotal period, as it was during this decade that the foundational elements of the social and economic system were put in place. Pyongyang was designated as the capital city, and significant growth occurred in the industrial sector.

In light of these historical considerations, we have organized three lectures aimed at delving into the process of North Korea's National System Building during the 1950s. Through these lectures, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of North Korea's new strategy in the 2000s, centered around the reconstruction of its national system.

Overview

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1) 20 October 2023

No Records, No History: Assessing the Viability of Utilizing North Korean Official Publications

Presenter:

Dr. Gwang-oon Kim (김광운) Visiting Research Professor Emeritus, The Institute for Far Eastern Studies(IFES)

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2) 12 January 2024

Dialectics of Labor: Working in Postwar North Korea

Presenter:

Dr. Cheehyung Harrison Kim, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, USA

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3) 05 February 2024:

A Study on Urban Planning and Spatial Change in the Modern and Contemporary Pyongyang (1937-1960)

Presenter:

Dr. Kim Tae Yoon, Senior Researcher, Asia Research Institute, Seoul National University, Korea

Abstract:

This lecture aims to explore that the 'locality' possessed by Pyongyang, which cannot be generalized merely by the ideology of 'socialism,' is a historical product resulting from the overlapping of physical legacies left by history, the agents of urban planning, and the technological changes manifested in the application process of urban planning.

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Moderator: Dr. Hojye Kang

Time & Venue:

Friday, October 20th 2023 - February 5th 2024

Offline:

Institute of Korean Studies
Otto-v.-Simson Str. 11
14195 Berlin

Online:
Webex