[Trending] I Introduced Polaroid To North Korea, And It Made People Open Up And Tell Their Stories

I first went to North Korea in 2008. At this time, there were no mobile phones in the country, and the only pics people were taking were tha...

I first went to North Korea in 2008. At this time, there were no mobile phones in the country, and the only pics people were taking were thanks to the official photographers who stood at the entrance of the main monuments to sell some photo souvenirs to visitors.


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I first thought about making Polaroids just as a kind of artistic work, to keep the dull colors of this country, but quickly I discovered this camera was the best way to make contacts with locals and to break the ice.

Every time I was taking a polaroid, I was taken another one I offered to my North Korean “model”. So many times, this allowed me to see North Koreans in a very different way, and to start some conversations, through my guide, of course. Something that was not allowed in 2008.

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I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Miss Kim, she was a perfect French speaking guide in the War Museum. I met her 5 times during my trips, she kept on telling me she learned French in Pyongyang university. In fact, I learned later that she spent her childhood in Algeria where her father was a diplomat. But for the propaganda, it was better to say that you can learn perfect French in North Korea!

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Every new couple comes to Mansudea hill to pay respect to the dear Leaders statues in Pyongyang on the day of their wedding. By looking at their face, this does not look like a happy time! They are very serious. The guide told me that they were moved to visit the statue of the Leader. But after seeing their faces on Polaroids, they started to smile and even laugh, forgetting the etiquette!

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

A colonel on the DMZ. He was speaking about peace, about the oppression of the Americans, and the day after the meeting North Korea was making a nuclear test! He asked to have one Polaroid in front of the South Korean building, to show his wife where he was working.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Woman working in a subway in Pyongyang.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Women working in a Highway restaurant near Pyongyang. They see very few people during the day, it’s a boring job. First, i thought they were flight attendants. This was the first time they saw a Polaroid, so i had to make one for each one.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Nurses in a kindergarden Nampo.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Woman playing bowling in Pyongyang.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

When visiting some houses, I asked the people where they wanted to stand for the picture, everybody answered: “Below the dear leaders’ portraits”. Once, i had to do the Polaroid again as the Leaders portraits were cut. Unacceptable.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Mansudae hill. It is not common to have nobody there…

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

On a Sunday afternoon, on the Taedong river in Pyongyang, the North Koreans come to have a BBQ or a picnic, a very different atmosphere, with lots of Soju (rice alcohol) and lots of smiles.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

In the countryside: bikes and farms. No cars, nothing else.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Guards inside the subway taking care of the arrivals and departures of the wagons. Usually, they act like little robots, for the Polaroids they become humans!

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Waitress playing accordion in a restaurant. This is a tradition, once they have finished serving food, they all come to sing. Pyongyang.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

View from the Yanggakdo hotel in Pyongyang. in 2008, you could sleep with the window open, there was no cars at this time in town.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Woman in front of flowers in Pyongyang.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Decoration in the bowling in Pyongyang. A good place to visit to see North Korea having fun and having dates. Tinder is not yet in North Korea.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

I had the chance to meet some Triplets in Nampho orphanage. There are a lot of twins and triplets in orphanages. The official reason is that parents cannot afford to raise 2 or 3 kids at same time. Some say that they represent a kind of magic for the Leaders and that the parents do not have the choice to keep them at home. I took a polaroid of the triplets and asked the orphanage director to give the picture to the parents, but I understood they were living very far away and that there were few chances they could receive the picture of their children.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Monument in Pyongyang.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Woman in a park.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

In 2008, there was just the statue of Kim Il Sung in Mansudae hill, then they put the Kim Jong il statue when he died.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Young guard in a museum in Pyongyang.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Colonel at the DMZ.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Nurse in a kindergarden, Nampo.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

North Korean Army Parade in Pyongyang. It was a rehearsal. Each man has a number on his uniform and an officer shouts orders to the ones who are not in the good tempo.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Accordion classroom in Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace, in Pyongyang. The visit that every tourist does. The guide opens the door and for 30 seconds you can see accordion, dance, singing, calligraphy… The guide keeps on telling: “We are late, we are late…”

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

During a visit in a kindergarten in Hamhung, in the sleeping room for the kids.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

A picture taken in the countryside, as in Pyongyang, depending on the mood of the Leaders, riding a bike is not possible for women, not aesthetic. In the countryside, there is no choice to move from one point to another…

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Two North Korean guides in the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum (aka the War Museum) in Pyongyang. For two hours they explained with tons of lies the glorious victories of North Korea against the American imperialists, very seriously. Then when I suggested to make a Polaroid, they became very shy and smiling.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Waitresses in a restaurant in Pyongyang.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Worker woman in the mineral water factory of Nampo. The guide was so proud to show us this factory that visited President Mitterand before he was elected in France. But in fact the sound of the machines was incredibly loud and agressive, and everybody was sorry for this young worker who had to stand there during our touristic visit. She was forbidden to leave her position to take the Polaroid i did. She had it at the end of her day job.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

In Pyongyang, I took the polaroids of the girls working in a restaurant, then the owner came and asked for one, in English! She was the wife of a high rank North Korean diplomat. She had lived in NYC for 2 years. She found the Americans very fat but nice people. She became very talkative as she was so happy with her picture.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

A North Korean colonel with a soldier on the DMZ, in the part where you can see thru binoculars South Korea. First, he refused to pause, but when he saw the Polaroid of one soldier, he ordered me to take one of him too.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

My guide asked me to throw away this Polaroid as i took the picture from the back. It is forbidden to take the picture with this angle in North Korea. Not respectful for the bronze heroes.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

A cook in a restaurant in Pyongyang with a Hello Kitty apron. She does not know about this character, she thought it was North korean.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

The DMZ from the North Korean side. As there was no South korean soldiers or american soldiers on the other side, the guide said that they were afraid to be seen. Cowards, he said.

I introduced Polaroid in North Korea

Her job is to sell some flowers that the visitors, including the tourists, will lay in front of the Leaders statues in Mansudae hill in Pyongyang. 3 euros the flowers. As soon as you put the flowers on the monument, an old lady comes, take the flowers, and re sell them!

Source: BoredPanda

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