Constructing the Socialist Way of Life: North Korea's Housing and Urban Planning

Mass housing and urban planning are a key element in North ­Korea’s material foundation. In the post-war era, the country attempted to socialise all types of living spaces – from small apartment rooms to urban settings – based on political ideology. The idea that North Korea’s political for­ces are brainwashing their people is superficial – as testimonies from many defectors have revealed.

By exploring home culture and daily life, this book aims to capture the actual life of North Koreans, who have largely supported the country’s unique dictatorial political system. 
To this end, it uses drawings, maps, and diagrams obtained from various archives. While these are neutral forms of communication, they also convey the actual intentions of North Korean architects and planners hidden behind the deceitful claims of political leaders.

· The reconstruction of Pyongyang and Hamhŭng
· Piotr Zaremba and the urban planning of Chongjin
· The creation of Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang
· The emergence of mass housing in Post-War North Korea
· The introduction of microdistricts in site planning
· Socialisation of rural space in North Korea
· The planning of Gwangbok Street New Town in Pyongyang
· The development of the housing market

About the Author:

Inha Jung is teaching architectural history and theory at Hanyang University (ERICA Campus). He graduated from Seoul National University in 1987, and acquired his Ph.D. at the University of Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne), France in 1993. After joining the Hanyang faculty in 1995, he focused his research on Korean modern architecture. Based on the investigation of archival documents, he tried to clarify Korean architects’ role and contribution in the modernization of Korean society.