북한 <공화국 창건 74주년 축하 대공연> 특징과 의미

Abstract

This study analyzed the characteristics and meanings of the “Grand Show in Commemoration of the Republic’s 74th Anniversary” held on the outdoor stage before the Mansudae Assembly Hall in North Korea on September 9, 2022. Music performances put on the stages of major events can help to estimate the policy directions and intentions of the North Korean regime. Rodong Sinmun publicized the achievements of this grand show where Kim Jong-Un and Lee Seol-ju attended by acclaiming it as “North Korean-style masterpiece.” This show attracts attention because it has been assessed to hold “speculative significance” based on the expressions used by Rodong Sinmun including the “exemplary truth of North Korean-style civilization” and “show as a milestone of North Korea's new literature and art revolution.” The venue of the show is highlighted to hold essential significance as it was mentioned as a “show before the National Assembly Hall in the history of North Korea.” The show content was planned in the order of historical events to reflect the goals of the show from the foundation of the Republic of North Korea through the war and post-war recovery to the Age of Cheonrima and the strong nation of revival. The band was also organized in the joint performance form recently seen at North Korea’s grand shows. The show was differentiated from the shows in the old band form to rearrange the band to commemorate a new decade in the Kim Jong-un era. Two new singers, Jeong Hong-ran and Kim Ryu-gyeong, especially gave a prominent performance with their unconventional stages and arrangements. It is also noteworthy that the old solemn military song-style songs were turned into R&B-style ballads in the vibration technique. The show put an emphasis on “North Korean styles” through the independent transformation of the North Korean music to prevent the ideological relaxation of the new generation according to the influx of external trends.