North Korea's 'Kim Jong-un Idolization' Extends to Mural Installation in Central Pyongyang

'Mosaic Mural at Mangyongdae Revolutionary Academy for "Elite Education"
Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il Used to Idolize and Promote Kim Jong-un
North Korea Accelerates Idolization... Highlighting Kim as a Compassionate Leader through Tearful Politics'

North Korea has installed a mosaic mural of Chairman Kim Jong Un in the heart of Pyongyang. It appears that they are putting all their efforts into the 'Kim Jong Un idolization,' even mobilizing mosaic murals that were previously used as a means of deifying Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 19th, a mosaic mural titled 'Embracing the Children with Love' was installed at the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School in Pyongyang. The mural depicts Chairman Kim wearing the same 'red scarf' as the students, walking together and smiling.

A mosaic mural featuring Kim Jong-un was installed at the Pyongyang Mangyongdae Revolutionary School, which educates children of the privileged class.

Mosaic murals have long been used as a means to idolize Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. In the early 2000s, then National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il issued a special directive to install large-scale mosaic murals with propaganda and agitation purposes throughout North Korea. Many murals featured smiling images of Kim Il Sung, and some depicted both Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il together.

The appearance of a mosaic mural featuring the living Chairman Kim Jong Un is less than a year old. The first time such an image was spotted was at the completion ceremony of the Yeonpo Greenhouse Farm in South Hamgyong Province last October. The mural depicted Kim Jong Un shoveling the first dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony of the farm. In February this year, a mural featuring Kim Jong Un also appeared in reports related to the Jungpyeong Greenhouse Farm in North Hamgyong Province.

The difference with the newly appeared mural is that it was installed in the capital, Pyongyang. This is the first confirmed installation of a mural of Chairman Kim in Pyongyang. Notably, the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School, where the mural was installed, is a special education institution established for the children of 'anti-Japanese revolutionaries,' primarily training the children of high-ranking party, government, and military officials as future cadres, essentially a school for the privileged class.

The Mangyongdae District of Pyongyang, where the school is located, is lined with the 'Kim Il Sung Birthplace' Mangyongdae Home and statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Erecting a mosaic mural of Chairman Kim Jong Un in such a place is analyzed as a move to propagate that he, having surpassed ten years since assuming power in 2012, has risen to the rank of a leader just like his predecessors.

A Leader Shedding Tears?...Government Calls It "Dictator’s Emotional Politics"

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shedding tears at the 70th anniversary military parade of the Victory Day

North Korea has recently been focusing on the 'idolization of Kim Jong Un.' A noteworthy point is the title 'Leader' used for him. The title 'Leader' for Kim Jong Un first appeared in 2018 and has been used increasingly every year, with 26 uses recorded up to July this year. The title 'Leader' in North Korea is a representative indicator of the idolization of the Kim family, and expressions such as 'Great Leader'?used for Kim Il Sung?have also been applied to Kim Jong Un.

Another point of attention is that recently, Kim Jong Un has frequently been shown shedding tears at military parades, funerals, performances, and various on-site guidance events. Up to now, 'Kim Jong Un’s tear politics' has been captured at least ten times through North Korean state media, which is interpreted as North Korea’s attempt to highlight Kim as a 'leader who cares for the people.'

An official from the Ministry of Unification evaluated Kim Jong Un’s tears as "a model of dictator’s emotional politics." The official added, "In the early days of Kim Jong Un’s rule, it was said that mythical expressions like 'Kim Il Sung’s ability to appear instantly anywhere' would not be used, but eventually, expressions such as 'Great Leader,' 'Father,' and 'Sun' have been applied to Kim Jong Un himself, moving toward idolization just like his predecessors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.