Updated November 2023
Workers and Peasants Red Guard Paramilitaries
Updated November 2023
The Red Guard Suit: a linocut by North Korean artist Hwang In Jae.
For more of Hwang In Jae’s work and purchases, head here.
As a big part of North Korean culture, numerous artworks in North Korea portray what at first glance appear to be soldiers in uniform. These soldiers are often involved in construction projects.
On closer inspection, you may notice the uniform does not have military-style epaulettes…
So, if they’re not military, then why?
This is the “Red Guard Suit”; a uniform of sorts. And it’s there to denote Workers and Peasants Red Guard Paramilitaries, Red Young Guard, university students during their military training, and the Shock Brigade workers. (These are youth who after completion of school or university volunteer to work on infrastructure projects).
The main inference of the suit is that they are not in the military.
After the 1950-53 Korean War (Fatherland Liberation War in Korea), North Korea instructed discharged military personnel to keep their military uniform. However, without the epaulettes…
This is so that they would be prepared for a war emergency.
Shortly after the war, factories and towns were guarded by civilian self-defence forces dressed in “red guard suits”.
Based on North Korean leader Kim Il Sung’s military view that the people are the masters of revolutionary military projects and that the people should mobilize the infinite power of the people and all the potential of the country, North Korea institutionalized the quasi-military organization with reserve forces.
“Workers and Peasants Red Guard Paramilitaries” was established in January 1959 following the withdrawal of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army in 1958.
In September 1970, they established “Red Young Guard”. This has been retained to the present day.
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Pyongyang, DPR Korea Student-organized mass dance at the Indoor Stadium, Pyongyang. Usually held on holidays, mass dances take place at locations around Pyongyang and other cities, and can have anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand participants. Foreigner visitors are often encouraged to join in. © Carl De Keyzer - Magnum