North Korean Comics

North Korean Comics

North Korean Comics (Kurimchaek) are available to purchase or borrow from the library or street stalls for youth in North Korea.

They are a form of soft propaganda covering everything from historical drama, the anti-Japanese guerilla war, and the Korean War right up to modern times. In more modern North Korean comics, we see for example North Korean soldiers on a spying mission in the south.

North Korea publishes around 20 publications each year. Usually, they are stand-alone stories or in three or so parts with full-colour covers. The inside pages are monotone (often black ink cartoons with text in speech balloons).

Koryo Studio Comic Series

We commissioned a stripped-down acrylic version of five comics which we thought best represented this genre. The images were painted by students studying graphics. In the end, they were unable to sign their names because the pieces were taken out unofficially.

Each piece varies slightly as they use a tracing method and we have limited this edition to 5 hand-painted pieces. Each is marked in pencil with the date and edition number and embossed with the Koryo Studio stamp.

Reproducing Artwork in North Korea

Reproducing artwork by hand is a common practice in North Korea. This, unless it requires multiple copies and therefore a print run. This is particularly so for the case of propaganda posters where workplaces may require several posters specific to their work.

north korean comics The Country I Saw

North Korean Comics Artworks

Night of Revenge

Night of Revenge
Year: 2012
Size: A3
Artist: North Korean graphic artist (Unknown)
Price: 880 EUR
ID: CM01

Out of Earth

Out of Earth
Year: 2012
Size: A3
Artist: North Korean graphic artist (Unknown)
Price: 880 EUR
ID: CM02

Red Necktie

Red Necktie
Year: 2012
Size: A3
Artist: North Korean graphic artist (Unknown)
Price: 880 EUR
ID: CM03

north korean comics The Country I Saw

The Country I Saw
Year: 2012
Size: 49 x 69  cm
Artist: North Korean graphic artist (Unknown)
Price: 880 EUR
ID: CM04

They Are Back

They Are Back
Year: 2012
Size: 52 x 70 cm
Artist: North Korean graphic artist (Unknown)
Price: 880 EUR
ID: CM05

Artworks featured in Commissions are available for sale. Please inquire with us about availability.

Further Commissioned Works

#85. CHON YONG SIK, 58, Bookshop Manager, Majon Guesthouse Resort
A series of more than 100 3D portraits of local North Koreans by this award winning photographer
Great Harvest of the Sea
Ship and port themed linocuts by artist Hwang In Jae