Revolutionary Sites (Korean: 혁명사적지) are designated historical sitesinNorth Korea.[1] The sites were designated by Kim Jong Il when he began working at the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party of Korea in 1966.[2][3] He would send troops all over the country to unearth sites that "were supposedly once forgotten and undiscovered".[4] By converting North Korea into a "huge open museum",[5] Kim's goal in designating the sites was to solidify the North Korean cult of personality centered around him and his father Kim Il Sung.[2]
| Revolutionary Site | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | |
|---|---|
| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Hyeongmyeong-sajeokji |
| McCune–Reischauer | Hyŏngmyŏng-sajŏkchi |
| Revolutionary Battle Site | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | |
| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Hyeongmyeong-jeonjeokji |
| McCune–Reischauer | Hyŏngmyŏng-jŏnjŏkchi |
In 1988, there were 27 such sites.[6] Today, there are more than 60. Of them, 40 commemorate Kim Il Sung, 20 Kim Jong Il, and many others Kim Hyong-jik, Kim Jong-suk, Kim Hyong-gwon and other members of the Kim family.[7]
There are two categories of sites, Revolutionary Sites and Revolutionary Battle Sites. Rather than a single building or a point of interest, the sites spawn large areas.[8] Some famous Revolutionary Sites include Mangyongdae, the birthplace of Kim Il Sung, in Pyongyang,[9] and Jangjasan Revolutionary Site and Oun Revolutionary Site associated with the youth of Kim Jong Il.[8] The Mount Paektu area in particular hosts many sites.[10]
South Koreans have criticized the sites for "wip[ing] out traditional culture".[11]
