Arirang Mass Games 2007

A compilation of short clips from the show that North Korea does better than anyone else: the mass gymnastics spectacular. We were watching the show open-jawed most of the time rather than filming it, but we managed to get a few bits and pieces to cobble together here. No pictures or film can even begin to do it justice - it is absolutely the most amazing thing we have ever seen.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• north
• korea
• dprk
• mass
• games
• arirang
• gymnastics
• pyongyang
• may
• day
• stadium

[Liefssmarije]

as a kid and a parent of a kid that joins this freak show you must feel so much pressure..

[lastknownlocation]

@Liefssmarije Yes - check out the excellent documentary movie A State Of Mind (astateofmind dot co dot uk) which follows a girl and her family as they prepare for the Mass Games. One thing that comes across is how proud they are of what they do.

[PaganiniVariations]

Are they doing the same show every year?

[lastknownlocation]

@PaganiniVariations Most years, yes. They had a few years during the famine where it didn't happen.

[drrushfan81]

toward's the end of this video you can see the stadium looks empty. Also the people who is taping this, sounded like they were the only ones clapping. No one eles was showing any appreciation to the hard work and efforts these young koreans were doing. Sad for the N Korean people.

[lastknownlocation]

@drrushfan81 As with everything in North Korea, it's not that simple. The stadium was largely empty apart from the "prime" seats where we were sat with all the foreigners (mostly Chinese, but also Westerners) paying 50 Euros each to get in. Most of the Korean spectators are presumably senior party members. Ordinary citizens don't get near the place. But we were not the only ones clapping - that is my camera's puny microphone. Everybody watching that show fully appreciated what they were seeing.

[AndrewGurn]

I guess if a kid screws up, it gives a whole new meaning to "dead pixel", eh?

[lepopedeeruke]

Try getting 20,000 kids raised with iPhones shoved in their face to do that..

Both communism and capitalism make you dependent on the state, the only difference being that communism, the paper they use to control you with is on the wall and in capitalism it's in your pocket.

[j4unumber1]

I bet the only reason why 16 people disliked this is because it took place in North Korea. This video is nothing short of spectacular! Perhaps those who disliked this are jealous that they will never see anything like this video live in their home countries.

[theboxer5]

You're just seeing the lucky 20,000 kids that have a job and being fed. How about the 2 Millions starving North Korean kids suffering?

[jp5995]

I will definitely watch Arirang as soon as the two Koreas reunified.

[Liefssmarije]

@Dklonmy omg excuse me but why al the bashing? seriously act like your age you stupid. seriously what kind of sick minded person are you i think you are a pseudo-brave internet pseudo-hero. i just made a statement because i feel bad for those kids that have to do al this kind of things. And im in no way a fascist how can you just call someone like that? you sickminded person i guess youre the one that is brainwashed and that's all i wanna say dont spend to much times on freaks like you.

[Dklonmy]

@Liefssmarije you are a freakshow brainwashed macdonalds western nato moneyfat, call it a freakshow to a north koreans face, you pseudo-brave internet pseudo-hero. Racist-fascist right-wing reactionary hate person. Go and do some salutes to your fascist fuhrers.

[KingOfParrots]

That is sick, hoping to go to North Korea now in the near future:D

[schs1977]

I guess when you do not have food to feed your people and they fact the Communist goverment controls EVERY aspect of their lives including their minds, you have to something like this to keep their minds off of revolting against another fat ass dictactor!