Instead of counting calories or cheat days, this is about monitoring one's ideological purity. Where we might keep a diary or a journal in which to document our lives and seek to better ourselves for personal reasons, in North Korea the reasons are far more extrinsic. ![]() However, the life review is a weekly duty for the people of North Korea. You can, however, find some examples of them online if you get your Google terms correct.Ī life review doesn't sound too extraordinary to those of us used to the mind-numbing boredom and bureaucracy of modern capitalism, assigned readings of the meditations of Marcus Aurelius at school, or diligently following the instructions of the various self-help books so that we might find our inner penguin. The books rest above a sign stating as such, tantalizingly close but yet forever forbidden. A simple white canvas on which a person can confess their shortcomings and, at the same time, praise the higher powers tasked with guiding them.Īlthough the red books are blank and contain nothing other than empty pages, a visitor to Pyongyang is not allowed to buy one. Yet these little red books serve a special purpose: they are used for carrying out one's "life review" (saenghwal ch'onghwa). Hardback and, at first glance, no different from any other diary or notepad you might find elsewhere in the world. One of the more curious items for sale, however, is a little red book. These places are, on the whole, relatively well-stocked ― even carrying what looks like versions of IKEA furniture (though one would rightly question the legality of them being there). ![]() In the department stores of Pyongyang, you will find a whole host of items for sale.
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