People’s Museum of North Korea Draws Record Crowds
February 5, 2024
Building upon the success of the past exhibition, "The Living Room," the People's Museum of North Korea: Jangmadang continues to tell the stories from within the enigmatic state. This year's exhibition, in downtown Toronto, centred around a North Korean street market – a representation of resilience and defiance – has pushed past expectations, amassing over 5,000 visitors and engaging millions online in authentic North Korean narratives.
Over 5,000 visitors. More than 600 postcard messages. $25,000 raised for refugees.
From empathy-filled tears of Korean Canadians with roots in the North to pledges from first-time volunteers moved by the cause, the museum's interactive exhibit has fashioned a community of supporters and storytellers. This success is not just measured in numbers but in the real connections and understanding fostered between Canadians and the experiences of North Koreans.
Central to the exhibition's narrative is the partnership with artists like Kang Chun Hyuk and the North Korean escapees' support group, NAUH (Now Action & Unity for Human Rights), who share their tales of survival and lessons of hope. These testimonies provide an unprecedented glimpse into a nation often shrouded in monolithic stereotypes.
Highlighted during special events like TIFF's advance screening of Beyond Utopia and Nuit Blanche, City of Toronto, the exhibition shines a light on the individual lives behind the North Korean curtain. With live art performance by Kang Chun Hyuk, an escapee artist, the exhibit goes beyond static displays, transforming into an experiential space that breathes life into stories of perseverance.
This year, HanVoice welcomed 60 students from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to the People's Museum of North Korea exhibition. Demonstrating a deep interest in human rights issues and a keenness to integrate their arts education into advocacy efforts, these students reflected the core values and objectives that HanVoice embodies through its exhibits. Their active participation and response underscore the vital role of youth engagement in social change. This interaction is an encouraging sign of the emerging connections between HanVoice and secondary educational institutions, and it sets the stage for more meaningful discussions and collaborations aimed at amplifying the intersection of human rights and art in educational platforms.
The exhibit caught the attention of CTV News and others, amplifying its reach and inviting new conversations on North Korean human rights issues. Thanks to TheKoreanVegan, 18hens, Represent Asian Project, and Stackt, these stories extend beyond the exhibition's physical boundaries, inviting the global community to be a part of this ground-breaking initiative.
Engagement doesn’t end at the museum's doors. Visitors were invited to pen messages of hope and solidarity to refugees on beautifully designed postcards, adding a personal touch to the campaign for human rights and extending a warm welcome to those seeking resettlement in Canada.
As the People's Museum of North Korea wraps up another successful run, the lessons and stories from the heart of North Korea remain immortalized in the minds of thousands. By bridging gaps and challenging preconceptions, HanVoice lays the foundation for a more nuanced understanding of the North Korean people, moving beyond the oft-portrayed image of an isolated regime to recognize the humanity within.
Despite the exhibition's closure, the conversation continues to grow. As HanVoice completes its second People’s Museum of North Korea exhibition and its accompanying fundraising efforts, we look forward to extending a warm Canadian welcome to North Korean families seeking a new beginning in 2024.
Thank you to The Northpine Foundation, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto, Nuit Blanche, and TIFF for your partnership, and ARENA Studio Ltd. for building the concept and turning it into a reality.
