Contrasting Portraits of Life in South and North Korea


 For decades South Korea and North Korea are still enemies, these two countries have very contrasting life and cultural differences.


During the summer, it is certainly a fun vacation to the water park. North Korea looks more traditional and conservative, while South Korea looks very modern with the addition of water rides.



The skies of these two countries look very different, where North Korea is full of pollution but the number of cars is fewer. Then for skyscrapers in Pyongyang, North Korea is not as modern as in the city of Seoul.



North Korea has only one airline and is one of the worst airlines in the world. While in South Korea has many airlines. In addition, there are very few flights to North Korea, on the other hand South Korea has many flight options, no wonder many tourists travel to this ginseng country.


Tour guides in North Korea are more formal where the guides wear official uniforms like soldiers, while in South Korea they are more relaxed and flexible.


This is what the countryside looks like in both countries. In South Korea it looks like a big city because of the density of buildings and houses, while in North Korea the buildings look old.


In North Korea, monuments are made to commemorate the country's leader and his family. It's different in South Korea, which makes historical monuments about war as a form of commemoration and commemorating the services of heroes.



North Korean school uniforms look more traditional semi hanbok, while in South Korea it is similar to western private schools. Another big difference is that girls in North Korea without makeup are different from South Koreans who wear makeup.


The appearance of government buildings, in North Korea as a communist country, is often used for campaigning and propaganda will be posted throughout the building, including this old government building. Meanwhile, South Korea looks more modern and blends with the surrounding buildings.


Supermarkets are another area that has a difference. Not only in the layout and organization of the store itself, but also in the way she dresses in the supermarket. We can see that both are well organized, but the store in South Korea seems to be a bit more structured.


Buses are an important public transportation, especially for traveling outside the city. But in North Korea it looks like a bus but a truck that is a danger to its passengers. While in South Korea it is more modern, comfortable and modern which of course has security features for its passengers.


In North Korea, artists cannot express themselves freely because their activities are restricted, monitored and even censored. Often artists can only make pictures of North Korean leaders. In contrast to South Korea they are free to paint anything.


Other differences are related to construction such as building methods and available tools. In North Korea, unless the project is a state-sponsored project, workers may have to find innovative ways to get the job done. However, in South Korea, there are construction companies and because of their thriving economy it's no wonder these companies tend to have all the latest equipment.



Festival celebrations in North Korea prioritize uniformity. Meanwhile, festival celebrations in South Korea are more colorful, more diverse and combine traditional and modern cultures.



Buying a private car in North Korea is very expensive, most of them choose to walk or cycle. In South Korea, with busy activities that require fast time, it's no wonder that many public and private vehicles are milling about on the highway.



Both countries use a well-structured subway system. The arrangement and layout, as well as the uniforms of the officers, are very different. Again, North Korea is more conservative and makes use of the walls for more state-sponsored art. The South Korean subway looks like many other subways around the world. Plus, it's very efficient and seems clean too.



Having open trade with the rest of the world allows South Koreans to save money that they can then spend on their country's infrastructure. This leads to the construction of good bridges and good road conditions. However, in North Korea, their trade is limited so that the budget is limited to the maintenance of roads and bridges is also minimal.


In North Korea, it seems that most restaurants are often not fully packed with people. In fact, in South Korea it is more popular to eat out, maybe because people can afford it.



In North Korea, mainly rural children are transported by bus to school in what appear to be trucks. South Korean children go through their day-to-day education in the same way that many others do with yellow school buses.



When at the beach, people in North Korea are more conservative, so it's no wonder that some wear long pants and collared shirts. Whereas in South Korea they are more likely to dress appropriately on the beach in swimwear and shorts.



The layout and decoration of airport lounges in North Korea, they are more conservative, and the walls are lined with art depicting the greatness of their leader. In South Korea, it looks more like the other world. In addition, the seating structure in the waiting room is very different.


In North Korea, they don't have much choice for wedding attire other than traditional dress. On the other hand, South Korean men and women have many choices for Western-influenced wedding attire. Of course, this meant that there would be a lot of difference between the wedding ceremonies.


The currencies of both countries both represent heroes and important figures in the history of their respective countries. For North Korea, it means leaders and generals where all men! In South Korea, the various faces that adorn the currency range from a leader to a philosopher and even including a woman it is extraordinary because it is rarely done by some countries.

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