The Accusation By Bandi


Published: Serpent Tail Publishers, 2017


Back Cover Blurb: In 1989, a North Korean dissident writer, known to us only by the pseudonym Bandi, began to write a series of stories about life under Kim Il-sung's totalitarian regime. Smuggled out of North Korea and set for publication around the world in 2017, The Accusation provides a unique and shocking window on this most secretive of countries.

Bandi's profound, deeply moving, vividly characterised stories tell of ordinary men and women facing the terrible absurdity of daily life in North Korea: a factory supervisor caught between loyalty to an old friend and loyalty to the Party; a woman struggling to feed her husband through the great famine; the staunch Party man whose actor son reveals to him the absurd theatre of their reality; the mother raising her child in a world where the all-pervasive propaganda is the very stuff of childhood nightmare.

The Accusation is a heartbreaking portrayal of the realities of life in North Korea. It is also a reminder that humanity can sustain hope even in the most desperate of circumstances - and that the courage of free thought has a power far beyond those seek to suppress it.


About the Author: Bandi, a nom de plume to protect the author, who still lives within the regime of North Korea. The name means 'Firefly' in Korean. This manuscript was smuggled out of North Korea in an attempt to let the outside world know what it was like living within the world's most secretive country.


Democratic People’s Republic of Korea


Capital City: Pyongyang, in the west-central part of the country


Population: 26.6 million with 3.2 million in Pyongyang


Supreme Leader: Kim Jong Un since 2011


Political Style: Hereditary rule and Supreme Leadership


Religion: Officially atheist but religious practice is allowed if it does not harm the state or social order. Christianity is persecuted (although there are some state run churches in Pyongyang) because of it’s Western roots and therefore threat to the state. Anyone found praying, in possession of a Bible or contacting Christian networks can face imprisonment, torture or execution for the perpetrator and their family. 


LIFE IN NORTH KOREA





There are a number of pre-conceived ideas about North Korea based on its secrecy, but North Korea, like any country is multi-faceted. This documentary shows many sides to this fascinating country.


Traditional Costume


16:27  Weddings. In this part of the video you will see some traditional costumes of North Korea. The high waisted dress worn by the women is known as a chosŏn and is similar to the South Korean Hanbok.


There are four elements to the Choson/Hanbok:


  1. Jeogoru - A wrap-around upper jacket or blouse worn by both men and women.
  2. Chima - A high-waisted, full, billowing wrap-around skirt worn by women.
  3. Baji - Loose, comfortable traditional trousers worn by men under their upper layer.
  4. Traditional breast ribbons.






Image: Susung Kim Pixabay

Music in North Korea

Despite popular misconceptions there is north Korean pop music. Whilst it is government supported, and a mouthpiece for propaganda it shows a modern side of the regime. This playlist offers an example of North Korean songs.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1uQ4autfRxhCXnfigSq8rq


* some of these playlist songs are not available in the UK because of geo-limitations but there are enough to get an idea of the music.


Notes on Whistle from this playlist:


This is an unusual product of DPRK as it is a romantic love song with the narrator whistling outside a woman’s home, to get her attention. For a touch of propaganda the second verse talks of his admiration of the woman, Bok-sun exceeding her state factory production goals by 300%.