North Korean party officials were required to perform in birthday shows marking Kim Jong Il’s birthday, a departure from tradition that has sparked discontent, Daily NK has learned.<\/p>\n
“Artistic performances were held across cities and counties on Feb. 15 for the Day of the Shining Star,” a source in South Hamgyong Province told Daily NK recently, referring to Kim Jong Il’s Feb. 16 birthday, a major North Korean holiday.<\/p>\n
The South Hamgyong provincial party committee directed local propaganda departments to organize “loyalty performances” by municipal and county officials, departing from the usual practice of relying on professional art troupes. Officials were tasked with “praising the deeds of General Kim Jong Il and exalting the greatness of the party.”<\/p>\n
The new requirement forced officials to balance their regular duties with evening rehearsals for the birthday shows that often stretched late into the night. From late January through early February, propaganda departments held two rehearsals to ensure each unit had prepared performances.<\/p>\n
The mandate sparked competition between party and government organizations, with some turning to professional entertainers for assistance. In Riwon County, tensions flared when both the party committee and people’s committee attempted to hire the same performer. “The people’s committee eventually backed down and found someone else, but their officials were quite upset about it,” the source said.<\/p>\n
When the birthday shows were held on Feb. 15, audiences comprised selected members from local organizations and enterprises. However, many spectators were unimpressed by the officials’ displays. “People felt officials would have better served the public by focusing on their actual duties instead of proving their loyalty on stage,” the source said.<\/p>\n
One observer reportedly expressed frustration about “officials wasting time on meaningless shows while people struggle to make ends meet,” while another complained about missing valuable trading time at the marketplace to attend the mandatory performance.<\/p>\n