The Mansudae Grand Monument stands on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea. The Mansudae Art Studio made it, and the article names no individual sculptors or architects. The statue of Kim Il Sung was finished in 1972, and the statue of Kim Jong Il in 2012. The monument was restored in 2012, 2013 and 2024.
The two main bronze statues are each 72 feet (22 meters) tall. They were first covered in gold leaf, which was later removed. Supporting figures average 16 feet (5 meters) and are granite and limestone. In all there are 229 figures. A mosaic mural behind the statues shows a scene from Mount Paektu.
The ensemble depicts the anti-Japanese struggle and socialist reconstruction. Visitors are expected to bow. Photos are allowed only if they capture the statues in full, and close-ups of any part are forbidden. Access for foreign visitors is probably by organized tour, which is an assumption.
Comments