Artists
The art system of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea does not emphasize individuality as the Western one. The different qualities of individual artists are of course perceived and official honours—such as Merit Artist and People’s Artist—are conferred to those that distinguish themselves. However personal information and private life are not considered relevant as in the West. Therefore for each artist only the date of birth, the possible date of death, the honours received, possible positions in artistic organizations and very occasional special information are provided.
Almost all artists hold a university degree, usually from the Fine Arts Department of the Pyongyang University. The year of graduation is normally provided in a Korean biography but for a Western audience this information has been omitted.
The name of the artists are arranged in alphabetical order, with the last name, according to the Eastern style, coming first.
By clicking on the name of the artist, the miniatures of his/her works appear grouped by genre and within each genre arranged by alphabetical order of the title.
By clicking on a miniature, an enlarged image, sometimes with further information on the art work, appears.
An Chang Nam 1961
Bein Hyon Chan 1958
Merit Artist.
Cha Ryon Hui 1965
Cha Un Chol 1981
Cha Yong Ho 1965
Choe Chol Rim 1972
Choe Guang Du 1941
Choe Jong Dok 1973
Choe Yong Sik 1945
Merit Artist.
Choe Yong Sun 1959
Choi Chong Hual 1951
Choi Gyong Hui 1953
Choi Jin Nam 1964
Choi Mok Ran 1974
Dong Song Nam 1964
Gang Gyong Ae 1968
Gang Hyon Chol 1976
Gang Jae Won 1947
Gang Jin Won 1953
Gang Song Ryong 1966
Go Chang Il 1961
Go Jong Gil 1955
Gon Hyek Man 1956
Gye Myong Sun 1974
Ha Ju Won 1982
Ham Yong Hyok 1967
Han Guang Hun 1976
Han Song Gyu 1963
Han Song I 1971
Han Song Ju 1968
Ho Sang Hun 1957
Hong Chol 1978
Hong Chol Man 1969
Hong Chun Ung 1944
People's Artist
Kim Il Sung Prize.
Hong Jae Chol 1960
Hong Jin Son 1972
Hong Song Chol 1929
People's Artist
Kim Il Sung Prize.
Hong Su Guang 1973
Hong Un Sam 1968
Huang Byong Gun 1958
Huang In Je 1943
Merit Artist.
Il Bok 1965
Il Choe Dong 1963
Im Hae Ok 1968
Im Yong Il 1947
Jang Hi Ro 1954
Ji Jong Sik 1960
Jin Tae Ho 1963
Jo Song Jin 1968
Jon Hak Chol 1963
Jon U Hyong 1972
Jong Bo Yong 1965
Jong Chol Ung 1972
Jong Song Hyok 1966
Jong Yong Il 1962
Ju Si Oung 1943
Ju Tae Sik 1958
Kim Bok Sil 1978
Kim Bong Ju 1957
Kim Chang Bok 1958
Kim Chang Gil 1942
People's Artist.
Kim Chol Hak 1968
Kim Chol Ho 1959
Kim Chol Man 1969
Kim Chol Nam 1970
Kim Chol Ryong 1978
Kim Chong Hui 1947
People's Artist.
Kim Chun Jon 1942
People's Artist.
Kim Chung Guk 1979
Kim Do Son 1976
Kim Gon Ho 1969
Kim Guang Chol 1973
Kim Guang Nam 1953
Kim Guang Su 1970
Kim Gum Nyo 1961
Kim Gum Ran 1970
Kim Hak Rim 1961
Kim Hung Il 1960
Kim Hyok 1980
Kim Hyon Myong 1972
Kim Ik Hyon 1981
Kim In Bong 1966
Kim Jin Hyok 1976
Kim Jon Gil 1963
Kim Jong Ho 1979
Kim Jong Hyok 1977
Kim Jong Jung 1945
Merit Artist.
Kim Jong Su 1979
Kim Myong Guk 1975
Kim Myong Hyok 1982
Kim Nam Hun 1969
Kim Nuang Nam 1961
Kim Ryong 1967
Kim Song Bok 1975
Kim Song Min 1949
People's Artist
Kim Il Sung Prize
Labour Hero.
Vice-president of the Mansudae Art Studio
Korean Artists Union Chairman.
Kim Song Sik 1975
Kim Song Sil 1960
Kim Sung Hui 1939
Peole's Artist
Kim Il Sung Prize.
Kim Un Byol 1977
Kim Ye Hua 1985
Kim Yong 1958
Kim Yong Bom 1976
Kim Yong Gang 1973
Kim Yong Il 1963
Kim Yong Il 1971
Kim Yong Jun 1965
Kim Yong Nam 1975
Li Chol Hua 1977
Ma Yong Chol 1972
Mun Jong Ung 1944
People's Artist.
Mun Yong Guang 1972
Myong Si Hwan 1948
Merit Artist.
O Song Gyu 1969
O Yong Il 1958
Merit Artist.
Om Yong Ho 1975
Paek Yong 1963
Pak Chol Ho 1973
Pak Chong Mi 1956
Merit Artist.
Pak Dong Chol 1965
Pak Guang Il 1968
Pak Gum Song 1969
Pak Hyo Song 1962
Merit Artist.
Director of the Foreign Art Section of the Mansudae Art Studio.
Pak Jo Yang 1949
Pak Myong Chol 1965
Pak Won Il 1974
Ri Bong Guong 1962
Ri Chol 1958
Merit Artist.
Ri Chol Hua 1972
Ri Chu Ok 1948
Merit Artist.
Ri Dong Pil 1962
Ri Gi Nam 1975
Ri Gi Song 1977
Ri Gu Ul 1958
Ri Guang Myong 1968
Ri Gun Sok 1959
Ri Gyong Ae 1979
Ri Gyong Hok 1973
Ri Gyong Ju 1980
Ri Gyong Nam 1940
People's Artist.
Ri Hoa Sik 1944
Ri Hyok 1974
Ri Sok Nam 1946
Ri Son 1959
Ri Sun Ae 1977
Ri Yong 1944
Ri Yong Hak 1957
Ri Yong Sik 1968
Rim Chang Bik 1972
Ro Myong Hui 1951
Ryu Du Ryol 1950
Ryu Gwon Chol 1970
Ryu Hyon Song 1966
Sim Guang Chol 1974
Sim Jong Sik 1950
Sin Jo Ya 1950
So Guang Chol 1979
Son Myong Song 1970
Son U Yong 1946
People's Artist.
Member of the Korean Artists Union Central Committee.
Song Yong Nam 1965
Tak Hyo Yon 1964
Wi Chol Yong 1971
Won Song Ryong 1971
Won Sye Bong 1979
Yang Hye Ran 1962
Yang Hyong Gak 1965
Yong Sam 1963
Yu Guang Sik 1969
Yun Ryo Sun 1958