North Korean state media have released an in-depth promotional video highlighting visitor experiences at the recently opened Runga 4D Simulation Cinema.
The video – which shows visitors being vigorously thrown around as they watch computer generated shark attacks, military battles and dinosaur scenes – was published last Thursday by Voice of Korea, a foreign-facing international short-wave broadcasting service that occasionally publishes multi-media content.
“The glasses, 3D scenes, music effect, and rhythmic facilities enable the viewer to feel a vivid reality,” Ri Un Hyang, a Runga People’s Pleasure Ground caretaker says in the promotional video.
During the report, young North Koreans can be seen expressing their enthusiasm for the new cinema. “Even though I was only watching TV, I felt like was at the bottom of the Antarctic Sea. I felt like catching the fish swimming in front of my face,” one boy says.
Another young woman adds, “I feel like I have just flew around the world in a plane and seen the Ancient Roman Empire, Eiffel Tower of France, and Egyptian pyramids and sphinx. I feel like I really traveled around the world!”
North Korea, which prohibits the majority of its citizens from visiting other countries, first highlighted the cinema when Kim Jong Un visited the facility on September 14, 2013.
The Voice of Korea video said that the 4D cinema became popular with locals after Kim Jong Un’s visit, when he watched “Winner”, a race car-themed film, and “Don’t Wait For Us”, a 1985 war film portraying North Korean Air Force pilots’ lives.
State media outlet the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Kim asked about the quality, sound effects and 4D element of the films during his September visit. KCNA added that the North Korean leader also suggested that additional 4D theaters be built in each of North Korea’s provincial capitals.
Following Kim’s visit Director of the 4D Cinema Kim Sung Rim was quoted as saying that the facility received one thousand visitors in a single day. With just eight or nine seats per screen the theater would have shown roughly 110 movie screenings to accommodate this number.
On several times the Voice of Korea video points out that the technology powering the theater was created indigenously in the DPRK, with some of the 3D clips visibly showing North Korean flags at several points.
“Actually, this kind of 3D film was a monopoly of a few developed countries until some years ago. It requires high technology because (the) chair, sound, and videos should be well combined with the theme of the film. Such films has been developed by our scientists and technicians,” Runga People’s Pleasure Ground caretaker Ri Un Hyang said.
Along with the 4D cinema, the Runga People’s Pleasure Ground has a water park, amusement facilities, dolphinarium, and mini golf course. Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju first opened the facility in 2012 as one of six known pleasure parks near or in Pyongyang.
KCNA previously reported that the 4D theater features 3D films and has “rhythmic” features, meaning that the seats move and vibrate in sync with the film.
Picture: KCNA
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