April 23, 2024
Evergreen

Breaking taboos as a North Korean defector painter

"I'm not a political pop artist. This is my life story."

Sun Mu's name means "no boundary" between North Korea and South Korea. An artist who fled the DPRK in the 1990s, he now draws political pop art which hopes to reflect the tragic situation of a divided Korean peninsula.

The painting of South Korean President Park Geun-hye and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un surrounded by the bright smiles of their respective predecessors shows his sincere hope for unification - as well as reflecting the sorrow of his life.

Become a member for less than $4 per week.

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.