Dreamland by Da Yang

While taking photographs in North Korea, Da Yang met many different types of ‘Koreans’. Some had been doing business in North Korea for more than 20 years; some had travelled to the country several times; some Chinese who were working as tour guides; and some who followed the Korean leader all the way. What the photographer discovered was that everyone’s perception of the country was very different. To foreigners, the country is often shown in its best light, but Da Yang wanted to experience the ‘real’ North Korea and started to question the authenticity of everything. Is the ‘real’ North Korea the one seen by Chinese traders who have done business there for over 20 years? Is it the country that the local team leader described? Or is it the version the photographer felt – Da Yang’s Dreamland?