Grand People's Study House
Encyclopedia
The Grand People's Study House is the central library located in the North Korea
n capital, Pyongyang
. The building is situated on Kim Il-sung Square
by the banks of the Taedong River
.
's 70th birthday. It has a total floor space of 100,000m2 and 600 rooms. The library was opened as the "centre for the project of intellectualising the whole of society and a sanctuary of learning for the entire people."
The building can house up to 30 million books, of which it contains around 10,800 documents, books and "on the spot guidance" Kim Il-sung wrote. Foreign publications are available only with special permission. Writings of Kim Jong-il
are also included.
The library is the national centre of Juche
studies, with one North Korean guide reporting to study the "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung and "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il
for a total of 90 minutes a day. Lectures on a variety of subjects also take place.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n capital, Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. The building is situated on Kim Il-sung Square
Kim Il-sung Square
Kim Il-sung Square is a city square in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and is named after the founding leader of the DPRK, Kim Il-sung. Opened in August 1954, the square is located on the west bank of the Taedong River, directly opposite the Juche Tower on the other side of the...
by the banks of the Taedong River
Taedong River
The Taedong River is a large river in North Korea. It rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north. It then flows southwest into Korea Bay at Namp'o. In between, it runs through the country's capital, Pyongyang. Along the river are landmarks such as the Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung...
.
Features
The Study House was constructed in a traditional Korean style in April 1982 over a period of 21 months to celebrate leader Kim Il-sungKim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
's 70th birthday. It has a total floor space of 100,000m2 and 600 rooms. The library was opened as the "centre for the project of intellectualising the whole of society and a sanctuary of learning for the entire people."
The building can house up to 30 million books, of which it contains around 10,800 documents, books and "on the spot guidance" Kim Il-sung wrote. Foreign publications are available only with special permission. Writings of Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
are also included.
The library is the national centre of Juche
Juche
Juche or Chuch'e is a Korean word usually translated as "self-reliance." In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , "Juche" refers specifically to a political thesis of Kim Il-sung, the Juche Idea, that identifies the Korean masses as the masters of the country's development...
studies, with one North Korean guide reporting to study the "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung and "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
for a total of 90 minutes a day. Lectures on a variety of subjects also take place.