A photographer captured haunting images of women in Pyongyang, revealing a glimpse of life under North Korea's strict regime.
Photographer captures women in Pyongyang
A photographer named Stéphan Gladieu took pictures of women in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, during his first visit to the country in 2017. He captured the images as the women stepped off a bus near the monument commemorating the Foundation of the Communist Party.Setting of the photographs
The photos were taken in front of a significant political symbol, the monument honoring the Communist Party’s founding. The background features pastel-colored buildings, a common sight in Pyongyang, which is home to about 26 million people.Details of the photo session
Gladieu said he had only a short time to take the photos and asked one of the women to look at him while using his camera flashes. The interaction was brief but notable, as it was unusual in the context of North Korean society.Reactions captured in the photos
The women’s eyes in the photographs showed a mix of surprise and fear, described by Gladieu as reflecting "an internal stress." This reaction highlights the unique and often tense atmosphere of taking individual portraits in North Korea.Portraits in North Korea
In North Korea, individual portraits are rare outside of official settings such as school or factory group photos. The country’s strict social and political environment limits the presence of personal photography, making Gladieu’s work particularly striking.
