13th World Festival of Youth and Students
Encyclopedia
The 13th World Festival of Youth and Students (WFYS) was held from 1–8 July 1989 for 8 days, in Pyongyang
, the capital of the North Korea. The World Federation of Democratic Youth
had decided to celebrate its 13th festival there.
About 22,000 people from 177 countries attended the festival. This was the largest festival in its history in terms of the number of the participating countries.
For this event, North Korea constructed the monumental architectural projects such as Rungrado May Day Stadium
, the world's largest stadium, which seats 150,000 people.
May Day Stadium was completed on May 1, 1989, in time to be used for the festival.
On July 1, 1989, about 22,000 young people from 177 countries gathered in the May Day Stadium
, inaugurating the festival. For eight days, the participants took part in social, cultural, sports and political activities.
The slogan of the festival was "For Anti-Imperialist Solidarity, Peace and Friendship".
The South Korean government took steps to prohibit any South Korean from participating in this Pyongyang Festival, due to political considerations. But a female college student named Lim Su-Kyung attended the Pyongyang festival without any permission from the South Korean government. She got the nickname Flower of Unification, and became very famous worldwide during the Pyongyang festival. After her return to South Korea thorough Panmunjom, a village on the de facto border between North
and South Korea
, she was caught and was sent directly to jail by South Korean policemen.
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 capital of the North Korea. The World Federation of Democratic Youth
World Federation of Democratic Youth
The World Federation of Democratic Youth is a progressive youth organization, recognized by the United Nations as an international youth non-governmental organization. WFDY describes itself as an "anti-imperialist, left-wing" organisation...
had decided to celebrate its 13th festival there.
About 22,000 people from 177 countries attended the festival. This was the largest festival in its history in terms of the number of the participating countries.
For this event, North Korea constructed the monumental architectural projects such as Rungrado May Day Stadium
Rungrado May Day Stadium
The Rŭngrado May First Stadium, or May Day Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, completed on May 1, 1989.-Overview:The stadium was constructed as a main stadium for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1989....
, the world's largest stadium, which seats 150,000 people.
May Day Stadium was completed on May 1, 1989, in time to be used for the festival.
On July 1, 1989, about 22,000 young people from 177 countries gathered in the May Day Stadium
Rungrado May Day Stadium
The Rŭngrado May First Stadium, or May Day Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, completed on May 1, 1989.-Overview:The stadium was constructed as a main stadium for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1989....
, inaugurating the festival. For eight days, the participants took part in social, cultural, sports and political activities.
The slogan of the festival was "For Anti-Imperialist Solidarity, Peace and Friendship".
The South Korean government took steps to prohibit any South Korean from participating in this Pyongyang Festival, due to political considerations. But a female college student named Lim Su-Kyung attended the Pyongyang festival without any permission from the South Korean government. She got the nickname Flower of Unification, and became very famous worldwide during the Pyongyang festival. After her return to South Korea thorough Panmunjom, a village on the de facto border between North
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...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, she was caught and was sent directly to jail by South Korean policemen.
See also
- World Festival of Youth and StudentsWorld Festival of Youth and StudentsThe World Festival of Youth and Students is an international event, organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth , a left-wing youth organization, jointly with the International Union of Students since 1947....
- World Federation of Democratic YouthWorld Federation of Democratic YouthThe World Federation of Democratic Youth is a progressive youth organization, recognized by the United Nations as an international youth non-governmental organization. WFDY describes itself as an "anti-imperialist, left-wing" organisation...
- Rungrado May Day StadiumRungrado May Day StadiumThe Rŭngrado May First Stadium, or May Day Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, completed on May 1, 1989.-Overview:The stadium was constructed as a main stadium for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1989....
Further Reading
- Utopias Elsewhere: Journeys in a Vanishing World by Anthony Daniels, ISBN 0-517-58548-0 (1991).