Kumsusan Palace of the Sun

Summary

The mausoleum where the bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lie in state. It is a grand, sprawling complex surrounded by a large square and a moat. Visitors see the bodies of North Korea’s former leaders and tour exhibition halls displaying their possessions. On display are also the train carriages and a boat used to the tour the country on “on-the-spot-guidance” visits.

Map

Travel Information

Tips

• You are asked to dress smart for this visit. No jeans or open footwear.

• When you enter you will have to leave behind your electronic devices at the counter. Photos are not permitted inside.

• Do not be surprised to see Koreans grieving here. Note that this is regarded as a sacred and solemn place.

• You will be asked to bow to a pair of statues of the Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, and their bodies, let us know in advance if this makes you feel uncomfortable.

• The plaza outside is a good place to take a souvenir photo. Often, the locals will be happy to snap a shot with you here.

• When entering, you will go through special machines that clean your shoes and blow dust off your body, before going to long travelators to the main building.

Fees

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Best times to visit

• Open to foreign tourists on Sundays. Undergoes maintenance for several months in the year.

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History

First built in 1976, it served as Kim Il Sung’s official residence. Following Kim Il Sung’s death in 1994, it was converted into a mausoleum for him. After Kim Jong Il passed away in December 2011, his remains were also moved here and embalmed.

Fact File

• Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s bodies are embalmed according to the techniques used for Lenin, Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong.

• In Kim Jong Il’s train carriage you can see that he used an Apple MacBook Pro.

• The display halls contain a lot of interesting memorabilia. Honourary degrees and titles from all over the world as well as medals from domestic and international groups, such as a medal commemorating victory over Japan in World War II granted by the Soviet Union.

• The Palace is considered a national icon.

Links

• Wikipedia article on Kumsusan Palace of the Sun:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumsusan_Palace_of_the_Sun

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Misc

Tags

Revolutionary, Monument, Architecture

Updates

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