Although the Korean economy is still challenging, the modern Pyogyang subway system, built in 1966, is the pride of the Korean people and continues to amaze people. The Pyongyang Metro is underground at a depth of about 100 meters and is considered one of the deepest metro systems in the world. It was built to serve the citizens and traveling people as an emergency bomb shelter.
Construction of the subway
In 1968, a decade and a half after the war that divided the Korean Peninsula, the North Korean People's Army, with the assistance of China and the USSR, began work on the Pyongyang Metro. The Pyongyang metro is built on the model of the Moscow metro and is deeper than the Moscow one. It is known as the deepest underground system in the world. The first phase of the project opened to traffic in 1973 and was completed in 1987.
The capital of the DPRK is one of the places with the deepest metro system in the world. Maximum depth - 200 meters underearth. The stations are located at different depths, on average it is 100-150 meters. At such depths, the average temperature is always stable around 18 degrees Celsius all year round.
This depth of the Pyongyang metro, in addition to its transport functions, is intended to be used as a bomb shelter in case of war. At the top and bottom of the escalator, the corridors are protected by thick steel doors from explosives. With the help of an elevator from the station to the ground takes about 4 minutes. Station speakers often play revolutionary songs.
At the new stations, a modern escalator system helps Koreans get in and out of the subway station.
Metro lines
Deep underground, Pyongyang's subway system is about 35 km long, providing convenient public transportation to meet people's needs in modern life. Initially, North Korea opened only two stations in the subway system to visitors, and it was not until late 2015 that visitors were able to access all 17 stations.
The first two lines were opened in the DPRK subway, which have a cruciform shape and pass through the entire city from north to south and from west to east. The first of the subway stations, opened in 1973, was the Chollima Line. The second Heksin line opened to traffic on the occasion of the National Day of Korea in 1975. Near the entrance to the metro station there are bus, tram and trolleybus stops. People can easily choose transportmeans to the next destination.
Subway stations, like many other public facilities in North Korea, in Pyongyang are associated with the history of the Korean Revolution, such as Comrade, Red Star, Glory, Toan's Victory. The design of the stations also reflects this theme in images that promote patriotism and the Korean Revolution.
Architecture of stations
The unique architecture of metro stations arouses the curiosity of visitors. And, as statistics show, about 5,000 Western tourists visit the capital of Korea every year. Despite the fact that the Korean subway was built a long time ago, it is quite modern, thanks to restoration work. Statistics released by North Korea show an average daily ridership of 400,000 passengers. On average, the train runs from 3 to 5 minutes.
Pyongyang metro stations are decorated in different styles. Pyogyang is considered to be the most beautiful subway system in the world. At Yonggwang Station, the walls are decorated with inlaid murals up to 80 meters long with unique themes of scenes from the working life, construction, and defense of the country of the Korean people, with the common goal of showing the country's achievements to visitors.
In addition to the traditional painting of the frescoes, the ceiling lighting system here is quite sophisticated. At the same time, it is distinguished by high aesthetics and solemnity. This is both the light inside the stops and the whimsical internal design structure with chandeliers on the ceiling and marble columns. All Korean stationssubways are proclaimed museum galleries.
The end station of the Chollima Line - Buheung, was opened in 1987. It is one of the most ornate stations in the metro system. The main focus is on a large mural called "Great Leader Kim Nhat Thanh, Workers and Officials". In addition, there are impressive giant chandeliers, each weighing up to 4 tons.
Fare
Each passenger must pay 5 won for the subway, which is equivalent to 0.004 pounds sterling per ride. But foreign tourists cannot use the local currency, but must pay with a foreign one, for example, yuan, US dollar or euro according to the exchange rate. Ratio to the Russian ruble: 1 North Korean won (KPW)=0.072 RUB. Thus, a metro ticket for a Russian will cost 35 kopecks.
Metro rolling stock
Korean subway trains were bought from Germany in the late 1990s and exported to Korea. North Korea has repainted all the wagons, but some of Germany's old iconic designs on the wagons betray their origins. However, on excursions, the guide says that the trains are made in North Korea. Currently, trains are purchased from China if necessary.
Each car has images of the two late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Koreans should not forget about them for a minute!
People rarely talk to each other when riding the subway. Some people use cell phones, but they are few.
During rush hour, the train runs every 2minutes. Tourists coming to Korea will have to follow the group and should not voluntarily stay at some stations.
When traveling in North Korea, you cannot shop freely to avoid close contact and communication with ordinary people. But the subway in Pyongyang is an exception. Because in the eyes of North Korea, the luxurious Pyongyang subway is one of the achievements in construction, worthy of praise and promotion of tourists from all over the world.
Information for citizens
Unlike most subway stations in the world that have billboards, the North Korean subway station has a distinctive counter for reading national newspapers. Passengers waiting for the train can easily follow the news in the official Korean newspaper, and many people waiting for the train can read the daily news. However, commercial advertising is prohibited at the metro station, so there are only murals on the walls of the metro.
The North Korean subway is a huge museum showing all the ideals of North Korea - this is how foreigners see it.
