Part 1: Buildings on Rimhung Street, the 2nd Stage of the Hwasong District
We take a look at the new buildings in Pyongyang and the new architecture you can expect to enjoy on your tour to North Korea.
Once the borders open..!
It has already been over 4 years since North Korea closed its borders to tourists around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic back in 2020. However, they have let in some groups of Russian tourists in 2024, more as ‘invited guests’ than tourists.
During these past years, North Korea has definitely changed a lot. With a large scale of mass construction, there is no doubt that we will be greeted by a transformed landscape when we are allowed back to Pyongyang again.
So, what exactly happened, changed, and been renovated after 2020?
That’s what this series of articles is going to explain to you. Be armed with the latest knowledge of North Korea once you travel with us and astonish your local Korean guides!
Read more on the North Korean border opening here.
New Streets in Pyongyang
Since Kim Jong Un took power in 2012, several large-scale, monumental streets have been constructed in Pyongyang.
This includes Changjon Street, Mirae Scientists Street, and Ryomyong Street. The buildings on these streets feature a surreal, somewhat exaggerated futuristic appearance.
These futuristic Juche-style buildings, along with Stalinist landmarks and Khrushchevka apartments, created a reality more bizarre than fiction, further accentuated by deliberately symmetrical designs. North Korea takes pride in these streets and allows foreigners to participate in city walking tours along them.
Consequently, these streets are not only stunning new features in Pyongyang's skyline but have also become popular tourist attractions, favoured by foreign visitors.
January 2021 - the 50,000 New Flats Project in Pyongyang
In January 2021, the Workers' Party of Korea held its 8th Congress. Kim Jong Un announced a project to build 50,000 new flats in Pyongyang. The aim was to complete 10,000 units annually over the next five years. A month later, during a meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea, a rare scene was broadcast where Kim Jong Un was shown severely scolding Kim Tu Il.
Kim Tu Il is the Secretary of the Central Committee and director of the Economic Affairs Department of the WPK at that time. Kim Jong Un criticised his suggestion to scale down the construction plan due to the economic situation. This highlights the significance of this project.
The standing man in the grey suit is Kim Tu Il.
Kim Jong Un pointed at him and scolded him.
Rather than following the construction order of the 50,000 new flats project in Pyongyang, this article will first introduce the 10,000 housing units in the second stage of the Hwasong district. Completed in April 2024, it is the “third phase” of 10,000 units -- Rimhung Street.
Due to the unique characteristics of Rimhung Street, it is highly likely to become another highlight of our journey when it is opened to foreign tourists.
Rimhung Street
Compared to Mirae Scientists Street and the first phase of the Hwasong area, the buildings on Rimhung Street are more realistic and westernized.
Rimhung Street’s buildings are primarily brown with white paintings. They lack the orderly regularity of Soviet-style architecture and the peculiar shapes of Juche-style buildings.
If you were to look at a panoramic picture (of course, after removing the logos of KCNA or Korean Central Television!), it would be hard to imagine that this is a street in Pyongyang.
Picture of Rimhung Street from KCNA.
Iconic Landmarks of the New Buildings in Pyongyang
Each new street in Pyongyang has an iconic landmark building. Rimhung Street is no exception.
Generally, the ability to construct super high-rise buildings is a reflection of a region's architectural and industrial level. And what North Korea aims with this project is for it to show off these capabilities as we see them widely present in the new streets being developed in the country.
The landmark of Rimhung Street is a pair of 40-storey twin towers.
However, according to the original architectural plans, these towers were initially designed to have only 38 floors. Two additional floors were added during construction.
Actually, compared to other super high-rise buildings in North Korea, the twin towers on Rimhung Street look more like ordinary high-rise residential buildings.
The Rimhung Twin Tower, the shop in front of it is the Children’s Toy Shop of Pyongyang.
Eating at Rimhung Street
The real reason we want to introduce Rimhung Street first is because of one of its dining facilities...
What makes Rimhung Street stand out among other newly built streets in Pyongyang is the Hwasong Taedonggang Beer Bar. A popular site among local Koreans, apparently!
This landmark, impossible to miss once it comes into view, features two large Taedonggang beer bottles at the entrance, and even the staircase is constructed inside a transparent draught beer bottle.
Even if you don't understand Korean, you can tell at first glance what kind of place this building is. The bar operates daily from 5:00 PM to 24:00 PM and becomes bustling with guests by 6:00 PM. Here, you can not only order all kinds of Taedonggang Beer, including No. 1 to No. 8 and fruit-flavoured Taedonggang Beer, but also foreign beers.
A pitcher of Taedonggang No. 1 to No. 4 is $3, No. 5 and No. 6 are $1, and No. 7 and No. 8 are $5. The cold noodles here are also very delicious, priced at $2 for 100g and $3 for 200g.
For lovers of a rooftop bar, there is even an open-air service area on the second floor. And there is nothing that goes better with a cool, fresh pint of Taedonggang than Korean BBQ.
And you’re in luck.
The rooftop also offers barbecue services!
A great place to watch the nighttime scenery of Rimhung Street as life goes on down below.
You can see more on this video, subtitled in English. It is North Korean state media content from Rodong Sinmun, showcasing scenes from the Hwasong Taedonggang Beer Bar.
The video includes introductions to Hwasong Taedonggang Beer Bar and Taedonggang beer.
Hwasong Taedonggang Beer Bar.
Hwasong Taedonggang Beer Bar
Koryo Tours has already introduced North Korean beers and breweries in this blog.
Gathering at a beer bar is always a joyful moment during a Koryo Tours trip. We hope we can gather with you at the Hwasong Taedonggang Beer Bar in the near future.
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