Wikipedia

Ryomyong New Town

Ryomyong New Town (Korean: 려명거리신도시) refers to a new town located in Pyongyang, North Korea. The exact location is Ryomyong Avenue which refers from Yongsaengtap to Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Taesong-guyok.[1]

Ryomyong New Town
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
려명거리신도시
Hancha
黎明거리新都市
Revised RomanizationRyeomyeong-geori sindosi
McCune–ReischauerRyŏmyŏng-gŏri sintosi

Name

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The name "Ryomyong" means "dawn" in Korean language.[2][3]

Project

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The project was proposed by Kim Jong Un in March 2016[1] and the planned completion was in August of the same year.[4] There were several outdated buildings in Ryomyong Avenue, but due to the plan, all of them were demolished. Construction was started in March 2016.

It consists of 40 new condominiums, 33 refurbished condominiums and 34 of public facilities including 6 schools, 3 kindergartens and 3 nurseries.[5] Also, 7 buildings for Kim Il Sung University will be built and 15 commercial buildings will be constructed.[5] Around the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, only small and idyllic buildings will be built due to the height restrictions. The motto is 'Green city, energy-saving city'.[5] All apartments have passive solar heating systems, geothermal systems and solar panels.[6]

The construction was started in March 2016 and topped-out in August of the same year. Total 1.7 billion won were used and the total areas are 151500 m2.[5]

Ryomyong Condominium

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Main article: Ryomyong Condominium

This condominium has 82 stories, with a height of 270 m.[5] Construction was started in March 2016 but was temporarily on-hold due to redirection of construction to flooding in North Hamgyong province.[7] It was restarted and was estimated to complete on 15 April 2017.[8]

The condominium is de facto the highest building of North Korea, since Ryugyong Hotel (de jure the highest building) was topped-out in 1989 and has yet to open.[9]

Construction was completed by 13 April 2017 and officially opened just after 2 days.

Criticism

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Poor construction

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Construction has been described as rushed, with 270m of condominium built in just 74 days.[10] This is quite short compared to other well-known skyscrapers such as Petronas Twin Tower (4~5 years) and Burj Khalifa (5 years). A South Korean expert said, "To build 270m of skyscraper, construction should be done for at least 2 years or more."[11]

Another 23-story apartment building in Pyongchon-guyok, constructed in a similar manner[clarify], collapsed around May 18, 2014, potentially killing hundreds of people. The cause of the collapse has been officially declared by North's official Korean Central News Agency as "irresponsible supervision and control".[12][13]

Relation to other building projects

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The new town is one of a number of "monumental" projects 2012-2017 including the Pyongyang Sci-Tech Complex, new Natural History Museum, new People's Open-air Ice Rink, Changjon Street (창전거리), Unha Scientists Street, Wisong Scientists Street (위성과학자거리), Mirae Street and Ryomyong Street.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b 김세진 (18 March 2016). "김정은 "우리 식대로 잘 산다" 려명거리 건설 지시". imnews.imbc.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  2. ^ "려명 : 네이버 국어사전". krdic.naver.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  3. ^ "여명 : 네이버 국어사전". krdic.naver.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  4. ^ "KBS NEWS". news.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e "[화보] 평양에 82층 아파트와 北 여성 노동자들 - 노컷뉴스". No Cut News. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Training Command Post of KPA General Staff". The Pyongyang Times. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  7. ^ "北 "려명거리 건설중지...200일전투인력 함경북도 피해복구 투입"". yonhapnews.co.kr. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  8. ^ "친북매체 "北, 려명거리 완공 내년 4월15일로 변경"(종합)". 28 December 2016.
  9. ^ "North Korea upgrades new skyscraper to 80 floors, making it 2nd-tallest in DPRK | NK News". NK News - North Korea News. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  10. ^ "북한, 70층 아파트 골조공사 74일만에 끝내...안전 괜찮나? | 연합뉴스TV :: 대한민국 뉴스의 시작. 채널 23". yonhapnewstv.co.kr. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  11. ^ "KBS NEWS". news.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  12. ^ "North Korea Issues Rare Public Apology for Deadly Building Collapse". Mashable. 18 May 2014.
  13. ^ "'하루에 아파트 1층씩'...지금 평양은 대규모 '날림' 공사중?". news1.kr. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  14. ^ Pyongyang Times 8 June 2017 - This is my new home "In retrospect, for the past five years, lots of monumental structures and modern factories have sprung up in Pyongyang, including the Sci-Tech Complex, Natural History Museum and People's Open-air Ice Rink. And five new streets have been built in the period, namely Changjon, Unha Scientists, Wisong Scientists, Mirae and Ryomyong streets. In other words, every year has witnessed a street coming into being."
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