Kim Jong Un’s Housing Dream: 10,000 Homes Completed in North Korea’s Mega Project

Completion of Phase 2 in Hwasong District
Creation of Works on a Home Construction Project
Method of Assigning Homes

North Korea is making headlines for revealing a large-scale home construction project with 10,000 units, part of its ambitious housing construction push.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, on the 16th, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, attended the completion ceremony of the homes (housing) in Phase 2 of the Hwasong District in Pyongyang. The completion ceremony that day was for a housing district of 10,000 units, marking the third large-scale housing district completed since the so-called North Korean New Town Project began in 2021.

The North Korean New Town Project, announced at the 8th Party Congress in January 2021, plans to construct 50,000 homes in Pyongyang over the next five years, with 10,000 units each year. North Korea is pouring its resources into building Kim Jong Un’s dream city, with 10,000 homes completed on Songhwa Street in April of the following year and another 10,000 homes in Phase 1 of Hwasong District in April last year.

With the completion of Phase 2 in the Hwasong District, North Korea is nearing its goal of constructing 10,000 homes annually.

Initially located in the Ryongsong District, northeast of Pyongyang, the Hwasong District was unable to be developed due to the presence of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are glorified, and the Taesong Mountain. However, with the completion of Phase 1 last year and Phase 2 this year, it is expected to emerge as a new upscale housing district and a new landmark in North Korea.

Interestingly, the completion ceremony, held at night, was reported to have featured fireworks and aerial performances, signaling a grand start. Also, Kim Jong Un attended the event in an Aurus car, a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and personally participated in the tape-cutting ceremony.

The construction of the Pyongyang New Town is one of the key projects that Kim Jong Un personally oversees. Home construction is an effective means of improving outdated housing facilities, strengthening the regime’s cohesion, and appeasing the public.

It has been reported that North Korea recently instructed writers to create literary works reflecting Kim Jong Un’s greatness and specifically ordered them to include the “50,000 homes in Pyongyang” in their backgrounds.

According to a report by Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party, on the 18th, “Our writers’ patriotism should be manifested in widely and deeply reflecting the greatness of the beloved General Secretary who is leading the construction of a socialist powerhouse.” This shows an attempt to elevate Kim Jong Un’s stature within North Korea.

The Rodong Sinmun further emphasized the role of writers in ideological armament, saying, “Literature and art are our Party’s ideological weapons, and writers are the vanguard of the Party’s ideological front.” It urged, “Writers in our country are eternal companions, faithful helpers, excellent advisors, and ardent Party construction and Party activities advocates. They are thorough implementers of Party policies. Our writers should fulfill their sacred duty with pride and confidence in carrying out creative activities from the highest social position that could not be attained in any historical era or society.”

As mentioned earlier, it was confirmed that it was repeatedly emphasized that masterpieces reflecting the 20X10 regional development policy and the construction of 50,000 homes in Pyongyang should be produced when creating poems and lyrics reflecting Kim Jong Un’s achievements.

So, how are these homes that Kim is so proud of allocated in North Korea?

DPRK Today, known as North Korea’s state-owned media, revealed the legal basis and direction of operations for homes. According to DPRK Today, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) Housing Act is known to have a mission to contribute to providing stable and cultural living conditions for the people (residents) by strictly establishing systems and orders in the construction, transfer, acquisition and registration, allocation, use, and management of homes.

It was also confirmed that the Housing Act distinguishes between modern urban homes and rural homes and prioritizes strictly upholding the principle of people’s sincerity in allocation and strictly maintaining the order of home use.

The allocation of homes is known to be prioritized based on heroes, war veterans, honored soldiers, discharged military officers, educators, scientists, technicians, respectable persons, hard-working innovators, triplet families, and families with many children.

DPRK Today explained, “We allocate homes that ensure cultural and sufficient rest conditions to workers working in hard and strenuous sectors, and obligatorily allocate to families who have lost their homes due to natural disasters, thereby maximizing the convenience of the people in allocating homes.”

In the case of homes being built in North Korea, it is a principle not to approve the construction of homes that do not meet the set standards or guarantee convenience, safety, sanitation, and culture and whose forms are uniformly written. North Korea’s attitude is a policy of boldly breaking the existing appearance of uniform housing districts through diverse home designs.