April 25 House of Culture

A {{Convert|12.4|ha|acre|0}} site was cleared and actual construction on the theatre building was begun in April 1974.{{Cite book|author=Corfield, Justin |year=2014 |title=Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang |location=London |publisher=Anthem Press |page=7 |isbn=978-1-78308-341-1}} The building is {{Convert|105|m|ft|0}} wide across the front, {{Convert|176|m|ft|0}} deep, and rises to a height of almost {{Convert|50|m|ft|0}}. It contains two large theatres with 6,000 seats and 1,100 seats respectively with a cinema theatre of 600 seats. Its over {{Convert|80000|sqm|sqft|0}} of floor space provide for some 600 other rooms in support of the theatres. The building opened on 7 October 1975.

The building as proposed was originally named the February 8 House of Culture after the date of the 1948 official founding of the Korean People's Army (KPA). It was opened under this name and the 6th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea was held there on 10 to 14 October 1980, under this name.{{Cite journal|last=Kim |first=Nam-Sik |year=1982 |title=North Korea's Power Structure and Foreign Relations: An Analysis of the Sixth Congress of the KWP |journal=The Journal of East Asian Affairs |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=125–151 |jstor=23253510}} After the congress the building was sometimes referred to as Congress Hall;{{Cite web |title=Documents – Bob Hartley Collection |work=The Strand Archive |url=http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/contentslist.php?view=col&content_id=5 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305001107/http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/contentslist.php?view=col&content_id=5 |archivedate=5 March 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 May 2016 }} however, subsequently the name was changed to the April 25 House of Culture, the founding date of the resistance army against the Japanese,Official North Korean sources, such as {{Cite book|author=Hwan Ju Pang |year=1987 |title=Korean Review |location=Pyongyang |publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House |page=39 |oclc=21036357}}, state that the Anti-Japanese People's Guerrilla Army was founded on 25 April 1932 by Kim Il Sung. Kim was at that time commanding a small unit in the Chinese Communist Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army under General Yang Jingyu. {{Cite web|title=Kim Il Sung's Life to the Korean War |work=Post War North Korea |publisher=Korean History Info |url=http://koreanhistory.info/KimIlSungsLife.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502145029/http://koreanhistory.info/KimIlSungsLife.htm |archivedate=2 May 2012 |url-status=live}}; {{Cite book|author=Minnich, James M. |year=2005 |title=The North Korean People's Army: Origins and Current Tactics |location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=978-1-59114-525-7}} in order to reflect the historical connection, and the continuity, with the KPA.{{Cite web|title=N. Korea Displays Ballistic Missiles During Military Parade, Some for the first time |date=June 2007 |publisher=Marinekslee |url=http://marinekslee.egloos.com/m/8498726 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505193727/http://marinekslee.egloos.com/m/8498726 |archivedate=5 May 2016 |url-status=live}} which cites: "Puk chuyo'gi'nyŏm'il 5–10 nyŏnmada taegyumo yŏlpyŏngsik" (North Korea Holds Large Military Parades for Anniversaries Every 5–10 years), Chosŏn Ilbo, 25 April 2007; Chang Jun-ik, "Pukhan Inmingundaesa" (History of the North Korean Military), Seoul, Sŏmundang, 1991, pp. 19–88; {{Cite book|author=Kim Kwang-su |year=2006 |chapter=Chapter Two: 조선 인민군 의 형성 과 발전, 1945–1990 [Chosŏninmingun'ŭi ch'angsŏlgwa palchŏn, 1945–1990; Foundation and Development of the Korean People's Army, 1945–1990] |script-title=ko:북한 의 군사|trans-title=The Military of North Korea |location=Seoul |publisher=Kyung Inmoonhwasa (Kyŏngin Munhwasa) |pages=63–78 |isbn=978-89-499-0439-9}} North Korea's Military Foundation Day had been changed earlier, in 1978, from 9 February to 25 April, until in 2015 when it returned to the 8 February date.

The April 25 House of Culture is home to the April 25th Culture and Art Composition Office,The April 25th Culture and Art Composition Office has also been known variously as the April 25th Cultural Centre, April 25th Hall, April 25th House of Culture, 8 February Hall, 8 February House of Culture, and 8 February Group. {{Cite book|author=Bermedez, Joseph S. |year=2003 |title=Shield of the Great Leader: The Armed Forces of North Korea |location=Sydney, New South Wales |publisher=Allen & Unwin |page=32 |isbn=978-1-74115-007-0}} which is in charge of organizing major KPA cultural events, including international conferences and state funerals. In addition to meetings for military education, awards and solidarity,{{Cite news|title=Servicepersons Vow to Be Faithful to Leadership of Kim Jong Un |date=18 July 2012 |publisher=KCNA Watch|url=http://www.kcnawatch.co/newstream/1451892359-315527649/servicepersons-vow-to-be-faithful-to-leadership-of-kim-jong-un/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505202320/http://www.kcnawatch.co/newstream/1451892359-315527649/servicepersons-vow-to-be-faithful-to-leadership-of-kim-jong-un/ |archivedate=5 May 2016 |url-status=live}} and official state ceremonies and party meetings such as the 6th and 7th Congresses of the Workers' Party of Korea,{{Cite news|author=Talmadge, Eric |date=3 May 2016 |title=Details of N. Korea party congress secret, but goals clear |publisher=Associated Press |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b0c294704ec543388e8b260ef0d30046/details-n-korea-party-congress-secret-goals-clear |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504144222/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b0c294704ec543388e8b260ef0d30046/details-n-korea-party-congress-secret-goals-clear |archivedate=4 May 2016 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|author=Pearson, James |title=Finishing touches in North Korea capital ahead of rare party meeting |date=5 May 2016 |publisher=Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) from Reuters |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/finishing-touches-in-north-korea-capital-ahead-of-rare-party-meeting/42134566 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505214149/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/finishing-touches-in-north-korea-capital-ahead-of-rare-party-meeting/42134566 |archivedate=5 May 2016 |url-status=live}} the theatres in the 25 April House of Culture are used for cultural events such as performances by the Korean People's Army Ensemble, or the band Moranbong.{{Cite news|author=Paton, Callum |date=10 December 2015 |title=North Korea: Kim Jong Un's hand-picked girl band Moranbong hope to make it big in China |newspaper=International Business Times |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/north-korea-kim-jong-uns-hand-picked-girl-band-moranbong-hope-make-it-big-china-1532731 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530133954/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/north-korea-kim-jong-uns-hand-picked-girl-band-moranbong-hope-make-it-big-china-1532731 |archivedate=30 May 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}

The building rarely sees visits by tourists.

The North Korean postal service issued a stamp on 7 October 1976, primarily for domestic use, depicting the then new building.Scott #1532 – Scott (2008) "Korea, Democratic People's Republic" Scott 2009 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Volume 4 (165th edition) Scott Publishing Co., Sidney, Ohio, page 276. {{ISBN|978-0-89487-420-8}}

The building appeared in the 2019 South Korean film Ashfall.{{Cite web|title=Ashfall (2019)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11285908/|publisher=IMDb|access-date=21 August 2024}}{{Cite web|title=白头山精彩情节|url=

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1j7411R7ma/|website=Bilibili|date=19 March 2020|access-date=21 August 2024}}

{{Portal|North Korea}}

• List of theatres in North Korea

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book|year=1985 |title=Pyongyang |location=Pyongyang |publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House |pages=204–209|oclc=477352411}}
• {{Cite book|author=Hwan Ju Pang |year=1987 |title=Korean Review |location=Pyongyang |publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House |page=225 |oclc=21036357}}
• {{Cite book|first=Hubert Mono |last=Ndjana |year=1988 |title=Korea, a mysterious country in the East |location=Pyongyang |publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House |pages=25–26|oclc=20635290}}

• [http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/documents/photo_bh_pyongyang05.jpg February 8 House of Culture theatre control room in 1975] by Bob Hartley [https://web.archive.org/web/20170305001113/http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/documents/photo_bh_pyongyang05.jpg archived]
• [http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/documents/photo_bh_pyongyang01.jpg Photo of the February 8 House of Culture, 1975] by Bob Hartley [https://web.archive.org/web/20170305001119/http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/documents/photo_bh_pyongyang01.jpg archived]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160505203831/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qaO7sleUTs/Uaz0QKjro0I/AAAAAAAAKj4/WzeTYV5S1dw/s640/1995%2BPyongyang%2Baper%C3%A7u%2Bg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral%2B0001-080.jpg Photo of the 25 April House of Culture, circa 1995]
• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser/8076394881 Photo of the 25 April House of Culture, circa 2010]

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{{Theatres in North Korea}}

Category:Theatres in North Korea

Category:Buildings and structures in Pyongyang

Category:Stalinist architecture

Category:Theatres completed in 1975

Category:1975 establishments in North Korea

Category:20th-century architecture in North Korea

Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in North Korea