Fotopedia App Gives Fascinating Look Into North Korea

In the wake of Kim Jong Il’s death, there’s no shortage of reports on the web about the secretive Asian nation. With few people getting a chance to travel there, North Korea hasn’t been extensively photographed. But this year Fotopedia released a great app that gives a rare glimpse into the hermit country courtesy of photographer Eric Lafforgue.

Fotopedia North Korea is a free application available for both iPhone and iPad, but if you have a chance to view the latter I highly recommend it. There are over 1000 photos in total, which can be viewed by category (like propaganda, Arirang Festival, army, etc) or watched as a slideshow. It also features interactive maps and social sharing functions.

Like most photographers who get to venture into North Korea, Mr. Lafforgue was limited to what his handlers wanted him to see. As I understand, he has made four trips to North Korea, and he describes his first thusly:

The pictures you will see are not stolen ones, it’s just what i’ve seen during my trip and what the government wants or allows to show to tourists. When you’re in North Korea, you have always with you two guides, everywhere you go, and you do not choose what you visit, you have to follow a very strict program. I try to give you facts and stories…and this not an easy task!

Eric’s photos are also on Flickr for anyone who would like to check them out there.

If you’d like to read a narrative account of a slightly more adventurous trip inside North Korea, I highly recommend this unique blog series from a few years back entitled The forbidden railway: Vienna – Pyongyang. In is a little different in that the travelers took a different route across the Russian border, and got to spend some time without a guide.

[h/t appbank]