• Acrobatic show at the Mass Games in Pyongyang, capital of North Korea (DPRK). The Mass Games are held at the May Day Stadium the largest seater stadium in the world
  • Mass Games in North Korea (DPRK)
    Mass Games

Mass Games

If you've been reading about North Korea, the chances are that you have heard about the mass games. Well, what exactly are the mass games, how did they come to be, how many people are involved, where do they take place and when are they held?

What are the Mass Games?

The DPRK's Mass Games have become increasingly known world wide for being impressive shows involving literally tens of thousands of participants. So what exactly are the Mass Games?

The Mass Games are a 90 minute show held at the biggest stadium in the world, the Rungrado May Day Stadium, consisting of synchronised gymnastics, dances and martial arts performances on the football pitch.

The Mass Games in North Korea have a backdrop of 17,000 students. Each student makes a tiny pixel creating gigantic mosaics. Trip arranged by KTG Travel

In the background there is a stand with over 17 thousand middle school students, each holding a large book. They show a page of the book to the audience and each page forms a tiny "pixel" of the whole stand's picture which in fact is a gigantic mosaic. Students then flip pages in their books. As each student flips a new page the overall picture created by everyone will vary. Each student can have up to 170 pages in their book.

Mass Games finale, May Day Stadium, North Korea aka DPRK. Tour arranged by KTG Tours

Coordination is critical, whether it be for the people in the stands or those performing on the field. This event stresses the importance of collectiveness over the individual and every single aspect of it is breathtaking; from the impressive shows on the field, to the giant mosaics and the atmosphere created by the local audience inside and outside the stadium.

North Korean ladies performing at the Mass Games in May Day Stadium, August 2019, in Pyongyang, North Korea (DPRK). Trip arranged by KTG Tours

People literally practice for months for this grandiose event, and it is possible seeing them publicly do so in the streets of Pyongyang the months prior to when they start. Right before the beginning of each show, there are crowds in the streets and outside the stadium singing and marching together creating an exhilarating ambiance which ends in 90 minutes of pure excitement inside the stadium.

Artistic performance during the Mass Games held in Pyongyang, capital of North Korea aka DPRK. Tour arranged by KTG

Location

The Mass Games are held at the Rungrado May Day Stadium, the largest stadium in the world.

The Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang is shaped based on the national flower of the DPRK (North Korea), the Magnolia

History

The first mass gymnastics that took place in the DPRK were held in September 1961, just 7 years after the Korean War and 16 years after liberation from Japanese colonial rule. The title of the performance was "The Era of the Workers' Party."

In 1971 the Korean Mass Gymnastics Production Company was created and led to the quick development of the mass games into what they are today. The Mass Gymnastics Production Company consisted of experts in music, gymnastics and visual arts and it helped develop the mass games into what they are today.

Arirang Mass Games (2002 - 2013)

The Arirang Mass Games were a particular type of Mass Games that were premiered in April 2002 to mark the 90th anniversary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung (15th April) and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army (25th April). The performance then took place every year from 2005 to 2013.

North Korean flag at the Mass Games in Pyongyang capital of North Korea, DPRK. Photo in North Korea taken by KTG Tours

The Arirang Mass Games, through the the representation of the Arirang Korean folk song, told the story of the DPRK's history. It expressed the struggle of the Korean people against the Japanese, the Korean War and the reconstruction of a country completely devastated by it, turning into a prosperous nation.

The Glorious Country Mass Games (2018)

Motorbike on a line and acrobatics show at the Mass Games in North Korea, DPRK. Photo in North Korea taken by KTG Tours

On 9 September 2018, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK and after a 5 year hiatus, the Mass Games were held again in Pyongyang. Leader Kim Jong Un attended the opening ceremony which were able to see too. It was a truly unique experience. Please click here to see what it was like to see Leader Kim Jong Unin a stadium packed with 150,000 people plus performers.

These new mass games included lit-up drones flying in a synchronised way forming slogans in the sky, lasers and spectacular acrobatic shows. The whole stadium lit up.

As for the messages portrayed, a lot of stress was put on the DPRK's friendly relationship with China and South Korea. Images of Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in were formed by the 17,000 plus backdrop in the stadium. In fact, Moon Jae-in attended the Mass Games and made a 7 minute speech at the May Day Stadium, the first time a South Korean president made a speech to a North Korean audience. He stressed that North and South Korea should be one as was the case before the war.

The Land of the People Mass Games (2019)

In 2019 the Mass Games resumed. That year's title was the Land of the People. They initially started in June, but were then postponed and resumed in July lasting until October.

Grand gymnastics acrobatic performance North Korea, DPRK. Photo in North Korea taken by KTG Tours

Prizes

The Arirang performance was added to the Guinness Book of World Records on 14 August 2007 for being the largest gymnastic performance on Earth. It had 109,000 participants.

Dance performance at the Mass Games in North Korea, DPRK, with KTG Tours

The Arirang Mass Games also received the most prestigious award in the DPRK, the Kim Il Sung Prize as well as the Sun Medal.

How much does it cost to go to the Mass Games?

The price for the Mass Games depend on the seating area you choose. Seats are divided into 4 areas; 3rd class, 2nd class, 1st class and VIP.

Rates for the Mass Games in 2018 and 2019 were as follows:

You can see a seating map below:

Mass Games seating map at the May Day stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, DPRK
Seat Price
3rd Class 100 Euros
2nd Class 300 Euros
1st Class 500 Euros
VIP 800 Euros

How to Go to the Mass Games

In order to go the Mass Games all you have to do is go to the DPRK when these are being held. You can join a group tour or go on a private tour.

Have a great story or any questions regarding the Mass Games?

Do you have a great story about this? Share it!

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Mass Games extension in North Korea 
Dear all, Below is a common question we tend to get regarding the Mass Games being extended until October. Although we expect these to go on until October …

Arirang Festival 2011 
Is there any confirmation that the 2011 mass games will last until mid of October? Tom

Grand Magic Performance in the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang from April 18th 
February 21st 2011 Update We have just received an official notice from Pyongyang saying that there will be a Grand Magic Performance from April 18th …

2011 Mass Games in North Korea 
We have had official confirmation that the Mass Games will start on August 1st and run until at least September 9th (DPRK National Day Tour). Please bear …

Mass Games Extend until October 25th 2010 
The Mass in Games will be held until October 25th. We have already closed our last tour group of the year, but please contact us if you would like to see …

2010 Mass Games Officially Confirmed  
Mass Games Officially Confirmed - 17 May 2010 We have just had notification from Pyongyang that the Arirang Mass Games will be held from August 2nd …

2010 Mass Games 
Have these been confirmed yet? When will we know if North Korea will have these going on this year? Cheers, Pete

Click here to write your own.

Related pages:

Please click here to go from our North Korea Mass Games page to our section on the DMZ.
index-column.html

KTG Travel Guide

KTG DPRK Travel Guide

Safe Payments

We accept PayPal and credit/debit card payments

New! Korean Language Course in Pyongyang!

Over 3 weeks of Study & Travel in North Korea from €2195 Euros

Top! Pyongyang Bike Tours

Bike trips available for all tours!

Social Media

Facebook Instagram Pinterest

DPRK Interactive Map

Please click on the map for more information

DPRK Panorama

360° Images of the DPRK

North Korea Tours

Small sized group tours
Free Postcard from Pyongyang!

Latest Updates

Pyongyang Marathon Tours ready!

Sign up today and get a free hoody!

Group Tours ready!

DPRK Tours available all year-round!

Testimonials

"The whole experience was actually even better than I thought, especially the Mass Games which I can’t even find words to describe." P. Simon - attending the Ocotober 10th Military Parade rehearsal "We had a very enlightening trip and were most impressed with how well organised it all was...and would not have changed anything..."

P. Clarke

Travel Tips

Transportation in DPRK

Forum

Please check our forum for more reviews, questions & comments.

Upload your own pictures and reviews!