German photographer Dieter Leistner has published a photo book called ‘Korea – Korea’ that explores the contrast of public spaces in North and South Korea.
In 2006, Leistner was given official permission to photograph public spaces in Pyongyang, North Korea.
His images show “bus stops with long lines of people waiting, spruced up government buildings, bronze statues of Communist heroes, soldier cemeteries, flower markets, and wide avenues with only a few cars and people”.
Leistner then traveled to Seoul in 2012, where he found “similar locations with a very different feel”.
“In Seoul, for example, the bus stops looked like oversized televisions, the bronze statues were of kings of the long-gone Korean empire, the flower markets neighbored on fish markets with a vast selection of wares, and the streets were choked with cars and people.”
Interestingly, Leistner felt a personal connection to this project—the separation of North and South Korea was similar to that of his home country in 1961 when the Berlin Wall was constructed.
‘Korea – Korea’ can be purchased online at US$30.
[via It’s Nice That and Gestalten]