Mansudae Art Studio, a renowned hub of fine art creation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, boasts a large contingent of excellent artists, and among them is O Un Byol from the Korean Painting Production Company who shows a remarkable ability in figure painting.
Her father, O Kwang Ho, was also a painter. As if she possessed her father’s aptitudes for painting, O was especially fond of crayons or brushes before any other playthings. So people said she was an art prodigy.
When she was two, her nursery teachers took her to the Pyongyang University of Fine Arts near her house at Jangchung-dong, Songyo District.
Little girls’ talent caught the attention of Choe Song Ryong, lecturer of high repute. Though he was a stern teacher, Choe often marveled at her brightness to perceive more than what she was taught.
In the first year of her learning, O drew nearly 400 pieces of still life. At the age of five she became well known to professional painters.
Her participation in the 12th world festival of youth and students in 1985 was her first international debut. Afterwards she won special prizes and gold medals at several international fine art exhibitions and prize contests of children’s drawings and even held her private fine art shows in several countries, which earned her international fame.
She studied the Korean painting at the Pyongyang University of Fine Arts and finished the postgraduate course. During her university days she won the first prizes in two exhibitions held to mark the founding anniversary of the university and the national fine art exhibition for new painters held in 2002 respectively. She also won a prize at the national fine art exhibition in 2003.
After her graduation she was posted to the Mansudae Art Studio as she wished, and in 2008, one year later, she produced a Korean painting that won the first prize at the national fine art exhibition.
Several of her Korean paintings won diplomas and medals at the national and other fine art exhibitions and were registered as the state’s collection.
To retain the honour is far more difficult to win it—it’s her frank feeling.
She spends her leisure time either reading or listening to music.
She is an enthusiastic helper of her younger sister, Ok Byol, and other young artists in their creative activities.
Though she is now 40 and a middle-aged woman, O Un Byol still keeps the traces of her appearance in the 1980s when she was widely known as a little art prodigy.
More From Naenara (En)
Working people’s organizations of the DPRK conducted tree planting on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day.Officials of the Centr
March 16, 2026
Working people’s organizations of the DPRK conducted tree planting on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day.Officials of the Centr
Among the DPRK’s intangible cultural heritage items is folk song “Arirang.”The song symbolic of the Korean folk songs began to be
March 16, 2026
Among the DPRK’s intangible cultural heritage items is folk song “Arirang.”The song symbolic of the Korean folk songs began to be
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 16, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 16, 2026
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 16 this year marks the 103rd anniversary of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung ’s 250-mile journey for learning. In his
March 16, 2026
March 16 this year marks the 103rd anniversary of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung ’s 250-mile journey for learning. In his
The recently-held Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea underscored the need to invariably lift the ideals of “The people
March 16, 2026
The recently-held Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea underscored the need to invariably lift the ideals of “The people
Samgori zelkova grows in Kaesong Municipality. Known to be planted around 1590, the tree is 17.5 metres tall, 7.5 metres round at
March 16, 2026
Samgori zelkova grows in Kaesong Municipality. Known to be planted around 1590, the tree is 17.5 metres tall, 7.5 metres round at
Trees were planted across the country on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission, the
March 16, 2026
Trees were planted across the country on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission, the
The 13th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) was held on
March 15, 2026
The 13th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) was held on
Agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) held a meeting in Jaeryong County on March
March 15, 2026
Agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) held a meeting in Jaeryong County on March
Joint meetings of working people’s organizations took place in Pyongyang and all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to vow to
March 15, 2026
Joint meetings of working people’s organizations took place in Pyongyang and all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to vow to
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first
March 15, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first
Moving into new houses started in Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un recently attended the
March 15, 2026
Moving into new houses started in Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un recently attended the
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 15, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in the DPRK’s agriculture.What is noteworthy is that vigorous efforts were made to co
March 15, 2026
Recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in the DPRK’s agriculture.What is noteworthy is that vigorous efforts were made to co
One day in March 2021 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a riverside area near Pothong Gate to examine the layout for a
March 15, 2026
One day in March 2021 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a riverside area near Pothong Gate to examine the layout for a
A pair of ginkgo trees, female and male, grow halfway up Mt Naesong in the township of Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. The
March 15, 2026
A pair of ginkgo trees, female and male, grow halfway up Mt Naesong in the township of Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. The
Officials and members of the women’s union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to imp
March 14, 2026
Officials and members of the women’s union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to imp
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 14, 2026
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took
March 14, 2026
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took
More Articles
