The Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble (PEE) is an orchestra from

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

(DPRK). It is famous for its performances of revolutionary and folk songs, as well as some covers of

pop songs Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/ CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played on a panel of Top 40 radio stations in the U ...

in the west, including " Brother Louie" by

Modern Talking Modern Talking was a German pop duo consisting of arranger, songwriter and producer Dieter Bohlen and singer Thomas Anders. They have been referred to as Germany's most successful pop duo, and have had a number of hit singles, reaching the to ...

and " One Way Ticket". They have been reported to be one of the country's most popular groups.Axis of Evil meets Harry Potter, Britney
, Audra Ang, ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', November 7, 2005, on line, accessed 14-3-2007.
, Keith Howard, ''IIAS Newsletter'' #26, November 2001, on line, accessed 14-3-2007. The group takes its name from the Battle of Pochonbo on 4 June 1937, when a

guerrilla Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...

unit under the leadership of

Kim Il-sung Kim Il Sung (born Kim Song Ju; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he led as its first supreme leader from its establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994. Afterwards, he was ...

attacked compounds of the Japanese occupation force in Pochonbo. The group was formed on June 4, 1985, from the electronic music section of the Mansudae Art Troupe. The group was the first electronic pop group in the country. In 1991, the ensemble traveled to Japan to perform as part of a cultural exchange between North Korea and Japan. The Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble can be heard on North Korean radio stations. A total of 182 volumes (186 CDs) were released (due to

re-release In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, repackage or re-edition) is the release of an album or single which has been released at least once before, sometimes with alterations or additions. Reasons for reissue New audio formats Reco ...

of volumes 13–16 in the 1990s).

Known members

* Hyon Song-wol – vocals (Merited Actress) * Ri Kyong-suk – vocals (Merited Actress) * Kim Kwang-suk (1964–2018) – vocals (People's Actress) *Ri Pun-hui – vocals (Merited Actress) *Jo Gum-hwa – vocals (Merited Actress) * Chon Hye-yong – vocals (People's Actress) *Kim Jong-nyo – vocals *Yun Hye-young – vocals *Kim Won-il (Edited out from concerts re-released around 2009, and not mentioned as a member since then) – synthesizers (People's Actor) *Kim Hae-song – synthesizers (Merited Actor) *Kim Mun-hyok – synthesizers (Merited Actor) *Kwon Kyong-hak – synthesizers *Kim Song-ryop – synthesizers *Jon Kwon – piano (People's Artist) *Jang Jong-won – piano *Ri Mun – electronic organ *Kang Chol-ho – electronic organ (Merited Actor) *Kang Gum-chol – electronic organ *Park Ui-hyon – guitar *Song Kwang – guitar (Merited Actor) *Choe Yong-chol – guitar (Merited Actor) *Kim Yong-il – bass guitar *Choe Mun-chol – drums (Merited Actor) *Kim Jin (missing from footage filmed 2015, status as a member is unknown) – percussion (Merited Actor) *Kim Yeon-su – conductor (Merited Artist) *Ri Jong-o (1943–2016) – conductor, major composer (People's Artist, Labour Hero, Order of Kim Il Sung and Kim Il Sung Prize Winner) *Hwang Jin Yong (1959-2025) – major composer (People's Artist, Labour Hero, Kim Il Sung Prize Winner)

References

{{Authority control 1985 establishments in North Korea 2010s disestablishments in North Korea North Korean orchestras Electronic music groups Disbanded orchestras North Korean musical groups Musical groups established in 1985 Musical groups disestablished in the 2010s

Known members

See also

References