OH NO! PYONGYANG TRAFFIC LADIES BEING RETIRED ??

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Latest evidence of traffic girls sidelined - and more traffic MEN showing up to direct traffic .... oy vey






Photos via Hectic Sorcerer & Sheridans Of Asia On Flickr

A man directing traffic?

Simply absurd. Look at how he slouches!

Southern Bear wrote:

A man directing traffic?

Simply absurd. Look at how he slouches!

Ha - They sure aren't as impressive a figure as the ladies. The ladies appeared proud to be doing their duty - standing tall & straight and moving with precision & authority. The men look like they are bored and would rather be elsewhere. Maybe I'm not being objective, but thats how it looks to me ....

I found this excellent essay on wordpress that laments the passing of the Pyongyang traffic controllers and how they reflect North Korean society:

A Traffic Controller At The Crossroads
https://www.pyongyangtrafficgirls.com/t256-essay-on-the-passing-of-the-traffic-girls-traffic-controller-at-the-crossroads#1469

LOL @ "The de-trafficgirling of Pyongyang"

From what I read here, they're not really being retired, but just kicked to the curb.
At least they're still standing there looking pretty.

Wow i'm very late but shocked to see this given how all of them seemed to enjoy doing this

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Another first hand report, from Joseph A Ferris lll's blog :

It’s sad to say, but yes, I can confirm the rumors – electric traffic lights have been recently installed in Pyongyang, and with this bold step into advanced technology, regrettably the era of the beloved intuition of the famous Pyongyang traffic girl is coming to an end. Legions of cute traffic girls have been retired – who will man the intersections of desolate streets? Who will perform a robotic dance of traffic instruction while ignoring the fact there is no traffic to actually instruct? Is this march of progress a worthy substitute for cute girls with pouty expressions and sexy uniforms?

All is not lost gentleman! Some of the traffic girls have been retained to render emergency services during the frequent power outages. Others can still be seen directing traffic at construction sites, manning cross walks at busy areas, and some work manually controlling the traffic lights near one of the tourist hotels.

cute

3 taken August 2011 by dantoujours





September 2011:
Pyongyang is changing so quickly! In few months, they have removed the traffic officers ladies to use Traffic lights in the center of the town.
The cute ladies are still there, but they do not do their famous robotic dance!
- Eric Lafforgue

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Pyongyang Traffic Girls Return!

From the blog An American in North Korea by Joseph A Ferris III - April 2012


Pyongyang Traffic Girl – photo by Joseph A Ferris III


To our delight, the traffic girls of Pyongyang were brought out of retirement to help deal with the massive traffic congestion, and perhaps to add a little more color to the city for ’Eternal President’ Kim Il Sung’s 100th year birthday celebrations.

On my first visit (summer 2011) we had been saddened to learn that the girls had been replaced by a modern traffic light system. They could still be seen on occasion, running roadside signal lamp switches, working road construction sights, or directing traffic during the frequent power outages, but we missed their famous directing routines performed at the main city intersections. I’m happy to report that this April they were back directing traffic throughout Pyongyang, and although I have no idea how long this will last, I got some great pics during this special opportunity and will be sure to have a follow up post sharing the best of them!

Source http://americaninnorthkorea.com/2012/04/27/pyongyang-traffic-girls-return/

the juche kid wrote:

hallelujah! the world is saved!

Here's some pictures of the traffic girls back on duty, from the blog 2 posts above, photographed last April.







I'm baaack