The ubiquitous statues of the Leader dotted around the city are one of the images that come up when people discuss dictatorships. This stereotype, like many other stereotypes, has roots in reality: North Korea, among other things, is a country of statues.

The use of statues as a way to glorify the incumbent supreme leader is a relatively recent development in North Korea. Until the early 20th century, the idea of a public monument in a city square remained alien to East Asian cultures.