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North Korea Google Earth (Version 7)

Friday, December 14th, 2007

The most authoritative map of North Korea on Google Earth
North Korea Uncovered v.7
Download it here

This map covers North Korea’s agriculture, aviation, cultural locations, manufacturing facilities, railroad, energy infrastructure, politics, sports venues, military establishments, religious facilities, leisure destinations, and national parks. It is continually expanding and undergoing revisions. This is the sixth version.

Additions to the latest version of “North Korea Uncovered” include: A Korean War folder featuring overlays of US attacks on the Sui Ho Dam, Yalu Bridge, and Nakwon Munitians Plant (before/after), plus other locations such as the Hoeryong Revolutionary Site, Ponghwa Revolutionary Site, Taechon reactor (overlay), Pyongyang Railway Museum, Kwangmyong Salt Works, Woljong Temple, Sansong Revolutionary Site, Jongbansan Fort and park, Jangsan Cape, Yongbyon House of Culture, Chongsokjong, Lake Yonpung, Nortern Limit Line (NLL), Sinuiju Old Fort Walls, Pyongyang open air market, and confirmed Pyongyang Intranet nodes.

Disclaimer: I cannot vouch for the authenticity of many locations since I have not seen or been to them, but great efforts have been made to check for authenticity. These efforts include pouring over books, maps, conducting interviews, and keeping up with other peoples’ discoveries. In many cases, I have posted sources, though not for all. This is a thorough compilation of lots of material, but I will leave it up to the reader to make up their own minds as to what they see. I cannot catch everything and I welcome contributions.

Posted in Architecture, Art, Automobiles, Aviation, Cell phones, Civil society, Coal, Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Communications, Computing/IT, Construction, Dams/hydro, Department Store No. 1, Education, Electricity, Email, Energy, Film, Finance, Football (soccer), Forestry, Gambling, General markets (FMR: Farmers Market), Golf, Google Earth, Hana Electronics Company, Health care, Hoteling, Hwanggumphyong and Wihwado Economic Zones (Sinuiju), Hyesan Youth Cooper Mine, International Aid, Internet, Intranet, Juche, Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), Kim Chaek University of Technology, Kim Il Sung University, Korea Computer Center (KCC), Korean Buddhist Association, Korean People's Army, Light Industry, Lumber, Mansudae creative Company (art studio), Manufacturing, Mass games, Maternity Hospital, Military, Mining/Minerals, Ministry of foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Mt. Kumgang Tourist Special Zone, Musan Mine, Nuclear, Pyongyang Embroidery Institute, Pyongyang Film Studio, Pyongyang Informatics Center (PIC), Pyongyang International Information Center of New Techn, Pyongyang International Trade Fair, Pyongyang Metro, Pyongyang University of Medicine, Radio, Railways, Rason Economic and Trade Zone (Rajin-Sonbong), Real estate, Religion, Restaurants, Sea shipping, Sports, Television, Transportation, Wind | Comments Closed

State of the market in the DPRK

Tuesday, December 11th, 2007

Institute of Far Eastern Studies (IFES)
NK Brief No. 07-12-5-1
12/11/2007

North Korean authorities are increasing market regulation. Beginning December 1st, women under the age of 49 were prohibited from running businesses in Pyongyang. Age restrictions were placed on female merchants since the inter-Korean summit meeting in October, at first prohibiting those 39 years and under, but now includes anyone under the age of 49.

In North Korea, because males are officially required to be at their assigned workplace, women generally run the businesses. However, market regulations started being enforced in order to eradicate South Korean dramas, movies, and other so-called non-socialist elements from the marketplace.

According to the results from a Daily NK survey on the present state of the North Korean marketplace, although market activity has slowed, these new regulations are not being enforced aggressively outside of the cities, and businesses still continue to operate because the regulation officers are receptive to bribes.

Also, because of the direct link between business regulations and the issue of making a living, citizens’ voices of opposition are getting louder than ever. Let us explore the present state of the North Korean marketplace.

Although not an exact statistic, it seems that there are roughly two to four marketplaces within a city. In the case of the most-populated city, Pyongyang (19 districts), there is a marketplace in every district. Tongil-geori has two because of its large population. In Sinuiju, the bridgehead of trade between North Korea and China, there is one in South Sinuiju, and three in Sinuiju itself (Chaeha, Namjung, and Dongseo [The Peace Market]). In North Korea’s second largest city after Pyongyang, Chungjin, there are two marketplaces in the larger districts. In the case of counties, there is a town marketplace, and one to two smaller farmers’ markets.

The marketplace is generally active, except during the rice-planting and harvest period. However, it has become very stagnant recently due to the enforcement of restrictive measures like price regulations and age restrictions on merchants. For instance, in Pyongyang, there used to be around 50-60 merchants in one area, but now there are only 7 or 8. Now, It is that much more difficult to find good products at the market.

Stallholders’ daily earnings differ depending on their products. In the case of agricultural goods, merchants earn an average of 3,000 won per day, and around 5,000-6,000 won per day for marine products. Merchants who sell manufactured goods could make around 10,000 won.

In addition to the age restrictions, there are increasing measures regulating products sold at the marketplace. There are officers who patrol the marketplace enforcing regulations. Outside the marketplace, safety officers regulate the businesses. The level of control depends on the person, but if bribes are given, they tend to slack off.

With exception of large cities in North Hamkyong Province such as Hoeryeong, Musan, and Chungjin, market activity remains ‘business as usual’ in smaller cities and counties, despite the regulations.

Because everyone knows each other in small cities and counties, it is not possible for the regulations to be strictly enforced. Moreover, even in main cities, there are many merchants under the age of 40 who carry out their business, and if they are not able to in the marketplace, they are still able to sell products in alleys and other locations.

Posted in Agriculture, Black markets, Civil society, Economic reform, Film, General markets (FMR: Farmers Market), Labor conditions/wages | Comments Closed

Google Earth North Korea (version 6)

Sunday, November 11th, 2007

The most authoritative map of North Korea on Google Earth
North Korea Uncovered: Version 6
Download it here

Additions to the newest version of North Korea Uncovered include: Alleged Syrian nuclear site (before and after bombing), Majon beach resort, electricity grid expansion, Runga Island in Pyongyang, Mt. Ryongak, Yongbyon historical fort walls, Suyang Fort walls and waterfall in Haeju, Kaechon-Lake Taesong water project, Paekma-Cholsan waterway, Yachts (3), and Hyesan Youth Copper Mine.

Posted in Advertising, Agriculture, Architecture, Automobiles, Aviation, Banking, Black markets, Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Communications, Computing/IT, Dams/hydro, Department Store No. 1, Economic reform, Education, Electricity, Energy, Environmental protection, Film, Finance, Fiscal & monetary policy, Football (soccer), Forestry, Gambling, Gasoline, General markets (FMR: Farmers Market), Golf, Google Earth, Hana Electronics Company, Health care, Hoteling, Hwanggumphyong and Wihwado Economic Zones (Sinuiju), Hyesan Youth Cooper Mine, Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), Kim Il Sung University, Korea Computer Center (KCC), Library, Light Industry, Mansudae creative Company (art studio), Manufacturing, Mass games, Maternity Hospital, Military, Mining/Minerals, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Mt. Kumgang Tourist Special Zone, Musan Mine, Music, Nuclear, Pyongyang Embroidery Institute, Pyongyang Film Studio, Pyongyang Informatics Center (PIC), Pyongyang International Information Center of New Techn, Pyongyang International Trade Fair, Pyongyang Metro, Railways, Rason Economic and Trade Zone (Rajin-Sonbong), Real estate, Religion, Restaurants, Sea shipping, Special Economic Zones (Established before 2013), Sports, Steel, Supreme Peoples Assembly, Television, Tourism, Transportation, Water, Wind | Comments Closed

South Korean Dramas Are All the Rage among North Korean People

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Daily NK
Yoon Il Geun
11/2/2007

“Foreign Films That Are Circulating at More Than One Million CDs”

Despite the North Korean authorities’ strict control, foreign films and South Korean drama Video Compact Disks (VCDs) circulating around North Korea is reportedly over 1 million copies since 2000.

Defector Choi Young Bum (pseudonym, 38), who has circulated South Korean and foreign movie VCDs among North Korean citizens said, “If one goes to a large city market, not only Pyongyang, but Pyongsung, Chongjin, Hamheung, Wonsan, and Shinuiju, hundreds or thousands kinds of movie and drama CDs can be obtained through black marketeers.”

According to Mr. Choi, foreign movie CDs inside North Korea have become significantly more mainstream.

Mr. Choi said that the largest market for the North Korean VCD business is the Pyongsung market. He said, “In Pyongsung market alone, merchants who sell South Korean dramas or foreign movie CDs while avoiding regulations, are sufficiently over 100. One person has several hundred copies at the least while another person has over 2,000 copies on the higher end. The authorities are stepping forward for inspections, but VCDs that have been circulating are at over several million copies.”

He said, “In Pyongyang, VCDs that have been circulating are more than in other regions. In early 2000, Hong Kong movies, South Korean dramas in mid-2000s, and recently, American movies that have been translated in Korea have been drawing a lot of popularity.” He relayed that the cultural difference between Pyongyang or other large cities to the provinces are sizable. The South Korean drama “Winter Sonata” became already a classical one in Pyongyang, but was still a hit in the countryside.”

He said that with the rise in popularity of South Korean dramas among North Korean people, the VCD merchants along the border region made quite a profit.

According to Mr. Choi, the prime cost from China was 150 North Korean won, but now, the asking price is over 300 won. The price of a VCD was around 900~1,000 won per copy in 2003, but it is now over 1,500 won. The price is supposed to jump twofold as the VCDs pass through each phase through Chinese merchants, the wholesaler, runner (regional circulators), and to retail trade.

He explained, “With popular action movies or dramas, they were sold at 2,000 won per copy. South Korean Series that have been consistently popular like “Autumn Sonata,” “Hourglass,” and “Glass Slippers” are wrapped in cases by sets, so the price is a bit discounted.”

Mr. Choi said that the price of a VCD player is around 30,000 won. “There were times when we sold the VCDs in cash, but we have thrown in extra as a bonus when selling used TVs from China.”

He added, “From mid-2004, DVDs started entering North Korea. Nowadays, their qualities are better than VCDs and high-capacity DVDs have been in circulation.”

Mr. Choi said that according to a change in DVD trends, North Korea’s Hana (one) Electronics Company have assembled and sold DVD players from attachments from China with the “Hana Electronics” brand. These DVDs can be purchased at North Korean stores.

”The contents of DVDs which can be produced legally in North Korea are mostly North Korean movies, films, former Soviet movies, former Chinese movies, screen accompaniment music (music videos), etc. North Korean civilians pretend like they are watching DVDs that are officially sold in North Korea while they have been watching South Korean dramas bought from the black market.”

Defector Ms. Im, who entered South Korea, said, “North Korean citizens, when someone comes to visit them while they are watching South Korean dramas with doors locked, hide the CDs while the other person goes to the door. They switch on a North Korean CD as if they were watching a North Korean movie.”

Ms. Im said, “Even the National Security agents and the Safety agents watch South Korean dramas and most people are watching them secretly. No matter how much the authorities regulate, it is difficult to control the practice. Once people are exposed to such a culture, it is not easy to stop. They are not going to stop watching them.”

Posted in Black markets, Civil society, Communications, Computing/IT, Film, General markets (FMR: Farmers Market), Hana Electronics Company, Music, Television | Comments Closed

Privileged Pyongyang Citizens No Longer Enjoy Privileges in the Market.

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

Daily NK
Lee Sung Jin
10/22/2007
(Click on image for original size)

According to DailyNK’s research on prices in North Korea conducted in late September, the prices in Pyongyang are similar to the prices in other parts of the country. The finding shows that Jangmadang (markets) economy has been going through integration and similar distribution process across North Korea.

In the past, domestic commodities were sold cheap, and foreign products were sold expensive in Pyongyang.

DailyNK has been conducting quarterly research on prices in the central such as Pyongan Province and Hamkyung Province and northern areas.

This time the research result shows that the price of rice in a Jangmadang in Pyongyang is 1,350 won/kg, which is similar to the price of rice in Sinuiju, 1,400won/kg. In North Korea, the rice price serves as a gauge for price trends.

In Pyongyang, the exchange rate is about 330 thousands won to 100 dollars, which is the same as the exchange rate in other places. The most famous imported cigarettes, Cat (Craven A) is sold at the same cost of 1,500 won in Pyongyang and other areas.

Subsidiary food is more expensive in Pyongyang. The price of cabbage is 400 won/kg, 50 won/kg higher than cabbage price in Sinuiju. The price of pork ranges from 3,500 to 4,000/kg, 500~1,000 won/kg higher than the pork price in other areas.

The prices of seafood such as brown and green seaweed, and dried Pollack are cheaper in Pyongyang. Seafood caught in Kangwon Province and neighboring areas is transported to markets in Pyongyang in refrigerator car. Since the demand is high, seafood is sold in great quantities, and the price remains low in general.

Movie ticket prices range from 200 to 400 won. Telephone service is charged five won per minute. Overall, the price range for each commodity is high, and many different kinds of goods are available in Jangmadang.

Imported items from China such as socks, sports shoes, or underwear are expensive being sold at a cost of 1,000 won in Pyongyang. That is because there are extra shipping rates and labor costs imposed on Chinese goods transported to Pyongyang. On the contrary, in Sinuiju, imported goods from China are circulated on the market right away.

Often, retail prices are higher in Pyongyang because of high levels of consumption among Pyongyang citizens. However, cigarettes or liquor produced in Pyongyang, or clothes from South Korea circulated to other areas via Pyongyang are sold cheap in Pyongyang.

However, in these days the differences in regional price levels have almost disappeared.

A defector from Pyongyang, Ahn Chul Min (a pseudonym) who came to South Korea in 2006 said, “Prior to 2002, there were individuals who hung around from place to place and made money on price differences. But nowadays, the retail prices are almost uniform across the country because people just use a telephone and find out where to get items they want at what prices.

“Since there is no big difference in retail prices, retailers are not doing well in business,” Ahn added, “Instead, individuals driving a truck and selling goods wholesale are making good money.”

Ahn said, “Not everyone who lives in Pyongyang is well-to-do. Despite of their locations whether in Pyongyang or Chongjin, all markets have goods from South Korea and China. The poor people even if they live in Pyongyang should buy cheap and low quality of products from China. In contrast, those who live in Chongjin and have money can buy goods from South Korea anytime.”

Market Prices Consistent Throughout DPRK
Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES)
NK Brief No. 07-10-25-1
10/25/2007

The results of a survey conducted by Daily NK on the price of goods in Pyongyang at the end of September show that prices in the capital were similar to those in rural areas. This is an indication that markets throughout the country are integrated, and evidence that goods can be circulated from region to region.

In the past, the price of domestic goods in Pyongyang was relatively cheep, while imported goods were sold at high prices. During that time, Daily NK carried out local price surveys in central regions such as Pyongan and Hamkyung provinces, as well as in northern areas. According to this latest survey in Pyongyang, the cost of one Kg of rice, the standard measure of the cost of goods in North Korea, was 1,350 won, similar to the 1,400 won price in Sinuiju, and the 1,250 won cost in Hyeryung. An exchange rate of 3,300 won per USD is also in line with rural exchange rates, as is the 1,500 won price tag on a pack of Craven A cigarettes, the most favored imported cigarette in North Korea.

Non-essential food goods are more expensive in Pyongyang than in outlying areas, with one Kg of lettuce selling for 400 won, 50 won more than in Sinuiju. Also, pork in the capital runs between 3,500 and 4,000 won per Kg, which is 500 to 1,000 won more than it would cost elsewhere in the country.

On the other hand, seaweed, dried Pollack, and other marine products are cheaper in Pyongyang than elsewhere. Ocean harvests from Kangwon and neighboring provinces are brought to Pyongyang markets by way of refrigerated trucks. Because of high demand, a variety of goods get delivered, yet overall, prices are held fairly low.

Overall, the price range on a particular ware was very wide, indicating that there was a variety of products available in the markets. The survey found that goods such as undergarments, socks, sneakers imported from China were selling for the high cost of 1,000 won each. In Sinuiju and other northern areas, goods from China are brought directly to markets, but by the time these same goods reach Pyongyang, additional labor and transportation costs force prices up. Pyongyang residents typically have more money to spend than those in rural areas, also leading vendors to raise prices on some goods, however cigarettes and alcohol produced in Pyongyang and distributed to rural areas, as well as South Korean goods which reach DPRK markets by way of Pyongyang, are slightly less expensive in the capital.

Recently, regional price differences have nearly disappeared. Prior to 2002, some traders earned their living traveling from region to region exploiting price differences. However, now with one simple phone call, North Koreans can find out where and for what price goods are being sold, leading the majority of retail prices to be similar throughout the country.

Posted in 2002 Economic reforms, Agriculture, Black markets, Economic reform, Film, Finance, Fiscal & monetary policy, General markets (FMR: Farmers Market), Light Industry, Manufacturing, Price liberalization, Telephones, Uncategorized | Comments Closed

North Korea on Google Earth

Saturday, October 6th, 2007

Version 5: Download it here (on Google Earth)

Additions to the latest version of “North Korea Uncovered” include updates to new Google Earth overlays of Sinchon, UNESCO sites, Railroads, canals, and the DMZ, in addition to Kim Jong Suk college of eduation (Hyesan), a huge expansion of the electricity grid (with a little help from Martyn Williams) plus a few more parks, antiaircraft sites, dams, mines, canals, etc.

I hope this map will increase interest in North Korea. There is still plenty more to learn, and I look forward to receiving your additions to this project.

Posted in 1990s Famine, Advertising, Agriculture, Architecture, Arduous March, Art, Automobiles, Aviation, Banking, Civil society, Coal, Communications, Computing/IT, Cosmetics, Dams/hydro, DPRK organizations, Economic reform, Education, Electricity, Energy, Environmental protection, Film, Finance, Fiscal & monetary policy, Football (soccer), Foreign direct investment, Forestry, Gambling, Gasoline, General markets (FMR: Farmers Market), Golf, Google Earth, Health care, Hoteling, Hwanggumphyong and Wihwado Economic Zones (Sinuiju), Illicit activities, Juche, Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), Labor conditions/wages, Leisure, Library, Light Industry, Manufacturing, Mass games, Military, Mining/Minerals, Mt. Kumgang Tourist Special Zone, Music, Nuclear, Political economy, Pyongyang International Trade Fair, Pyongyang Metro, Radio, Railways, Rason Economic and Trade Zone (Rajin-Sonbong), Real estate, Religion, Restaurants, Sea shipping, Special Economic Zones (Established before 2013), Television, Tourism, Transportation, Water, Worker's Party | 2 Comments »

S.Korean Networks to Pay Millions for N.Korean Footage

Thursday, August 30th, 2007

Choson Ilbo (Hat Tip DPRK Studies)
8/30/2007

Three South Korean terrestrial TV stations agreed in July to pay tens of millions to North Korea annually for footage from North Korea’s state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station. An SBS executive said South Korean TV stations have used TV pictures aired by KCBS for free, but in July, the Korean Foundation for South-North Economic and Cultural Cooperation, as a proxy of the North Korean TV station, concluded negotiations with three TV stations whereby SBS will pay about W20 million every year to KCBS through the foundation. MBC will pay slightly more than that, and KBS will pay about W30 million.

The foundation, chaired by United New Democratic Party member Im Jong-seok, was established in 2004. It held talks with the three terrestrial networks for a year and a half. In the talks, the three argued it was unreasonable for South Korean TV stations to pay for North Korean footage in programs that aim at promoting mutual understanding, and they generally rejected the idea of unilaterally paying North Korea when the North does not pay South Korean broadcasters for footage.

Posted in Communications, Film, International Aid, International trade, Radio, South Korea, Television | Comments Closed

Director Daniel Gordon Returns to Seoul With “Crossing the Line”

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007

Korea Times
Lee Hwan-hee
8/8/2007

British film director Daniel Gordon will visit Korea Aug. 12-14 to promote the release of his documentary “Crossing the Line” (2006), a film about James Joseph Dresnok, one of the four American soldiers who defected to North Korea during 1960s and the only one who is still living there.

The other three are Charles Robert Jenkins, who made the news in 2004 by turning himself in to the U. S. Army in Japan to face desertion charges, and Larry Allan Abshier and Jerry Wayne Parrish, both deceased.

The film is Gordon’s third documentary on North Korea; the previous ones are “The Game Of Their Lives” (2002), about the North Korean national football team who defeated Italy to advance to the quarterfinals of the 1966 World Cup, and “A State Of Mind” (2004), about two North Korean child gymnasts participating in the “Pyongyang mass games.”

Dresnok and the filmmaker were interviewed by the CBS News Program “60 Minutes” last January and Dresnok told the program, “I really feel at home” in North Korea, and said “I wouldn’t trade it for nothing,” in contrast to Jenkins who likened his stay in North Korea as an extended prison sentence. Jenkins penned a memoir “To Tell the Truth” in Japan, the home country of his wife, in 2005 (translated into Korean the following year).

Four years after his defection in 1962, Dresnok, and the other Americans, sought asylum in the Soviet embassy, unable to endure the hardships of living in North Korea, but the Soviets handed them back to the North Koreans, and Dresnok eventually adjusted, relatively speaking, to North Korean life. He found fame by starring in several North Korean propaganda films, playing villainous Americans. He also translated some of Kim Il-Sung’s writings into English.

He has been married three times; twice in North Korea, to an Eastern European woman, and the daughter of a Korean woman and an African diplomat; and has three children. His eldest son, James, considers himself a Korean.

Gordon will attend a screening and have a question and answer session with audience members during his visit. The film was shown at the 2006 Pusan International Film Festival, as well as the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival.

Posted in Civil society, Film, USA | Comments Closed

Widespread Video Rooms

Monday, August 6th, 2007

Daily NK
Han Young Jin
8/6/2007

Frequently in the last couple years, it’s been said within North Korea and among defectors that “North Korea has changed a lot.”

North Korean citizens say, “North Korea is not in the same situation as it was in 10 years ago. The biggest difference is that nowadays, people will do whatever it takes to make money. Also, they confidently raise their opinions to the authorities.”

It is hard to find merchants being called out as “opportunist factions.” It’s also different than the mid-90s when people would sell whatever they could. The market is specializing in items and broadening as well. The market is taking its form.

North Korean authorities have also expanded micro-level autonomous management systems to factory enterprises as they are unable to give out rations.

Of course there are people who make ends meet but most people are merchants. It is hard to find people who work as “servants” or housemaids or people who starve to death. They unanimously say, “It is enough to suffer once. Even cows don’t fall into pits that they’ve fell into once.” This is to say that there will no longer be horrific incidents such as the Great Famine of the mid-90s.

We listened to five defectors who recently entered South Korea on changes in the situation of North Korean residents.

I’m the one who farmed

“I’m the one who farmed. Why should I hand it over to the government?” Defector Kim Kyung Sik [pseudonym] from Onsung, South Hamkyung Province, who came to South Korea in March, 2007 says, “There was an incident with a riot as laborers collectively protested the increase of land tax in 2006.”

After the measures taken on July 1st, 2002, North Korea had laborers other than farmers farm on designated areas according to household and expanded the policy of submitting a portion of the harvest to the government.

Concerned that this measure would be seen as a revolutionary liberal step, North Korea assigned the land according to company title and gave a square around 992 meters to each laborer in the company.

Kim said, “As people farmed on their own land, laborers would work wholeheartedly and there would not even be a patch of grass on the farming land. Because people would find some way to get fertilizer to spread, the size of the fruits was also different.”

He said, “As it became fall, the Management Committee (collective farm’s Leading Group) and the collective farm who had designated the land gave orders to hold off on the fall [harvest] until the standards of grain exchange came from above. Along with this an incident occurred and tens of laborers protested.”

Choi, a woman from the same region said, “As the laborers of Onsung Mine were told to submit 10% of the yield to the government, laborers strongly opposed saying ‘Who had farmed this?’ ‘Why should we hand it over to the government?’ It happened in 2003.”

Accordingly she said, “After dividing the land to the laborers, there has been a sharp decrease in the number of people starving. It will be hard to reverse such tide of change.”

Increase of “Audio-Video Places”

Recently in large cities of North Korea, places to screen multimedia CDs or videos called “Audio-Video Places” – comparable to video rooms in South Korea – have increased. As it is set in a square 50 meters that is decorated like a small theater and plays movies, citizens of the region have been reacting positively.

Defector Suh Kang Chul [pseudonym] from North Hamkyung Province Chongjin who had defected July 2006 said, “There are three screening rooms around the Chongjin Train Station. It is 50 won to see a film. You must watch 2-3 films at once to be satisfied. This is not a small amount of money.”

Screening rooms of North Korea renovate the interior of a building and with the goal to screen “North Korean or Russian films,” they receive the government’s approval. However, most play Chinese or Hong Kong movies. As long as they don’t play South Korean, American, Japanese or pornographic films, there are no severe punishments. The reason people go to screening rooms is because movies are screened for 24 hours without a power outage.

Suh said, “If there is a power outage, the store owner hurries to change to a car battery to play the film. The films people like are Bruce Lee’s “The Big Boss” (1971) and “Fists of Fury” (1972) or Jet Li’s action films.”

Foreign multimedia have been a strong catalyst to change the thoughts of North Koreans. Even Korean dramas that have been copied on to CDs have secretly spread the “Korean Wave” in North Korea. Bae Yong Joon of “Winter Sonata” is recognized as a famous actor.

Many years ago, the “109 Inspection Team” (Bureau to oversee VCDs and videos) was established to regulate illegal screenings and even on the 3rd, in the name of the People’s security, there was an order that “Public officials, institutions, entities and groups must rid all karaoke rooms, movie rooms, computer rooms that were established without the government’s approval for the purpose of making money.”

However, Kim says, “as the ratings of Korean dramas rise, it becomes a situation that cannot be controlled.” Thus, most of the viewers are tied to the Security Agency or an acquaintance of the People’s Safety Agency that it will not be easy to eradicate this problem.

North Korean authorities have made declarations on the “Exposure of Liberalist Corrupt Culture” but in reality the regulating institutions have stopped at indirect responses.

In a phone conversation with a reporter on the 2nd, an internal North Korean news source also said, “It is planned that the Great North Korean Defamatory Broadcasting that was based around the Kaesung area will now move to the Tumen River area. People have been saying that there have been many cases where people are tricked into believing the broadcasting and betraying the country or watching Korean films to get fantasies and crossing the border, but such acts will be severely punished.

Posted in Agriculture, Art, Black markets, Civil society, Film, Television | Comments Closed

Publishing of Shin Sang Ok’s Autobiography

Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

Daily NK
Kim Song A
8/2/2007

Kim Jong Il Enthralled by the Desire to Produce International Films

A memoir of late film director Shin Sang Ok titled, “I was a film” (Randomhouse) was published. Shin Sang Ok had lived quite the life having been kidnapped to North Korea with his wife Choi Eun Hee – the most famous South Korean actress of the 1970s – and later escaping.

As this book was written by Director Shin himself as an autobiography, he had finished writing in 2001 but the publication was delayed as he passed away due to the worsening of his illness. Only after a year had passed did his wife Choi Eun Hee organize the late director’s manuscript and laid it out for the world.

In the book remains the untouched film life of Director Shin that starts from his entrance into the film industry and glory days to his kidnapping and escape from North Korea and finally his advancement into Hollywood.

Shin captured the reader’s attention as he recounted various episodes of his times in North Korea after his kidnapping in 1978. He was captured this very year after inquiring about the whereabouts of his wife Choi Eun Hee who had been kidnapped to North Korea first.

One incident when he was shooting his second film, “Tale of an Escape” in North Korea. Director Shin needed a scene with a train explosion so he submitted a proposal to Kim Jong Il. He writes, “Thinking I had nothing to lose, I said I wanted to explode a real train to enhance the movie’s special effects. In response, the approval came immediately.” He recalls, “This is only possible in North Korea. It’s the first time I experienced a film shoot so spectacular.”

Such consideration was only possible because Kim Jong Il was a crazed movie fanatic. Shin claims he was quite surprised to see that there was about 15,000 films from around the world stored in a movie storage area that is pretty much Kim Jong Il’s personal property.

Shin said, “Kim Jong Il uses films for a political agenda but is also enthralled by the desire to veer off from conventional mannerisms to create a further international film of higher quality. One way to overcome such agony and dilemma was to kidnap us two.”

To Kim Jong Il, Shin even made quite dangerous remarks such as advising him to “Free oneself from worshiping individuals.” Shin claimed that the obstacle to advancing North Korean films was “Kim Il Sung instruction” and said “if [Kim Jong Il] rid the practice of worshiping individuals, the film industry will revive and the country itself will also advance.”

He also said that for the first time in a North Korean film, he inserted a caption to introduce the cast and staff and in place of the Kim Il Sung instruction, he inserted a passage from the introduction to “Les Miserables”. He claims he did not bind himself to the instruction of Kim Jong Il.

In 1983, Kim Jong Il established a film production company named “Shin Film” with Director Shin’s name. Shin says, “What if Kim Jong Il required me to make a political propaganda film for idolatry? What would I have done? In that sense, I have a unique sentiment towards Kim Jong Il.”

The book also mentions an episode about when Shin was in North Korea remembering a scene from a movie he directed while he was in South Korea. He thought that this scene was a sight for sore eyes as he secretly wrote to his brother in South Korea and asked him to burn the original copy.

In the preface he self evaluates himself saying, “With the tragic reality that not many veteran actors remain, I felt that someone needed to start archiving. Just like the title, the highs and lows of life started to cross and I lived a path that was even more dramatic than the movies I directed.”

Posted in Art, Civil society, Film, Political economy | 2 Comments »

North Korean Economy Watch