Life in North Korea: Unusual Facts

Control of Information

• Internet access is nearly impossible for average citizens; they can only use a restricted internal network named "Kwangmyong," with carefully selected and censored information available.

Ideological Education

• Citizens engage in compulsory ideological education focused on the teachings of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un, starting from early childhood and continuing throughout their lives.

Uniform Clothing

• A strict dress code exists, prohibiting items like jeans as symbols of Western culture, with citizens required to wear government-approved attire.

Permission to Travel

• Special permissions are necessary for citizens to travel, particularly between cities, severely limiting their mobility and isolating various regions.

Songbun System

• This social classification system categorizes individuals into loyal, wavering, and hostile groups regarding the regime, affecting their opportunities for education, jobs, and residency.

Electricity and Energy Supply

• Frequent power outages, especially in rural areas, lead many households and institutions to depend on wood-burning stoves and alternative heating sources for energy.

Music and Entertainment

• Music and entertainment are fully regulated by the state, with songs glorifying leaders or celebrating labor efforts; exposure to Western music and films is strictly forbidden.

Holidays and Rituals

• State-sanctioned holidays involve significant parades and ceremonies honoring leaders, with participation from ordinary citizens often compulsory.

Foreigners and Tourism

• Tourists in North Korea are mandated to be accompanied by official guides, with restrictions on independent travel, photography, or social interactions with locals.

Closed Economy

• The economy is primarily self-sufficient based on Juche ideology, relying on domestic resources; however, food shortages and essential goods crises are common, leading to a flourishing black market alongside the official economy.