Now let's talk about reverse side medals.
Every country has its own shortcomings. To insure yourself against severe disappointments, I propose to consider 10 disadvantages of life in Korea. Everything is subjective, of course, but personally it seems to me that the 10 minuses are as follows:
1.
Lack of a basic concept of etiquette and the concept of personal space
This applies to older people who consider it their business to tell you, despite the fact that you yourself may already have children, what and how to do, moreover, in an orderly tone, even if they don’t know you. They can start communicating with younger people with the phrase “Hey, you!” And some individuals can even openly fart, excuse me, in the subway (which happened to me twice), not to mention constant coughing on the street.
2.
TO Korean traditional holidays
There are two significant traditional holidays in Korea: Chuseok, the autumn harvest festival, and Seollal. New Year By lunar calendar. Since ancient times, these holidays have been considered very important, which bring together all relatives at one table in the house of the eldest relative, where they play games and have fun.
But now everything has completely changed due to the constant employment of Koreans and their inability to have fun, and also because of the difference in generations: the younger ones do not have the right (!) to ask anything from the elders. It's not decent and there are a lot of cockroaches. The following picture emerges (this is not only in the husband’s family, but in most Korean families): relatives who go to visit swear all the way that they have to go so far (usually this is another city, and often the relationship between relatives, to put it mildly, is “not very much,” but you have to go - it’s a tradition), and the relatives who receive guests swear that they need to cook a ton of food for the whole crowd. Then everyone meets with smiles on their faces, as if they were just waiting for this meeting.
Then they bow to the ancestors (men only), that is, they put out food, light fragrances and bow in memory of the deceased ancestors. After which they begin to eat. What does it all have to do with women bringing it, and the men sitting there looking so important. Then communication begins to be “squeezed out” on general topics discussed annually in order to maintain the conversation. After the topics have been exhausted, time begins to drag on, like, well, it’s inconvenient to leave right away, you need to create the appearance that everyone is interested)). You can watch TV. Hmm, in general, for an ordinary “Russian” person like me, all this tediousness is very difficult to survive, even if it’s for a few hours only 2 times a year! Brrrrr... Moreover, the most interesting thing is that Koreans are always proud and show off their “family values”. Yeah! It’s not like that!
A! Well, and most importantly, for these holidays they give MONEY, which is above all for a Korean and for the sake of which all the inconveniences for Koreans can be tolerated)) Because money is everything for a Korean!)
3. Inability to get close to people and be sincere
I think it’s already clear from point 2, but I’ll add a little. It's a bit of a shame that in most cases, Koreans become “friends” if it benefits them. And regarding sincerity, you will never know what they really think about you, since they always have a “mask” of politeness on their face.
4. Lack of New Year's atmosphere
This is my sore subject. Their Catholic Christmas is December 25th, on this day couples usually go on a date! Just like that. Well, sometimes a family can go out to a restaurant. Our New Year on December 31st in Korea practically passes without attention. No Christmas trees at home! The only thing is that quite a lot of people gather in the very center of the city to see the mayor or someone else ring the big iron bell at 12 at night. And if you are in another part of the city, then there is generally zero feeling that it is a new year. One day I just returned from a funeral on December 31 at 10 pm... but that's another story.
5. Worship of elders
Again this cult of age in Korea. Here, when meeting someone, the first thing they ask is how old you are in order to understand how to behave. If you are older, even by a year, then such respect and uti-paths; if you are younger, then frivolous, relaxed communication. The most interesting thing is that even twins can be distinguished between an older and a younger brother or sister!
6. Trying not to stand out from the crowd
Oh, God forbid, at lunch with employees of different ages you ordered noodles when everyone else ordered rice. Oh no no no! Now, of course, they won’t say anything (not like a few years ago), but they will look askance. Our company has 2 canteens, that is, 2 menus. We all go there together as a department. So, the youngest girl in our department is 20 years old. Usually everyone approaches the menu and “sort of chooses” (because anyway they usually eat whatever the boss prefers). Although, okay, I won’t exaggerate, our boss is quite loyal and can still listen to the wishes of junior employees. Not everyone is like that though. But the most interesting thing is that when they ask that girl, her answer is always the same: “oh, I don’t know how to make such a choice” and looks at the floor in embarrassment.
7. Talk about plastic surgery
Korea is simply a paradise for people with “defects”, as it is very developed plastic surgery and the prices are quite cheap for it. Let’s say, if a girl is not pretty, then she can ask her parents to give her a “nose operation” when she graduates from school, for example.
Recently I was in the elevator next situation: two women were driving and a younger girl came in, whom they knew, but apparently had not seen for a long time. After the greeting came the question: oh, what did you do to your nose? you've changed so much. (it’s very cool to ask such a question in front of strangers in the elevator!). And the girl answers: no, I just changed my hairstyle!))))
Of course, I was torn. The most interesting thing is that the girl came out earlier, and these women started grinning and discussing, like: well, well, she did her hair..)))
8. No cheese
In principle, it is possible to find it, but you have to look for it and it is sooooo expensive((((no comments
9. Carrying babies like gypsies
It's just annoying! They wrap, or rather, tie the child to themselves from behind with a blanket!!! even a very small one! what's going on with the bones? I can't imagine.
10. Vacation
Korea has the smallest vacations in the world!
This is what life in Korea is like for me, with its downsides. Maybe you can survive them calmly and they won’t seem so scary to you :) Which disadvantage is most unacceptable to you?
North Korea recently created its own time zone: Pyongyang Standard Time.
Starting August 15, the country reverted to the time used on the Korean Peninsula before Japanese rule.
It costs $8,000 to defect from North Korea.
That's exactly what it takes to get to China.
North Korea's per capita GDP is $1,800.
North Korean citizens born after the Korean War are on average 2 inches shorter than South Koreans.
This altitude difference is explained by the fact that 6 million North Koreans need food and one third of children are chronically malnourished.
North Korea claims to have a 100% literacy rate.
The CIA says that literate people in North Korea are those who are 15 years of age or older and can read and write.
There are 28 state-approved haircuts.
Women are allowed to choose from 14 styles.
Men "are prohibited from having hair longer than 5cm, while older people's hair can be longer than 7cm (3").
Bill Gates is estimated to be worth five times the entire GDP of North Korea.
Bill Gates's estimated net worth is $795,000,000,000.
North Korea's GDP is estimated at $1545 billion.
The North Korean football team scored a goal against Brazil at the 2010 World Cup.
But the match was still lost with a score of 2:1.
If Pyongyang were a US city, it would be the 4th most populous city.
The population of Pyongyang is 2 million 843 thousand people.
This is more than the fourth largest US city, Houston (2.23 million).
North Korea is approximately the same size American state Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania - 119,283 square kilometers.
North Korea - 120,538 square kilometers.
Less than 20% of North Korea's land is arable.
It's about the size of New Jersey.
Only 19.5% of North Korea's land is arable.
It's 8,800 square miles.
Number of people ready for military service in North Korea, 2.5 times more population Norway.
These are 6.515 million men and 6.418 million women.
That turns out to be 12.933 million military personnel.
Norway's population is about 5.1 million.
Only 2.83% of roads in North Korea are paved.
All of North Korea has 25,554 kilometers of roads, but only 724 kilometers are paved.
Qatar's per capita GDP is 51 times greater than North Korea's per capita GDP.
At $92,400, Qatar's GDP per capita was the highest in the world in 2014.
North Korea's GDP per capita is estimated to be $1,800 in 2013.
North Korea was named the most corrupt country.
In the annual Corruption Perceptions Index for 2014, North Korea was named the most corrupt country.
The 174 countries' corruption scores range from 0 (very high corruption) to 100 (no corruption).
North Korea received 8 points.
The late Kim Jong Il's annual expenditure on cognac was 800 times the annual income of the average Korean in the DPRK.
Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's father, reportedly spent £700,000 on Hennessy every year. That's about $1.2 million.
The average annual income in North Korea is estimated to be between $1,000 and $2,000.
“The last months have become a time of mass escapes of North Korean diplomats, employees of foreign trade organizations and mid-level officials. They have not escaped in such numbers for 60 years.”
http://tttkkk.livejournal.com/298199.html
“Most likely, these escapes are a somewhat belated reaction to the “Jang Song-taek case” and the execution of the generals, because in such quantities as in the last 2-3 years, the DPRK’s big bosses haven’t shot for 60 years. At the same time, the Supreme Leader , it seems, does not even feel any special respect for the families and descendants of the Manchu partisans, who from 1958-60 constituted the hereditary elite of the country and were practically untouchable (as a rule, it is impossible to shoot, demoted and sent to the village for labor re-education is possible , but in most cases - with subsequent rehabilitation and return to approximately the previous level).
Of course, there was talk again that “the regime is on the verge of collapse.”
However, Andrey Lankov, who wrote this on his blog tttkkk
, being a specialist on the DPRK, is skeptical about such rumors.
He adds: “... in the fear of God, the Young Marshal holds the elite, and its very top, while the people, as well as the lower and middle layers of the elite, including new business, now live, by our standards, quite rotten, but still better than “has ever lived at all, and therefore has considerable hopes for further improvement of the situation with the new Kim.”
Workers who live without breaking laws and do their jobs well receive up to 1 thousand grams of rice, meat and eggs in return. They constantly report on TV that residents of other countries do not have all this and live much worse. Check it out to an ordinary person impossible, since only trusted individuals are allowed to communicate with foreigners.
Life in North Korea is about complete obedience. If a person keeps a radio in his house, listens to the music of foreign performers, or watches foreign TV channels (although this is practically impossible), he will be sent to hard labor or prison. The situation is worsened by the fact that repression is imposed not only on the offender, but also on his entire family. And the whole family ends up on the so-called black list. This is fraught with the fact that no one will be accepted into the university, there will be no work, and entry into the capital is also prohibited. For particularly serious crimes, a person is publicly executed.
There is one huge advantage to such laws: there is virtually no crime. The nation is growing healthy and strong, because from childhood everyone attends classes, is regularly examined by doctors and does not eat much. No woman has the right to pick up a cigarette.
North Korea's birth rate exceeds South Korea's. But these numbers will soon become equal, as the country’s government is pursuing a policy to reduce the number of children in families.
Decrease in life expectancy
No matter how strange it may sound, even though Koreans often do not have bad habits, their life expectancy decreases. Now he is 66 years old. This figure is constantly falling due to the fact that women and children suffer from general situation in the country.
An expert on US international affairs said that the amount of food allocated per person is not enough to restore vital energy. Therefore, life expectancy in North Korea, especially for ordinary workers, is only falling.
The problem with this system is that some areas of the country simply do not receive it. This is due to the fact that the state has a basic rule - to notify the government of your intentions to visit any area.
The impact of the Korean War on the country's economic development
The war, or police operation, was carried out from 1950 to 1953. This confrontation is also called the “Forgotten War”, since it is for a long time was not mentioned in official publications.
In fact, this conflict was fueled by poor relations between the United States and its allies and China. The Northern Coalition consisted of the DPRK, the army) and the USSR. The latter two countries did not officially participate in the war, but actively supplied weapons and finance. The Southern Coalition consisted of the Republic of Korea, England and the United States of America. In addition to the listed countries, the UN was also on the side of the South.
The cause of the war was the desire of the president of both North and South Korea to unite the peninsula under his leadership. This belligerent mood radically changed life in North Korea; photographs from those times are indisputable evidence. All men were liable for military service and were required to serve more than 10 years.
During preparations for the confrontation, the government of the Soviet Union feared the outbreak of the Third World War, which was their reason for not fulfilling some requests from North Korea. However, this did not affect the supply of weapons and military personnel. The DPRK gradually increased the power of its army.
The war began with the occupation of Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea. It ended with India making a proposal to create a peace treaty. But since the South refused to sign the document, Clark, a UN general, became its representative. A demilitarized zone was created. But interesting fact What remains is that the agreement to end the war has not yet been signed.
Foreign policy
North Korea is very aggressive, but at the same time reasonable. Political scientists in other countries suspect that the leader of the state has experts who can advise right decisions and predict the consequences in a given situation. It is worth noting that North Korea is a nuclear state. On the one hand, this forces hostile countries to take it into account, on the other hand, maintaining such weapons is quite expensive; many European countries have long abandoned them.
Relations with developed countries and their influence on the economic development of North Korea
- Russia. After it broke up Soviet Union, relations with the Russian Federation have almost died out. Only during the reign of Vladimir Putin were cooperation agreements signed in many areas. In addition, in 2014, all debts of the north to the Russian Federation were written off. In some ways, this did little to make life easier for the North Koreans.
- USA. Relations with the United States are still quite tense. America to this day stands on the side of South Korea and supports it in every possible way, which helps the economy develop significantly. The same cannot be said about the northern part of the state. US representatives portray North Korea as an aggressor and often accuse them of provoking their southern neighbor and Japan. Some serious publications conducted investigations and wrote that the northern government was trying to kill the president of South Korea, shooting down planes, sinking airliners. This American attitude is not conducive economic development country, and this does not improve life in North Korea for ordinary people.
- Japan. Relations with this country are completely severed and could escalate into a full-fledged war at any time. Each state imposed sanctions on each other after the Korean War. And the DPRK openly stated in 2009 that if Japanese planes flew into Korean territory, lethal fire would be opened.
- South Korea. Due to strained relations and desires to unite the peninsula, kidnappings, murders and attacks occur regularly. Shootings are often heard on the outskirts of countries, and they are also recorded on the land border. Several years ago, North Korea announced its decision to launch a nuclear attack against Seoul. However, this event was prevented. This is one of the main reasons why life in North Korea is dangerous and leads to the fact that young people, at the first opportunity, try to leave for permanent residence in other countries.
Military life of men
In 2006, there were more than 1 million people in the army of the Democratic People's Republic. There were over 7,500,000 in reserve, and 6,500,000 people were members of the Red Guard. About 200,000 more work as security guards at military installations and in other similar positions. And this despite the fact that the country's population is no more than 23 million.
The contract with the ground military is for 5-12 years. A man has the right to choose where to serve: in the army, division, corps or brigade.
Service time in the Navy is slightly shorter, ranging from 5 to 10 years. Thanks to the fact that the government spares no expense in developing its army, people are fully equipped with the necessary equipment, weapons and protective suits.
Unlike other countries, the state in question is investing in intelligence development, which significantly worsens the lives of people in North Korea.
Most of military is concentrated in the area of the demilitarized zone. The People's Army has at its disposal more than 3 thousand main and 500 light tanks, 2 thousand armored personnel carriers, 3 thousand artillery barrels, 7 thousand mortars; V ground forces there are also approximately 11 thousand anti-aircraft installations. Such uniforms require the investment of large amounts of money, which could bring the country out of stagnation.
Life in North Korea (reviews) ordinary people this is confirmed) due to such a militant attitude, it makes no progress, or rather, it simply stands still. The indigenous people don’t even know that it is possible to exist in any other way. It’s not for nothing that the country’s rulers came up with a slogan, the essence of which is not to envy anyone and live only on your own. This policy helps in some way to maintain control over the common population.
What is life like in North Korea? Reviews from foreigners
Unfortunately, all people living in the country are prohibited from talking about how hard their lives are. However, tourists who have visited North Korea willingly share all their memories and impressions.
According to reviews from travelers, entry into the country is carried out only with the help of travel agencies. All the time, a person or group of people is under surveillance and moves around the city or region only with a guide. Radios, telephones, and any other gadgets are not allowed to be imported. This goes against the government's beliefs. You can only take photographs of what is permitted by the guide. In case of disobedience, the person is added to the blacklist and is prohibited from entering North Korea.
It is immediately clear to the naked eye that people live an average life. Poorly dressed, empty roads. Cars appear very rarely, which is why many children play on the roadway.
There are a lot of soldiers on the streets, who are also forbidden to photograph, especially if they are resting.
People travel on foot or on bicycles. Tourists are given free rides near the hotel. By the way, the corridors in the building resemble horror films. There have been no renovations for a long time, people appear here extremely rarely. In addition to bicycles, residents use bulls.
Both women and children work in the fields. Abandoned areas located on military bases are rich in small decoys that look like tanks.
Some buildings have escalators, which have only recently appeared. People are not yet used to them and have little understanding of how to use them.
Electricity in houses is provided for several hours. Trees and small monuments are whitewashed not with a brush, but with hands.
In the spring, people eat ordinary grass added to dishes, which can be quickly and unnoticeably picked from a neighboring lawn.
Economic spheres
The DPRK's economy is not well developed. Due to the fact that since 1960 the country became closed and stopped publishing production statistics, all conclusions are given independent experts, they cannot be 100% reliable.
- Industry. North Korea (the everyday life of citizens depends on the level of development of the state in this area) is moving well in the direction of mining. In addition, there are oil refining plants on the territory.
- Mechanical engineering. The country produces machines that Russian Federation imports. However, the models are not modern; they were produced in the USSR several decades ago. Cars, SUVs, and trucks are produced here.
- Electronic sphere. After the DPRK imported several million more smartphones and regular cell phones in 2014 than in 2013, daily life in North Korea has become better. Over the past 5-7 years, companies have produced tablets, several smartphones and a special computer for working in factories.
- Agriculture. Due to the fact that the country lacks fertile land, agriculture is poorly developed. Large area countries are occupied by mountains. The main crops planted are rice, soybeans, potatoes and corn. Unfortunately, few greens and vegetables are grown there that can be eaten raw. And this leads to deterioration in health and, as a result, reduces the life expectancy of ordinary Koreans. Livestock farming is dominated by poultry and pig farming. Due to the poor development of the country, the crops are harvested by hand.
Comparison of living standards of people in North and South Korea
The most closed country is North Korea. Life for ordinary people here is not the best. You can only get around the city by bicycle. Cars are an unprecedented luxury that an ordinary worker can hardly afford.
Anyone wishing to enter the capital must first obtain a pass. However, it's worth it. There are picturesque places, various monuments and monuments, and even the only metro in the whole country. Outside the city you can hitch a ride. Military personnel must always be given a ride - this is the law.
All residents of the DPRK must wear badges with state leaders. Also, citizens who have reached working age must get a job. But since there are often simply not enough places, local authority comes up with new activities, such as baling hay or sawing old trees. Those who have retired also need to do something. As a rule, parties are allocated a small plot of land, which the elderly undertake to look after.
Everyone has long known that North Korea, where the life of ordinary people sometimes turns into hell, has cruel laws and follows in the footsteps of fierce communism. However, there is something with which this country attracts and beckons. These are parks, nature reserves and just very Beautiful places, which you can admire endlessly. What is “Dragon Mountain” worth, which is located 30 minutes drive from Pyongyang.
Life for women in North Korea is very difficult. Mostly men are involved in the army, they have practically no benefit for the family, so the weaker sex became more active and was able to prove that they could live in such conditions. Nowadays, women are the main breadwinners. They are the ones who work around the clock due to the somewhat inadequate laws of the DPRK, aimed only at protecting the state. If we compare modern life with any historical era, then we can say with confidence that Korea is living in 1950. The photo below is proof of this.
South Korea is a country of cinema, music, prosperity. The country's main problem is alcoholism. The state ranks 7th in the world in terms of drunkenness, but this does not prevent it from advancing, expanding its sphere of influence and becoming a powerful power. The Government of the Republic conducts its foreign policy in such a way that it has a good relationship with many European countries.
The people living in the country are kind, helpful, they always bow and smile at passersby. And this trait is especially evident in the service sector: in cafes, restaurants, cinemas. The buyer, or rather the person who pays the money, is treated like God. Under no circumstances should he wait long for his turn. Due to such rules, service in this country is distinguished by quality and speed.
Education is what makes South Korea different. He she top level. Poor academic performance, which entails failure at university, means expulsion from society.
The army is not as well developed as in the north, but everyone is required to serve here - from workers to pop stars. The consequences that await after attempts to evade service are reminded of the constantly flying North Korean planes in the sky. Men are drafted closer to the age of 30. As a rule, Koreans get married very late, often after demobilization.
Their apartments look sparse. Only those who work tirelessly can afford houses. The citizens themselves laugh at the apartments and other housing that is shown on TV and published in magazines, saying that this is just a fantasy.
North and South Korea, whose living standards vary greatly, unfortunately, do not even think about uniting with the world. Some kind of conflicts and risks of renewed war constantly arise, which greatly impacts ordinary citizens of the north and forces them to migrate to other countries.
IN Lately Interest in the “kingdom of hermits” – North Korea – has grown sharply in the world. This is not surprising, because the country claims to be the most closed and very exotic, and the Forbidden fruit, is known to be sweet.
We present to your attention 30 interesting facts that, we are sure, few people know:
1. Average level Population literacy in the DPRK reaches 99%
True, given how literacy is defined, this is not surprising. Literacy is determined by a person's ability to write the name of a leader.
2. There are only 28 government-approved hairstyles allowed in the country.
Girls are allowed to wear 14 different haircuts; married women You are supposed to wear your hair short, but single women can grow their hair longer. Men are prohibited from growing their hair longer than 5 centimeters, while older people can afford hair lengths of up to 7 centimeters.
3. Former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's annual spending on luxury cognac was 800 times higher than the country's average annual income.
The father of the current leader of the country, Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il, spent 700 thousand euros a year on the purchase of Hennessy cognac. The average annual income in North Korea is estimated to be between $1,000 and $2,000.
4. The leader was an avid film fan, and his collection amounted to about 20 thousand films - in general, the man enjoyed life
His favorites included Rambo, Godzilla and Friday the 13th.
5. Less than 20% of all North Korean land is suitable for sowing crops
The share of arable land in the DPRK accounts for only 19.08%.
6. Residents of the DPRK, especially those born after the Korean War, are almost 6 centimeters shorter than South Koreans.
The difference in height is probably due to lack of nutrition during the war, as well as chronic malnutrition of every third child in the DPRK. Citizens of the DPRK eat mainly corn, and those who are richer can afford rice
7. North Korea has the fourth largest army in the world
Up to 1.190 million people are “under arms” in the DPRK.
8. The number of people ready to join the ranks of the North Korean army is approximately equal to the population of the state of Senegal
6.515 million men and 6.418 million women are eligible to serve in the DPRK armed forces.
9. The total length of roads in the country is 25,554 kilometers, of which only 724 kilometers are paved.
That is, only 2.83% of all roads in the DPRK are covered with asphalt. This happens because few residents in the country have personal vehicles.
10. Nearly 6 million people in the DPRK suffer from food shortages, and 33% of children are chronically undernourished.
According to some reports, 23.4% of North Korea's GDP comes from Agriculture. This includes the cultivation of rice, corn, potatoes, legumes, pigs, large cattle. However, according to the World Food Program, due to natural conditions and a lack of arable land, the DPRK is experiencing chronic food shortages.
11. North Korea is called the most corrupt country in the world - along with Afghanistan and Somalia
According to the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index, in 2013, North Korea, Somalia and Afghanistan were countries where corruption reached critical levels. A score ranging from 0 (maximum level of corruption) to 100 (no corruption) is given to 177 countries. North Korea received a score of 8.
12. There is a “punishment of three generations.” This means that when a person is sent to prison, his entire family goes with him, and the next two generations of the family are born in prisons and live their lives there.
This fact is absolutely, terrifyingly true, and you can read about what it means to be second generation in the book Escape from Camp 14. We're not saying it will make you cry non-stop, but if you can read it without a single "Damn it, I can't take this anymore..." then you must be a robot. If you're wondering what a North Korean must do to be sent to one of these prison labor camps, the answer is simple: a political crime. And a political crime means criticizing the government or attempting to flee the country.
13. A six-day work week and one more day for forced “volunteer” work ensures that the average citizen has virtually no free time.
This fact periodically appears on the Internet, but its original source is unknown. However, you can easily learn a little about how workplaces are organized in North Korea. It seems that everyone after high school the government automatically gives you a job and assigns you to this job for life. However, the system is breaking down, and North Koreans are now forced to earn money themselves - by bribing their factory bosses. There are other jobs in state-run “companies” where you can earn foreign currency, but it is impossible to get into them without a bribe.
14. In North Korea, the production, possession and use of marijuana is completely legal and is recommended by the Ministry of Health as a healthier alternative to tobacco. “Tourists tell stories of marijuana plants growing freely on the roadside.”
Surprisingly, this is 100% true and in fact even more so. Marijuana is not the only drug that is legal in North Korea. The government encourages people to grow opium on land they do not use. As for marijuana bushes growing freely on the side of the road, it turns out that marijuana is often planted along railroad tracks to support the tracks with its deep roots. Meth, on the other hand, is strictly prohibited - and you could "face a firing squad if you get caught with meth."
15. According to official documents, Kim Jong Il learned to walk in age three weeks While studying at the university, Kim also wrote 1,500 books, including six major operas, according to official documents. According to his official biography, all of his operas are “the best in the history of music.” Next are his sporting achievements. In 1994, Pyongyang media reported that when Kim first visited the golf club, he brilliantly completed 38 holes, 11 of them in one stroke. All this in front of 17 personal bodyguards. After this, he decided to leave the sport forever.
These facts were widely reported even by Western media immediately after the death of Kim Jong Il. While it's impossible to verify how many holes Dear Leader has completed in one go, we're guessing the actual number is a little lower than claimed official documents. But Kim didn't just take the sport seriously, the North Korean soccer team was allegedly publicly ridiculed for losing the 2010 World Cup for six hours. It's better not to play football in this country.
16. If North Korea launched its largest nuclear warhead so that it exploded in Time Square, it would simply not reach him.
This fact is difficult to confirm or deny without an actual test launch, but it is worth remembering that in 2012 the reclusive country successfully launched its own satellite. On the other hand, as everyone knows, Korea simply does not have a launch vehicle powerful enough to lift something heavy enough off the ground. So this is mostly true, but the United States still should not be complacent.
17. The success rate of this country’s space company is 20%
This is a very strange statistic because it is unclear what kind of success is meant. We think this applies to satellite launches, because of the five launches made by North Korea, only one successfully reached orbit. However, the North Korean government claims that there is another satellite that went into orbit in 1998 and is currently sending patriotic songs into space. For science, probably!
18. At the Hoeryong concentration camp in North Korea, 50,000 men, women and children are held as slaves, tortured and experimented on, similar to the Holocaust.
The number quoted here appears to be taken from an Amnesty International report in the 1990s. One ex-guard who defected from North Korea suggested that approximately 2,000 people die of malnutrition at Hoeryong Concentration Camp each year, but the number of inmates remains constant at 50,000, thanks to an equal number of newly "chosen" prisoners. The same guard estimated that 30% of prisoners have physical deformities, such as missing limbs.
19. “Researchers” from North Korea have concluded that North Korea is the second happiest country after China.
This study was widely reported around the world in 2011, so you've probably heard of it before. What you may not have heard was the US happiness ranking. North Korean researchers place US at bottom a brief description of was: “Long dead.” Hmm...we've always suspected that all Americans are secretly depressed. I think we will agree with Korean scientists... 😉
20. All teachers in the 1990s were required to be able to play the accordion—and they had to pass an accordion exam before receiving a teaching certificate.
This fact appears to come from the 2009 book Nothing to Envy, which chronicled the lives of six North Koreans over 15 years. Among them was one school teacher. Apparently her accordion exam was postponed due to the death of Kim Jong Il, although she was able to find work as a teacher in kindergarten until she was unable to pass the exam.
21. Kijong-Dong is a propaganda town that was built by Kim Jong Il's father in the 1950s on the country's border. It was supposed to show the superiority of the North over the South and inspire people to desert from the South to the North.
But in fact there were no inhabitants in it. The government spent heavily and every effort was made to create the appearance of a functioning city, including lights on the streets. It was enough to look through good optics to expose a city whose glass buildings were essentially just boxes with a complete absence of any interior. The city is also home to the world's largest flagpole.
In addition to the empty buildings, North Korea also had loudspeakers that blasted propaganda for its southern neighbors. They, in turn, repaid in the same coin. Fortunately for everyone, both countries agreed to stop their noise in 2004.
22. Every North Korean household and businesses are equipped with a government-controlled radio that cannot be turned off, but can be turned down.
This is another fact that cannot be fully confirmed. Many websites report this, but the original source is unknown. But the fact that electricity is constantly being cut off in the country, at a minimum, suggests that the fact cannot be 100% true.
23. Idolatry in North Korea is such that a portrait of Kim Jong Il is the second thing that ordinary citizens should save in case of fire after themselves (there are even special bunkers for statues in case of war).
It’s impossible to say for sure about the paintings, but the 100% truth is that all the statues of leaders are protected armed forces like real leaders of the country. Even we didn't go that far with our cat worship!
24. It’s not 2014 in North Korea. It is now 103 years old because North Korea counts years from the birth of Kim Jong Il, not Jesus.
What about those things that happened before Kim Jong Il was born?
25. Tourists in North Korea can only take photographs of what the party allows.
Each tourist is assigned a “KGB officer” who asks to remove photos in which the inhabitants of the country or the landscape do not look as they should, and also points out objects that should be photographed.
26. Execution by mortar shell in North Korea.
It's just terrible, isn't it? Yes, it is a fact that execution by mortar is used in North Korea, but it is not particularly common. It was used on a top government official who did not wait long enough to throw a party after Kim Jong Il's death and was executed for lack of proper mourning.
27. The North Korean Constitution states: “Citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech, press, voice, demonstration and association.”
This is of course true, and you can even read the North Korean constitution if you want. If you think this defies reality, you are completely wrong, but the document also contains some "buts" that will seem not very "democratic" to foreigners. For example: “Citizens must firmly guard the political and ideological unity and solidarity of the people,” and “Work is a noble duty and honor for a citizen.”
28. North Korea's economy was larger than in South Korea until the 1970s. Currently, GDP is only 2.5% of South Korea's.
North Korea's economy is even smaller than its own shadow. In 2011, the estimated GDP per person was approximately $1,800 per year, which is slightly less than, say, South Korea, where the GDP per person is approximately $30,800. On the other hand, we guess there's not much you can buy in North Korea...
29. North Korea holds elections every 5 years in which only one candidate is listed on the ballot.
This fact hardly seems surprising, although we should note that, while there is effectively only one candidate for any seat in government, voters can, technically, veto a candidate. This means that they can vote against someone by crossing out his name - but to do this, the voter must enter a special box, where everyone can see that he is making a choice and, rest assured, his name is already on the “black” lists.
30. In North Korea, the number of Internet users is only 605.
We haven't been able to find up-to-date numbers for this fact, but we suspect it might be a little out of date. The use of computers and the Internet seems to be growing every day, although it is mainly limited to upper-class officials and students. For example, North Korea recently debuted its own operating system called "Red Star", based on Linux. Plus, some are even saying that North Korea is going through a digital revolution—though on such a small scale that we think “deviation” would be a better word than “revolution.” However, it has been claimed that the North Koreans have a hand in developing software for everyone from Middle Eastern banks to...Nintendo and Sony? Mmm...let's just say we're a little...unsure about this.
Based on materials from mixstuff.ru and muz4in.net
I was able to see the outback of the DPRK and take photographs for which people are shot in this country. How does the most closed country in the world really live? Where is the truth and where is the show? Why is the Korean province hidden? Be careful, there are a lot of photos of North Korea inside!
There were very few foreigners in these places, so I take the liberty of saying that you will see many of the shots for the first time. For me personally, such a trip was much more interesting than the tourist route in Pyongyang, planned out minute by second.
I traveled more than 500 kilometers through the remotest corners of North Korea. Was it dangerous? Definitely. But the risk was worth it.
Leaving Dandong, China, I headed north. An interesting place, here it is no more than ten meters from Korea. Everything is in full view. And of course, me too.
On the Chinese side, the border is almost unguarded, but the Koreans have towers every three hundred
And there are foot patrols constantly. This border is special: all over the world they are needed so that enemies do not enter, but here, on the contrary, so that our own do not run away.
View from a Korean village to a Chinese village. No matter how propaganda tries to hide the real state of affairs by calling things by other people’s names, it is enough for borderland residents to open their eyes and look at their neighbors. How can you trust TV after this?
That’s why Koreans shouldn’t go and see the world, it’s harmful. You can’t even go to China to visit, the bridges have been blown up.
Some of the bridges were destroyed by the Americans during the Korean War.
But the rest were “finished off” much later, when they tightened the screws and isolated the DPRK from the outside world.
The Chinese have already traveled around the world, now they are interested in their own country and neighbors. Domestic tourism is developing by leaps and bounds, even here.
They develop routes, build hotels, put up signs with which everyone takes pictures.
And all for the sake of a landmark - a half-collapsed bridge. It was here that the Chinese army crossed over to enter the war against the United States and support the brotherly Korean people.
Now these fraternal people are looking through binoculars and rifle scopes.
Two sides, two shores. The Chinese have grown up a whole tourist town with hotels.
North Koreans...
You can't confuse the countries.
This city is located exactly across the river from the village from the last photo.
Koreans see that China sometimes directly teases them, but they cannot do anything about it. They are trying to build Potemkin villages, but what else can they do?
It’s scary to think that both countries were once in approximately the same conditions.
The DPRK has very beautiful nature.
New neighborhoods on the Chinese side are being built in traditional Korean style. Oops!
But stop looking at China. Let's go to North Korea! Let's see a small border town near the river.
Washing machines haven’t been invented yet; everyone goes to the river. But the clothes of ordinary Koreans turned out to be not as gray and monotonous as the imagination drew.
A man walks bulls in the courtyard of a high-rise building.
The main mode of transport is a bicycle; in three days I met literally a couple of cars: none of them were cars.
A house made of glass and concrete was built on the shore. Of course, empty inside. For what?
High school.
Physical education lesson in North Korea. Children carry stones and help build a neighboring house.
Grandfathers were at war. Korean War Memorial 1950-1953.
All the people I saw on the shore were busy with some kind of work. No one sat and admired the views, no one just walked around.
This work was physical and hard.
I was not the only one observing the lives of ordinary Koreans. Soldiers are the only people in the country who are allowed to sit and do nothing. They're at work. The border is guarded.
From a distance, Korean towns look neat and even cute.
And if you look closely, you will see: only the first line of houses has been painted, then the real slums begin. And again it looks like Russia.
Slogans, slogans everywhere. A person should not think for himself; the wise Party takes care of him.
The railway station looks like a propaganda poster. Unchanging portraits of leaders. In the DPRK they are deified.
The train is the only connection with the rest of the country. The roads are only dirt, there is no public transport. But this train is not a passenger train either. Why should they go somewhere?
But the line is electrified. In a country where the majority settlements there is no electricity.
This is what a real Korean village looks like. Very different from what is shown on the border with South Korea.
This station is being renovated. Portraits of the Kims were carefully hung with white linen.
Village Council.
Empty houses in a Korean village.
There are several hydroelectric power stations on the river, which are jointly managed by Korea and China. They are built with Chinese money.
The entire border runs along the Yalu River.
A remote village.
The Koreans raised the alarm and started burning the grass so that I couldn’t take pictures :)
How beautiful! The city of Rodongzhagu is located in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains. This is where life itself should be, otherwise all the villages are nothing but holes!
What beautiful, neat white houses, what majestic slogans that can be seen hundreds of meters away
In this city everyone says, no, even shouts, how wonderful it is to live in North Korea!
The streets and squares are decorated with paintings from the lives of the leaders, the great leaders of the Korean people.
I had thoughts that this city was a showcase for foreigners. All facades and slogans face the border. On the other hand, where should they look, not at the mountains?
But there are a lot of shortcomings and “blunders” here, if they wanted to make a beautiful ostentatious city.
Hundreds of identical white beautiful houses. And not cardboard, residential, there are people almost everywhere. But look at the paths between them...why should there be others, since there are no cars?
The only car in big city there was this blue truck. Not on wood, and that’s good. There were a lot of people riding in the back.
This part of the area was not completed and abandoned. Strange, it is closest to the river. And at the same time, people live even in unfinished buildings: do you see plastic bags instead of windows?
The city-forming enterprise is the plant.
And this factory seems closed. Not a single person, not a single car - how are they going to export the products?
The central square is not crowded.
We return to China. He is once again teasing Koreans with his lights and displays. Shakes the system? It’s unlikely, the Chinese have much more effective methods collapse the DPRK in a matter of months.
We are not saying goodbye to North Korea, in the coming days I will show you something else, you will like it.
