[Takryucheongron] North Korea Individual Tourism, a Catalyst for Inter-Korean Relations Progress

Hong Soon-jik, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Korean Peninsula Future Studies, Kookmin University

A debate is underway over the government’s policy to promote individual tourism to North Korean regions. The government is considering three types of individual tourism: 'visits to Mount Kumgang and Kaesong by separated families or social organizations,' 'visits to North Korean regions by South Koreans through third countries,' and 'allowing foreigners to participate in inter-Korean linked tourism.' This approach is feasible even under the United Nations (UN) sanctions against North Korea.

There are concerns regarding the government’s push for individual tourism. Representative issues include the stagnation of inter-Korean relations and North Korean nuclear negotiations, the international community’s sanctions trend, and the guarantee of tourists’ personal safety. However, individual tourism is not subject to UN sanctions, and as the past 70 years of inter-Korean relations have shown, if we become mired in obstacles and concerns based on “because of,” we cannot move forward. Instead, “despite” these obstacles, we must remove them one by one, establish safety measures, and work toward restoring mutual trust and building a peace process on the Korean Peninsula. Moreover, individual tourism is highly significant from several perspectives, making its promotion desirable.

First, individual tourism serves as a catalyst for restoring mutual trust between the two Koreas and advancing inter-Korean relations. In 2018, the two Koreas agreed during three summits to resume Mount Kumgang tourism and the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, stated in his 2019 New Year’s address that these would be resumed unconditionally and without any cost, but no progress has been made since. Therefore, this tourism initiative holds great meaning and symbolism as a firm expression of our government’s will to improve inter-Korean relations and as a justification for Chairman Kim to resume dialogue. Furthermore, it can be interpreted as an indirect signal for easing U.S. sanctions on North Korea, thereby contributing to the promotion of North Korean nuclear negotiations and North Korea-U.S. dialogue.

Second, individual tourism can be used as a testing ground for the advancement and internationalization of inter-Korean tourism and economic cooperation. The government’s proposed individual tourism is comprehensive, covering not only the Mount Kumgang area but also Pyongyang, Yangdok, Wonsan, Kalma, and Samjiyon. Moreover, tourism is a key project for Chairman Kim, who dreams of “self-reliant prosperity through a tourism powerhouse,” and it can serve as a testing ground to predict the success potential of economic development zone policies. Therefore, North Korea’s enthusiasm and cooperation in this reopening and acceptance are expected to differ from before.

Thus, this individual tourism is not a mere event. For the promotion of North Korea’s opening and the sustainable development of inter-Korean tourism and economic cooperation, comprehensive discussions can be held regarding personal safety guarantees, legal and institutional improvements, restoration of business rights for existing cooperative companies and recovery of confiscated or frozen investment assets, simplification of tourism procedures, stable operation of projects, and the establishment of a joint inter-Korean tourism organization to resolve disputes.

Third, to alleviate the grief of separated families whose remaining years are few, it is necessary to resume tourism linked with family reunions. Due to the prolonged division, 85.4% of applicants for separated family reunions are elderly aged 70 or older, and since February 2016, the number of deceased has exceeded that of survivors. Those who spent Lunar New Year without reunion must have felt even more desperate.

Fourth, inter-Korean tourism is very important not only politically and socially but also economically. It contributes to revitalizing border areas, stimulating the domestic service industry, generating new tourism demand through foreign tourists, and creating new jobs.

Despite the significance and necessity of individual tourism, concerns at home and abroad, cooperation with the international community, and discussions on advancing inter-Korean tourism must never be overlooked in promoting individual tourism. North Korea’s positive response and cooperation are required. It is hoped that the realization of individual tourism will pave a “new path” for restoring mutual trust between the two Koreas and proactively resolving national issues, eventually developing into the East Sea Tourism Joint Special Zone agreed upon by the two leaders.