Taiwanese YouTuber’s 6-Day North Korea Trip Goes Viral
"It Feels Like 1980s Korea"
"Fascinating"... Viewers Show Strong Interest
A Taiwanese YouTuber's "5 Nights and 6 Days in North Korea" travelogue has attracted attention in South Korea as well. In particular, the presence of Korean-made karaoke machines at Pyongyang's most luxurious hotel has drawn significant interest.
A karaoke room in the luxury hotel 'Seosan Hotel' in Pyongyang. It is equipped with karaoke machines made in Korea. Screenshot from the YouTube channel 'Tian Guyuan'
Recently, Taiwanese YouTuber Tian Guyuan uploaded his travelogue in three parts, each about 95 minutes long. The videos have garnered nearly 2 million views in total, generating considerable buzz.
'Everyday Life in Pyongyang' Captured by a Taiwanese YouTuber
At the beginning of the video, the YouTuber introduces North Korea as "Joseon, the most mysterious country in the world." He goes on to say, "They claim themselves to be the birthplace of one of the world's five great civilizations," and adds, "If you can enter Joseon, which is closed off to the outside world and shrouded in mystery, it will be a special and unforgettable travel experience."
The YouTuber, along with seven other students from Taiwan and Hong Kong, said they arranged the trip by contacting North Korea's state-run travel agency. In January, they took a train from Beijing, China, to Dandong, which borders North Korea. After receiving a "North Korea entry permit" in Dandong, the group boarded an international train connecting China and North Korea, crossing the railway bridge over the Yalu River to officially begin their North Korean journey. Immigration inspection in Sinuiju took four hours.
Students from Taiwan and Hong Kong who went on a 5-night, 6-day group tour to North Korea viewed the outside scenery from the train traveling from Dandong, China to Pyongyang, North Korea. Screenshot from the YouTube channel "Tian Guyuan"
Inspectors Carefully Check Travelers' Books and Cameras
On the train to Pyongyang, North Korean inspectors checked each traveler's belongings one by one. One of the women in the group said, "The security inspection here is different from China. In China, they look for explosives and such, but here, they meticulously check books, photo storage devices, and cameras. It seems they are mainly inspecting for ideological content."
When they arrived at Pyongyang Station in the evening, two North Korean guides were waiting to greet them. The group boarded a bus and took their first tour, viewing the nightscape of Pyongyang. Major landmarks such as Kim Il Sung Square, the Juche Tower, and the Grand People's Study House were brightly illuminated.
Women employees performing a welcome show by singing the North Korean song "Mother's Birthday" at the luxury restaurant "Ryeongwangchajip" in Pyongyang. Screenshot from the YouTube channel 'Tian Guyuan'
"Much More Luxurious Than Expected"-Expressing Satisfaction
Dinner was served at the upscale restaurant "Ryeongwangchajip." Although the restaurant was spacious, it appeared the group were the only guests. Nevertheless, three female employees, dressed in traditional hanbok, took the stage and sang, "Congratulations on the October holiday, the birthday of the mother of the Workers' Party of Korea," warmly welcoming the guests.
The first night's accommodation was at the luxury "Seosan Hotel," which is said to have been visited by all three generations of North Korean leaders. The group expressed their satisfaction, saying, "It's much more luxurious than we expected," and "The blankets, pillows, and bathroom are all clean, and the view is great."
'20,000 Won per Hour' Kumyoung Karaoke Room Draws Attention
The third floor of the hotel featured a sauna, swimming pool, massage room, and other amenities. The group headed to the karaoke room together, where a Kumyoung karaoke machine was installed, attracting attention. The remote control interface and layout were identical to those found in South Korea, and the karaoke songbook was also confirmed to be a Kumyoung product. Kumyoung is a leading Korean karaoke brand, and such audio equipment could potentially be problematic under both North Korea's own Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act and the UN Security Council's sanctions regime against North Korea.
The karaoke room at Seosan Hotel cost 105 yuan per hour (about 19,000 won). Given that the average monthly wage for North Korean workers is generally believed to be less than 10,000 won, it seems virtually impossible for ordinary citizens to use the facility. It is presumed to be aimed at officials and members of the privileged class who have access to foreign currency. It also caught attention that the female staff member in charge of the karaoke room sang the North Korean song "Nice to Meet You," which is familiar to many Koreans.
Korean viewers who watched the video left a variety of comments, such as, "It's so amazing to see North Korea, which Koreans cannot visit," "Thank you for introducing the North Korea I was so curious about," "This is the most vivid North Korea video I've seen so far. It's a strange feeling that people so close are still out of reach," and "It's unfortunate that it feels like they're still stuck in the 1980s."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
