What is the lifestyle like in North Korea
North Korea is one of the most secretive and enigmatic countries in the world. Under the dictatorial rule of the Kim family since 1948, it has created a society completely isolated from the rest of the planet. This isolation has created a perception of North Korea as an almost impenetrable place, which has left many unknowns about the daily lives of its citizens. Although only a handful of foreigners have access to the country and information is strictly controlled by the regime, what we do know comes from defectors, limited visitors and international reports.
1. A totalitarian political system: The cult of the Kim dynasty
North Korea is, in essence, a communist monarchy. The country has been under the absolute control of the Kim family since its founding, beginning with Kim Il-sung, followed by his son Kim Jong-il, and currently under the rule of his grandson, Kim Jong-un. The country's official ideology is Juche, a doctrine of self-reliance that mixes ideas of Marxism-Leninism with fervent nationalism and a cult of personality for its leaders.
In North Korea, images of past and present leaders are everywhere – from the walls of homes to schools and offices – and are objects of veneration. It is mandatory for every citizen to have portraits of the leaders in their homes, and disrespect towards them can be severely punished. The large statues of the Kims in Pyongyang are places of pilgrimage for North Koreans and foreign visitors.
Control over information and beliefs is exercised by the Workers’ Party of Korea, which has a monopoly on all social institutions and structures. Citizens are indoctrinated from childhood, and propaganda is omnipresent, feeding the narrative that the country is a fortress under siege by external enemies, primarily the United States and South Korea.
2. Restrictions on personal freedom and movement
One of the most notorious aspects of life in North Korea is the lack of civil liberties. Most North Koreans are not free to move around the country without special permits, much less travel abroad. Only party elites, the military and some diplomats have limited access to travel outside North Korea, although always under strict surveillance.
The country is divided into social classes through a system called songbun, which ranks people based on their families' loyalty to the regime. This ranking influences every aspect of a citizen's life, from the education they can receive to the type of work and where they can live. The highest class is the core or "loyal" class, made up of those whose families were close to Kim Il-sung in the early years of the founding of the state. At the bottom of the system are those considered "hostile," those with a family history of supporting South Korea or criticizing the regime.
3. Daily life: Work, housing and food
Daily life in North Korea is largely rural, with more than half the population living outside cities. North Koreans living in rural areas, especially in the mountainous areas of the north, often face harsh living conditions, with limited access to basic resources such as food and healthcare. In these areas, agriculture is the primary means of subsistence, although farming techniques are mostly traditional and modern equipment is scarce.
In cities, life is more structured and controlled. Work is assigned by the state, and although there is no unemployment in the formal sense, work can be physically demanding and poorly paid. Citizens work long hours and must participate in additional collective tasks, such as building infrastructure or seasonal agricultural work.
Access to housing is also controlled by the state. Housing in cities is usually simple, functional apartment blocks, but often lacks modern amenities such as central heating or 24-hour running water. Pyongyang, the capital, is an exception; the city is largely reserved for party elites and their relatives, and infrastructure there is significantly better than in the rest of the country.
Access to food has historically been one of North Korea's biggest problems. The country has suffered devastating famines, especially during the 1990s, when an estimated 240,000 to 3.5 million people died. Although the situation has improved slightly in recent years, malnutrition remains a common problem. Food is distributed by the state, but the quality and quantity varies greatly depending on location and social status. The typical diet includes rice, corn, and vegetables, although protein such as meat or fish is difficult to come by for most.
4. Education and indoctrination
Education in North Korea is compulsory and free until the age of 17. From an early age, children are indoctrinated in Juche ideology and loyalty to the Kim family. The education system focuses on topics such as North Korea's revolutionary history, with a heavy dose of propaganda about the regime's successes and the superiority of its system.
At the technical and university level, access is limited according to songbun, meaning that only those from politically loyal families can aspire to quality higher education. Pyongyang universities, such as Kim Il-sung University, are reserved for elites.
In addition to formal education, North Koreans also participate in regular "self-criticism" sessions, where they must confess their mistakes and failures in front of their peers, reinforcing social control and surveillance.
5. Media and entertainment: A state monopoly
North Korea has one of the most closed media systems in the world. Television, radio, and newspapers are controlled by the state, and all content is used as a propaganda tool. There is no independent media and no internet access for the general population. Only government elites have limited access to the internet, while the population has access only to a closed internal network, known as Kwangmyong, which contains government-controlled and approved information.
Entertainment is also controlled. Movies, music and TV shows are mostly produced by the state, with the aim of glorifying the regime and the Kim family. However, despite the restrictions, in recent years it has been reported that smuggled foreign media, especially from South Korea, has begun to penetrate the country's borders. South Korean and Chinese movies, TV series and music are circulated clandestinely on USB drives and DVDs, and possession of them can lead to severe punishments.
6. Health and well-being
North Korea’s health care system is supposedly free and accessible to all citizens, but in practice, it is severely underfunded and lacks the most basic supplies. Many medical facilities, especially outside of Pyongyang, lack drugs, modern medical equipment, and trained staff. Patients are reported to be required to bring their own supplies, such as syringes or medicines, when seeking medical care.
Life expectancy in North Korea is lower than in many neighboring countries, and malnutrition, infectious diseases and lack of access to adequate medical care are serious problems, especially in rural areas.
7. Religion and beliefs: An officially atheist country
North Korea declares itself an atheist country, and organized religion is virtually banned. Although there are officially some churches and temples in Pyongyang, these are believed to be mainly decorative and used as propaganda to show the world that religious freedom exists in the country. In practice, any religious practice not controlled by the state is severely punished. Underground Christian churches, for example, are subject to persecution, and religious practitioners have been known to be sent to forced labor camps.
The only worship allowed is that of the Kim family, and all citizens are expected to actively participate in venerating the leaders.
8. The fear of prison camps
One of the most terrifying aspects of life in North Korea is the existence of political prison camps, known as kwanliso. An estimated 80,000 to 120,000 people are incarcerated in these camps, where they are subjected to forced labor, torture, and inhumane conditions. The prisoners include not only those who have committed political crimes, but also their family members, as in North Korea, guilt extends to the family in what is known as punishment by association.
Many North Korean defectors have testified about the abuses and horrors of these camps, where prisoners are treated as enemies of the state and forced to work in brutal conditions. The North Korean government denies the existence of these camps, but satellite images and testimonies from survivors suggest otherwise.
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What is the lifestyle like in North Korea
Under the dictatorial rule of the Kim family since 1948, it has created a society completely isolated from the rest of the planet.
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