Even cadre wives buy secondhand goods in North Korea

That’s correct. Just like South Korea, it’s possible to buy and sell used items in the North. In South Korea, most of this trade in secondhand goods is facilitated by websites. Lacking the online infrastructure of the South, used goods in the North are sold in the markets and by travelling vendors. When I was living in North Korea, I experienced both buying and selling used goods. Since I left, sources indicate that secondhand items have become even more popular. 

For starters, the origin and structure of the North’s secondhand goods market are quite different. Here in the South, people tend to follow trends and buy new products that fit their desires. That plays a large role in shaping and driving demand. But this type of consumerism is out of reach for most North Koreans. Furthermore, the secondhand markets in the North don’t have many domestically-produced items. Instead, one usually only finds South Korean, Japanese, and Chinese-made goods. 

North Koreans generally do not have the luxury of being able to put their possessions up for sale on a whim. Most people use the items they purchase right up until the moment it falls apart or becomes unusable. That’s why secondhand goods for sale tend to come from abroad. These products are either traded or smuggled into the country.  

Most North Koreans who visit the secondhand markets come from families without the financial means to purchase brand new products. Although secondhand goods are cheaper than new items, their quality isn’t bad, so they are a good alternative.

I recently spoke on the phone with a North Korean source who informed me that she went to the market to buy a winter coat for her husband, but was disappointed by the high prices. Just as she was walking out, she found a used coat on sale for a reasonable price. She bought the jacket and was quite satisfied. When I asked why people are buying up so many secondhand goods, she said, “After buying secondhand goods myself, I discovered that compared to new products, there are certain advantages.” 

Even well-off families are known to use the secondhand markets from time to time. Other people use it as a sort of “thank you” or reciprocal exchange when a neighbor helps them do work around the house or runs an errand for them. Because so many people buy used goods for so many different reasons, the markets can get quite busy. 

In South Korea, secondhand goods can include electronics, shoes, clothes, and sports items. In North Korea, clothes are the major item for sale in the secondhand markets. However, bikes, TVs, and electric fans are also available in smaller numbers. In addition, a very small number of computers are available. The most profitable product to sell is clothes, because it’s easier to sell a large volume on a daily basis. 

It seems like secondhand goods might even sell better than brand new items. Is there any special reason for this?  

The economic circumstances for many North Korean families have been adversely affected by recent events such as the international sanctions and widespread flooding in North Hamgyong Province. These macro events influence the earning potential of ordinary people. Furthermore, because no one has been provided with sufficient compensation by the authorities in the form of either food or money, they are forced to rely on their own hard work to earn a living. This naturally leads to many people looking to save money wherever possible, including by purchasing cheaper items.

Can you provide us with a few examples to illustrate the price differences between secondhand and new products? 

Sure, I’ll try to give you a sense of the price difference through a few examples. A brand new Chinese-made television would cost about 750,000 KPW (approx U.S. 91), while a secondhand one would cost about 400,000 KPW (approx U.S. 49). But a used Japanese model would generally cost the same as a brand new Chinese TV. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find out how much South Korean models go for. I would guess, however, that they would be even more expensive than the Japanese models. 

On to the next product: rollerskates. New Chinese skates cost about 20,000 KPW (approx U.S. 2.50), while used South Korean skates cost 45,000 KPW (approx U.S. 5.50). It’s common knowledge in North Korea that South Korean-made goods are high quality. That’s why used roller skates from the South cost even more than new skates from China. People tend to prefer South Korean products, even when they’re more expensive. 

Next I’ll talk about bicycles. A Chinese bicycle costs about 250,000 KPW (approx U.S. 30), while a used Japanese model costs about 700,000 KPW (approx U.S. 8.50). The most popular item in the used goods market might very well be underwear, which sells for about 6,000 KPW (U.S. 0.70) per pair. Used T-shirts cost about 5,000 KPW (U.S. 0.60), which is much cheaper than buying them brand new at 20,000 KPW (U.S. 2.40). This shows how big the price differences can be.