As the de facto private economy expands in
North Korea and the gap between the rich and poor grows, Pyongyang’s new affluent middle class, known as the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More, or ‘money masters,’ are paying hundreds of dollars for fancy restaurant
meals.
On November 27th a Daily NK reporter spoke
with a source in North Pyongan Province by telephone, who said that as the Kim
Jong Un era presses on, the unceasing transformation of the capital embodies
“two sides to every coin.”
Daily NK crosschecked this news with a source in the capital and another in South Pyongan Province.
“While Party cadres and the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More spend hundreds
of dollars per meal at fancy restaurants, ordinary citizens scrape by day to
day on what they can earn at the market,” she asserted.
“On Independence Road, near the gym
(Pyongyang Gymnasium),” she said that the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More and the elite can be seen frequenting such
upscale restaurants like “The Golden Cup,” known for its high end cuisine; another popular eatery is a nearby bistro specializing in smoked duck. A single meal at either of these establishments
starts at $50, generally running a customer far more.
“A group of four can easily consume
at least $200 worth of food at one meal,” she noted.
$200 is the equivalent of 1,600,000 KPW,
which, at the current market price of 5000 KPW per 1 kg of rice, can purchase
approximately 320 kg worth of rice, the staple of the North Korean diet.
Although the number of Pyongyang citizens
earning decent money as markets flourish appears to be on the rise, the
disparity in wealth is also growing owing to the monopoly market power of the
authorities. Their grip on the market allows them to enjoy a lifestyle that our
source compared to “heaven on earth”, while the “rest of the people are left out
in the cold.”
This growing disparity is highlighted in every aspect of life in the capital, she went on, noting that while
duck is a popular food in Pyongyang among the rich and poor alike, only the
elite have the resources to buy smoked duck at high-end establishments
such as “Cheongchungwan” and “Koryo Hotel” while average people huddle around
small roadside restaurants or food stands eating deep-fried varieties of the
bird.
High-end restaurants remove the head, neck,
and feet of the duck, and top of the line chefs prepare the meat carefully so
as “not to lose any of the nutrients,” the source said. Prices range from
$15-$50 per plate. Duck sold at the roadside restaurants, on the other hand, is
summarily deep-fried as is and costs about $5 per bird.
DonjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More do not just partake in the delicacy, these ‘money masters’ are propping up the entire industry. According to the source, duck sold at
the more upscale state-run restaurants in Pyongyang comes from state-run duck
farms in areas like Pyongwon, Jeungsan, and Yongji in South Pyongan Province.
Ducks raised on state farms are supplied to restaurants in Pyongyang at the
nationally determined price according to the yearly distribution plan.
However, the operation of duck farms has become difficult due to a shortage of
capital, so government authorities have been selling ducks to restaurants run
by the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More at the market rate in order to raise the capital needed to
continue operations.
*The content of this article was broadcast to the North Korean people via Unification Media Group.
