Recently in North Korea, due to the “Prohibition against Sales by Women under 49,” a collision between young women wanting to do business and the market guards have been taking place.
In Haeju, South Hwanghae Province on February 5th, physical fights between young women trying to do business in the corners of markets and the guards regulating the markets erupted. Consequently, nine people, including Lee Chun Hee (38), were detained by the People’s Safety Agency, reported a newsletter disseminated by Good Friends, a nongovernmental aid organization to North Korea, on the 19th.
The newsletter revealed, “Women who have been detained underwent severe investigations, being asked ‘Who is your ringleader?” and on the 4th day, Lee, who could not endure the investigations, confessed that she was the mastermind and was retained while the rest of the women were all released.”
The North Korean authorities, since December 1st of last year, announced the “Prohibition of Sales by Women under 49” and increased regulations, not only in Pyongyang but in provincial cities as well.
The newsletter explained, “Haeju, like the other cities, has not been receiving any food provisions. The households that have been getting by through the conducting of businesses by housewives have descended into the lowest-level class as a result of the North Korean authorities’ recent prohibition.”
Accordingly, the authorities of Haeju has closed their eyes to women conducting business by understanding the situation of households that would be starve to death without being able to sell goods, but without an official permission, the small and large friction between women driven by the threat to survival and the authorities have not easily ceased, the publication forecasted.
The publication also added, “In Chongjin, North Hamkyung Province on March 3rd, a mass occurrence by female merchants took place, so the city authorities have permitted sales by all females without an age restriction.”
The market guards, including in Sunam and Shinam Districts, removed the products sold by females under the permitted age limit to outside of the market. Female merchants who were indignant by this collectively raised objections to the market guards, “If we cannot conduct business, the heads of households cannot go to work either.”
Immediately after the protests of the female merchants, the Chongjin authorities reported the incident to the central Party, but it has been known that due to the lack of a clear policy, all women could engage in sales without a restriction in age.
The source relayed the news, “The enforcement units of the Chongjin Party Committee reluctantly permitted sales by female merchants, but this case has not been approved by the Central Party, so there is significant concern regarding punishment at a later time.”
