This is “NK Market Trends,” bringing you
weekly updates on the North Korean economy. This week we sat down with reporter
Kang Mi Jin to discuss the latest trends; but first, let’s take a look at how
the jangmadang (markets, official or otherwise) has been doing. We’ll begin by
providing a rundown of the price of rice, the currency conversion rates, and
the cost of other goods in North Korean markets.
Most areas around the country are
experiencing stable market prices. The price of 1 kg of rice was 5,019 KPW in
Pyongyang, 4,970 KPW in Sinuiju, and 4,980 KPW in Hyesan. The USD was trading
at 8,190 KPW in Pyongyang and Hyesan, and 8,260 KPW in Sinuiju. The Renminbi
was trading at 1,320 KPW in Pyongyang, 1,330 KPW in Sinuiju, and 1,300 KPW in
Hyesan. Moving along, the cost of one kg of corn kernels was 1,980 KPW in
Pyongyang, 1,960 KPW in Sinuiju, and 2,200 KPW in Hyesan. One kg of pork was
selling at 10,560 KPW in Pyongyang, 10,500 KPW in Sinuiju, and 10,900 KPW in
Hyesan. Gasoline was trading at 6,710 KPW per kg in Pyongyang, 6,550 KPW in
Sinuiju, and 6,880 KPW in Hyesan. Finally, 1 kg of diesel fuel was selling at
5,150 KPW in Pyongyang, and 5,000 KPW in both Sinuiju and Hyesan. This has been
a rundown of the latest market prices in North Korea.
1. Thank you for the rundown on market
prices. I’m curious about what’s new in the North Korean markets over the last
week. Let’s hear from reporter Kang Mi Jin on the latest trends.
Hello to all you all out there working hard
every day during the “compost battle” season despite the non-stop propaganda
about this hydrogen bomb test’s success. I hope everyone is staying healthy in
this cold weather. We’re here today to bring you the latest information from
sources all around the country.
Generally speaking, the markets slowdown
for about a month following the Lunar New Year holiday season, as they do every
year. I can’t help but think that the majority of people are hesitant to
purchase goods, as they are busy with mandatory manure transportation work this
time of year. Despite the hectic schedule, some business is still taking place.
Today we’ll discuss the sale of herbal remedies on the jangmadang, as
housewives watch over their husband’s health during this active mobilization
period.
2. Patriarchal culture is still the norm in
North Korea, but I’ve heard that things are changing slowly. Let’s hear a bit
about how housewives are taking care of their husbands in the cold of the new
year.
Well, first thing’s first, North Korea’s
patriarchal society is actually changing at a very rapid rate. After the death
of Kim Il Sung Il in 1994, North Koreans suffered through the worst period of
famine in their history, known around the world as the Arduous March. Those who
experienced it will never be able to forget the anguish it caused. Patriarchal
culture began to take a back seat during this time. Women, who were less
typically tied to positions at state-run enterprises, took up the role of
breadwinner by working at the markets and men had no choice but to accept these
changing roles due to the dire conditions besetting the country. However, the
remnants of this paternal culture are not easily forgotten, as it has dominated
North Korean society for decades. The most important point, however, is that a
woman’s devotion to her husband is, in the end, her way of taking care of the
family.
I was the same way. Even though I ended up
doing more work than my husband,–toiling in the fields, fixing up and taking
care of the house–the deferential way I treated him at home just seemed
completely natural to me–something we all just accepted as the norm. The man
is still the head of the household, despite the woman primarily taking care of
the family. In North Korea, we say, “The pillar has to be sound for the rafters
to be safe.” The pillar of the household, the husband, needs to be healthy for
the family to function. North Korean women truly believe this and they use
herbal remedies to take care their husbands health.
3. Herbal remedies are quite popular in the
South, and are used to rejuvenate one’s health. What kind of remedies are
available and used in the North?
Herbal remedies, like ginseng and red
ginseng, are an everyday affair for South Koreans, but that’s not the case in
the North. Life is hard in the North and as not many people can afford ginseng,
wild ginseng or other herbal remedies. It’s because of this harsh reality that
most people will buy cheaper ingredients to make their own herbal remedies at
home. Just the other day I spoke with a woman on the phone and she said she was
making youjigo porridge and honey marinated garlic for her husband.
3-1. Honey-garlic and youjigo porridge?
We’ve never heard of these kinds of herbal remedies before here in the South.
Would you be so kind and explain how they’re made?
Of course. First, let me tell you about the
youjigo porridge. The recipe calls for 1kg of sticky rice powder, 1kg of oil,
1kg of sugar and 10 eggs. You want to mix them all together and put the paste
into an earthenware pot and then the pot in a metal kiln to heat. Steam the pot
for 3-4 hours and after it’s piping hot, let it set for 24 hours. You can spoon
it out after it cools and most people eat 1-2 spoonfuls a day.
Talking about
youjigo porridge reminds me of when I made it for my husband. He liked to drink
a lot and had a bad liver so he was in pretty poor health and couldn’t work, so
I had the responsibility of earning money not only for just our household but
my husband’s side as well. It was pretty difficult to make other health foods
so I usually made youjigo porridge for everyone. I can still see my husband and
daughter’s faces, lit up from the joy of eating the rich and savory porridge
that I would make for them.
Honey-garlic is also a big hit among North
Koreans. It’s fairly easy to make, you only need to marinate peeled garlic in
honey and you’re done! It can be a little rough on the pallet when compared to
the mildly sweet and chewy youjigo porridge. That’s because it has a strong
bitter bite to it after marinating in the honey. Regardless of taste, it’s
commonly eaten in the North on account of its high nutritional value and
reputation to improve health.
4. Northern married men must be in really
good health from eating all that porridge and honey-garlic!
Absolutely. My friend told me the other day
that she made enough honey-garlic and porridge for her and her husband to stay
healthy for the upcoming year. She also said that she made some with her
parents who are both in their 70s. Her father brags about her with his friends,
telling them that he never got a cold thanks to her porridge. His friends would
all nod their heads in agreement and now eat this kind of herbal remedies
themselves. It makes me happy when I hear about stories like this.
5. Up to this point we’ve been discussing
various herbal remedies that are easily purchased at a relatively cheap price
from the local market in North Korea. So what are some of the ingredients
needed to in order to make porridge or honey-garlic?
For the porridge you will need about 2kg of
sticky rice per person that will be eating. That amount will last roughly 2
months. Then, you will also need 2kg of sugar, 2kg of oil, and 20 eggs.The
going price for these ingredients are 6,000 KPW for 1kg of sticky rice, 11,500
KPW for 1kg of oil, 950 KPW for each egg, and 5,000 KPW for the sugar so
altogether, you will need around 65,000 KPW in total for each person that you
are making it for.
As I mentioned the last time we spoke, most
families will spend around 50,000 KPW on lunar new year foodstuffs but these
don’t last long and doesn’t make any significant improvement to your health.
Porridge on the other hand, will keep you from getting a cold all year for only
65,000 KPW.
6. It sure seems like loving wives and
mothers would be buying up a lot of these ingredients. What is the going price
for honey and garlic nowadays?
At the Hyesan market in Yanggang Province,
garlic is currently going for 11,000 KPW for 1kg and honey will set you back
25,000 KPW per Kilo. The honey-garlic recipe usually yields 2kg so you’re
looking at a cost of roughly 70,000 KPW per batch. 70,000 KPW to keep you
healthy all year. How about that?
Absolutely. I would definitely be making these
types of health foods for that price! Garlic and honey must be flying off the
shelves right now at market.
That’s right. In Yanggang Province,
honey-garlic is regarded by many as basic herbal remedy because of its healing
qualities. It’s also said to be good for the throat so my aunt always makes it
every spring and fall for my uncle and cousins. Honey sells really well at
market but contrary to what you would think, garlic doesn’t. Most people just
make the honey-garlic with garlic that they grow themselves. Maybe it’s because
I ate so much garlic from our garden growing up, but I personally prefer making
porridge. That’s why I’ve only been to the hospital a couple of times. I have a
really strong immune system to fight colds every year. Thanks to the healthy
porridge, my daughter has never come down with a cold. You should definitely
try it if you get the chance!
7. North Korean society still has many
traces of its patriarchal past so it makes me wonder if women making herbal
remedies for their husbands might drive up sales in the market.
You are very right. North Korean women will
bend over backwards in order to take care of their men, who they believe to be
the pillar of the family unit. The North is filled with everyone talking about
Kim Jong Un following the recent nuclear test but I hope all our listeners out
there will be more mindful of their health instead of listening to the
propaganda about a successful hydrogen bomb. I would especially like to thank
all our listeners that have gone to great lengths and taken the time out of
their busy schedules to tune in to our broadcast during the “compost battle”
[during which residents must fulfill manure quotas to be used as fertilizer]
season. Please tune in to our show next time. This has been your market report.
Good night.
