Unification Media Group (UMG): With the Chuseok holiday passed and the weather cooling down, people across North Korea are beginning preparations for the fall harvest. Reporter Kang Mi Jin joins us to discuss how merchants are responding to rumors of a poor harvest.
Kang Mi Jin (Kang): Although South Koreans enjoyed an extended week-long holiday for Chuseok, North Koreans only received a single day of official holiday. Most would likely have worked through the holiday even if it were as long as the South’s, due to dire economic conditions.
UMG: North Koreans are frequently mobilized to harvest crops, so will there be an uptick for such mobilization in the coming season?
Kang: Chuseok marks the beginning of the harvest season for most people in North Korea, depending on the region. Those in North and South Hwanghae Province – the country’s ‘breadbasket’ – as well as in many other places, are busy preparing for the harvest.
Although rural villagers will be busy for the harvest, some are surprised to hear that it’s also an extremely busy time for those in the cities. After the state distribution system collapsed in the 1990s, most citizens were left to fend for themselves, and so even those in the cities engage in business related to the harvest; collecting grain and reselling it later, for example.
But with rumors of a poor harvest this year, many in the cities are working double time to secure an ample amount of food in case supplies become scarce or prices rise too high in the markets.
UMG: So the city folk are now heading out into the countryside to work or secure food?
Kang: Yes, this is happening. The combination of a poor harvest this year and the enforcement of stronger sanctions has meant that the markets have seen a steep decline in customers. When business in the markets drops off, merchants tend to venture out and set up their stalls wherever there are people, so I am hearing that stalls and market activity can be seen all over the place now. The norm in these cases seems to be barter trading, with many even saying that they are more comfortable trading items for other items instead of for cash.
I spoke with a source over the phone a couple of days ago who told me of just such an instance, where a merchant selling cotton candy in Hyesan packed up their equipment and intends to set up for about a month at the Manjongbo Collective Farm near Paekam in Ryanggang Province.
The source went on to describe the situation, saying that, “the merchant caught a ride in a lorry which typically transports these types of people and their merchandise, and learned of an abundant potato harvest. They also learned that another person was traveling around to check on their barley farms, which began harvests in August, though they were not sure yet whether it was a successful harvest.”
UMG: What kinds of items are merchants typically bartering for other goods in these “mobile markets?”
Kang: Although it varies slightly depending on the region, I have heard that common items are kitchen goods like plates and bowls, as well as snack items. Clothing such as jumpers or even hanboks are also frequently used to barter. Many also pay attention to the needs of the region; for example, merchants in the wetter regions are bartering with rain boots.
Kitchenware is popular because fall is also a big wedding season, so these items can come in handy during celebrations. Snack items are seen as fairly easy to come by and which can prove valuable as a currency, especially for children who are trying to find other items in the market. Though this is said to be a bad harvest year, it does not mean that merchants or consumers are reducing their market activities.
The cotton candy merchant that I mentioned earlier said that they could receive 2 kg of potatoes for just 3 sticks of cotton candy. While one stick typically sells for 500 KPW in Ryangang Province, cotton candy has taken on a new importance in these times it seems. The source said that although the size of the cotton candy is ridiculously small, people are eager for the opportunity to eat something sweet and so are willing to give away disproportionate amounts of their crops for some in a barter exchange.”
UMG: Will a lot of merchants follow this trend, going out to the countryside and farms to find more customers?
Kang: It’s becoming somewhat of a trend to do so yes, as people hear about the success of others doing this kind of thing, but of course some have succeeded and others have failed. Many find it easiest to move out to their hometowns or where they have relatives, as they may have connections or simply know people on the streets, which is better for business. A merchant who is unfamiliar to everyone and who seems new may not do as well, or might even be caught by the authorities as this kind of mobile business is illegal. If one goes into a new region, they usually pay a bribe to the local authorities or prominent farmers or merchants in order to conduct business there.
UMG: Thank you for taking the time to describe the current situation on the ground. It seems that these merchants are taking risks and doing whatever it takes to make ends meet despite the bad harvest.
