A new way to make money has emerged among young North Koreans—”quick delivery” services using motorcycles. This type of work is becoming increasingly popular because motorcycles can navigate the country’s poor roads quickly and don’t cost too much to buy.
Motorcycle transport services have taken off recently in the mountainous areas of Unsan and Chonma counties, according to a Daily NK source in North Pyongan province recently.
These regions are home to gold mines where traditional transportation has long been established, so they also got motorcycles relatively early. More people have joined the transportation business using privately owned vehicles, with state-led smuggling bringing used cars from China. But North Korea’s terrible road conditions, especially in mountainous areas, make four-wheel vehicles pretty useless.
Many people in the mountainous parts of Unsan and Chonma counties rely on motorcycles. They’re highly efficient for the price and perfect for getting around quickly in mountain areas full of sharp turns, making them essential transportation for people in those regions.
Most importantly, motorcycles used to be only for middle-aged men, but now many more young people own them, the source said.
From status symbol to business opportunity
“Authority figures used to be the ones riding motorcycles, but now even young people have them,” the source explained. “These young people earn money by taking orders from merchants to deliver items wherever they need to go. More and more people think it looks much cooler to work on a motorcycle than to work as a merchant carrying a bag of goods on your back, so young people with motorcycles have become objects of envy.”
These “quick delivery” services haven’t received official recognition from North Korean authorities yet, but given the continued demand for motorcycles and how rapidly the industry is growing among young people, the market for delivery services will likely expand.
In North Korea, motorcycles come in two types: gasoline engines and rechargeable electric engines. Electric motorcycles are generally slower and less powerful on mountainous terrain, so most people still prefer gasoline-powered ones.
However, faster and more powerful electric motorcycles are entering the country, which could change people’s preferences.
“The price of electric motorcycles depends on battery capacity, which determines their speed and power,” the source said. “Men want to buy faster electric motorcycles even if they cost more, while most women buy the slower ones.”
