[imText1]In North Korea, the new-rich, who acquired their fortunes through illegal activities such as the black market and drug trafficking, now have housemaids.
‘Good Friends’, an organization for aiding North Korea, revealed in a newsletter on the 14th that, “The North Korean upper-class families usually live in the homes valued at between 27 million and 40 million won and have beds valued at 300,000 won($100) and furniture at 800,000 won($267)”, and that “some have housemaids in their houses”.
Furthermore, the upper-class families furnish their homes with VCRs, vacuum cleaners and electronic heaters besides six home appliances (Refrigerators, sewing machines, TVs, washers, recording machines and electronic fans) – ammenities that the majority of North Koreans dream of owning only once in their lifetimes.
It added, “They spend 30,000 won in purchasing rice, pork, egg, Alaska pollack, and various fruits and vegetables a month, and their total monthly expenditure amounts to over one million won”.
It explained, “In the case of North Hamkyung province, their main sources of income is generally the black market, drug trafficking, curio dealing, and wholesale of food and industrial products by car to Najin or Chonjin”. it was further stated that, “To gain the necessary support, generally they closely connect with officials working at judicial authorities”.
According to the newsletter, however, because most North Koreans barely maintain subsistence levels, the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing.
Kotjebi, the weak and the elderly are increasing
It explained that, “The gap between the rich and the poor varies according to areas, countries or cities”, and that “This gap results from the distributional differences produced by products of each factory, operations, electricity situation, operational conditions of trains or cars, and demand situations of food, industrial products and necessities according to areas”.
Of the cities, Pyongyang is the most advanced city, Sariwon, Hamhung, Chongjin, Hoiryeong, Rajin, Shinuiju, Pyongsung are the second advanced cities, and the other cities are at the level of subsistence.
In the case of North Hamkyung province, the upper middle class lives in houses valued at 1,500,000 won to 4 million won, and spend 100,000 won to 150,000 won on rice, pork, eggs, and some alcohol each month. Their main sources of income are the black markets, with further help from relatives living in China, or business.
The low class generally lives on rice mixed with corn, corn noodles, and vegetable soup. Their expenditure a month totals around 30,000 to 40,000 won.
Their main sources of income are trifling jobs such as vegetable sales, house repair or cleaning night soil. Although they want to have their own businesses, they have no money with which to start. Salaries are their only source of income, yet they are often not paid on time.
The lowest class of the elderly, the disabled and Kotjebi (Street children) are barely able to survive. They often sleep in buildings, under bridges, in garbage dumps, or on riversides. Recently, the number of people among the lowest class has been increasing.
