North Korean-made school supplies push Chinese products out of the markets

Kang Mi Jin (Kang): Provincial athletics clubs from around the country recently participated in training at the Masik Pass ski resort in Kangwon Province. I spoke with one Pyongyang resident who received a work opportunity in Kangwon, and with all of the talk surrounding the recent Olympics and related events occurring at the Masik Pass ski resort, he decided that he wanted to personally visit the site to see what was going on. He said that when he received the job in the Wonsan region, he took the opportunity to stop by Masik Pass.

While it differs by region, school athletics events typically include skating or skiing. The source now lives in Pyongyang but previously lived in Ryanggang Province until he left for military service, and confidently talked about his skiing ability. He said he considers Masik Pass to have good slopes, and compared it to the Samjiyon ski resort. Another reason why he went to Masik Pass was to try the different kinds of coffee at the coffee shop there. 

But in the end, he wasn’t able to ski because of training events being held that day, so he just had a look around instead. 

Kang: I am continuing to hear that domestically-manufactured goods are becoming more common in the markets. A woman in North Hamgyong Province with whom I recently spoke said that the crackdown (by the authorities) on Chinese products has relaxed now after a previously period of intensity. But people remain cautious, knowing that the authorities could restart the crackdown at any moment.

Smugglers and traders continue to keep the markets supplied according to consumer demand. Items from Southeast Asia including toilet paper, wet tissues, and other daily necessities are appearing in the markets, reports a source. But the crackdown on South Korean items continues, with many disappointed after hoping for a relaxation of the restrictions in the wake of improved North-South relations following the Olympics. 

Kang: The authorities likely saw a pattern emerging when interrogating defectors who were caught in China and sent back to the North, finding that most had seen South Korean dramas or other illicit videos, which they in turn would talk about with others. So they moved to prohibit anything South Korean, especially movies and dramas. People caught viewing these are punished harshly. Basically, the authorities are worried about unrest due to ideological change.

Kang: With the spring semester starting at the beginning of this month, school supplies and related products are the hot items right now. I can sense over the phone that life is getting harder for people, but no parent wants their child to attend school without the proper supplies, so merchants selling these items are doing well. 

Spring is always a tough time for North Koreans, but as it is with the passion for education in the South, North Korean parents do everything they can for the sake of their children’s education, despite the difficulties. And the things students must prepare for the new semester are quite numerous, including both school supplies and daily necessities, all adding up to greater costs. 

Kang: The main items are things like pencils, notebooks, pens, and pencil cases. Students must bring their own pencils and notebooks each semester. North Korean-made products are pushing Chinese products of this sort out of the market these days. North Korean pencils are quite popular now, but only a few years ago they were made from poor-quality materials and known for breaking easily and only being available in one color.

North Korean pencils are reportedly made with lighter materials now, which students find more comfortable to use. They also often come printed with various children’s cartoons and characters, which are more appealing to students. So the domestic pencils are preferred over the more expensive Chinese pencils, for example.

Kang: When domestic brand Mindeulle (dandelion) workbooks first appeared on the market, they were sold for about 1,500 KPW each – cheaper than the 2,000 KPW options from China, although they had fewer pages, making both about the same in terms of value. Kim Jong Un ordered the Mindeulle factory to boost production in 2016, leading to mass-production and a wider availability of these items. 

Within two months, the price dropped from 1,500 KPW to 700 KPW for one Mindeulle workbook, and now that schools supplies are popular, the price is down to 400 KPW. But of course the prices of other workbooks vary depending on the brand and quality. Those with more pages or thicker pages go for around 700 KPW now. Foreign language practice books are a bit more expensive as well. Pencils cost around 500 KPW each. 

North Korean pencils used to be only 100 KPW each, but the price has gone up with the better quality and more decorative designs. They can cost 700 KPW, but they are more popular than the ones from China. 

All prices shown in KPW and current as of March 6, 2018. Data: Daily NK