Taegye island, North Korea’s largest reclaimed tideland, has become a popular tourist destination for locals, with young people eager to take day trips to the island.
A source in North Pyongan province told Daily NK recently that Taegye island has seen a surge in visitors since August. With the North Korean regime promoting the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, the island has become a more affordable substitute for those unable to visit Wonsan.
“People who can’t go to Wonsan have been visiting nearby Taegye island instead, regarding it as a decent alternative to the famous resort. The visitors tend to be from Sinuiju and other parts of North Pyongan province,” the source said.
Taegye island, located in Cholsan county in North Pyongan province, is North Korea’s largest tidal reclamation project. The work began in the early 1980s and took three decades to complete, covering about 30 square kilometers of land.
While North Korea had planned to turn the reclaimed land into farmland, the actual cultivated area represents only a tiny fraction of the space. Most of the area is still being used to produce salt.
Turning tideland into farmland requires several phases of desalination that are time-consuming and demand careful oversight. As a result, North Korea has been unable to cultivate most of the reclaimed tideland, the source explained.
Budget-friendly alternative to Wonsan
Instead, Taegye island has unexpectedly become a popular destination for picnickers.
“If you want to visit the Kalma coastline during peak season, you’ll need to spend at least $300 per person, but few people have that much money. Instead, young people have been pooling their resources to take a trip to Taegye island in Cholsan county,” the source said.
“Even those who can’t afford to travel to Taegye island right now like to joke about taking a trip there. Because of its newfound popularity, the island has become synonymous with having a good time,” the source said.
Even the island’s specialty—grilled clams—is gaining popularity.
People who have been to Taegye island recommend grilling blood clams, purple butter clams, and mussels and adding them to maeuntang (spicy seafood stew) with a ramen noodle seasoning packet. They urge anyone planning a trip to “make sure to bring a few seasoning packets.”
There are a few restaurants on the island that serve grilled clams. But since eating out is expensive, many people reportedly bring cooking equipment, buy live clams from a local market, and cook them on the spot.
“If you bring along some cooking gear, grill your own clams, and then cook maeuntang, you can enjoy three days of good eating for just $50 per person. That’s why young people have dubbed Taegye a ‘little Kalma,'” the source added.
Tourism potential grows
With so many people visiting Taegye island, some expect more restaurants and recreational facilities to be built there.
“Taegye island is likely to make more money from tourism than from agriculture. Given the influx of people, I wouldn’t be surprised if more tourism facilities go up starting next year,” the source remarked.
