Ministry of People’s Security [MPS] officials and train
attendants in North Korea are actively demanding bribes from illegal travelers,
as people find it increasingly difficult to receive travel permits from the
state, Daily NK has learned.
“There have been a growing number of people
caught for traveling without travel permits and train tickets,” a source in
North Hamkyung Province’s Chongjin City told Daily NK on Monday. “Security officials
overseeing boarding operations and train attendants simply write a ticket to would be-free riders and then leave them alone as long as they pay the fine.”
He added that the fines issued on the Chongjin-Musan train heading to the
border area run around 20,000 KPW [2.5 USD], while those on the Musan-Chongjin line come to approximately 10,000 KPW [1.25 USD]. “You’re taken to the car
for security officials and if you can pay your fine there is no problem, but
if not, you have to get off the train and are stripped of your national
registration card,” he said.
Evading the officers is virtually impossible; security officials who oversee boarding operations are part of Pyongyang’s train security department, with roughly 10 officers–including a captain– onboard a given train, two overseeing each car. The entire department comprises 20 officers in total working in two shifts.
The scale of the bribes is inversely proportionate to the train’s proximity to border regions: the farther one strays from inland areas the more expensive the consequences become. Facing economic setbacks from failure to obtain travel permits to the border areas–an integral aspect of their operations–traders have no other option but to pay hefty kickbacks to officials.
Security officials are not the only contingent latching onto the opportunity to reap large profits. “[The train attendants] conduct frequent ticket inspections as soon as the train departs. Travelers
caught without tickets are fined over 10 times the original price,” the source explained.
Most passengers are traveling merchants, commonly carting bulk luggage tightly packed with goods to move and sell. Attendants, fully aware of this situation, have been slapping a 30,000 KPW [3.75 USD] fee on any customer traveling with a bag over 40kg, according to the source.
“The so-called ‘fines’ that these security
officials and train attendants accept are just for appearances’ sake, merely tools for them to line their pockets,” he explained. “For
one round-trip most officials make about 500,000 [62.5 USD] to 800,000 KPW [100 USD]; on the rare occasion that they make a little less than that they complain, declaring the trip ‘a bust.'”
Residents’ response has largely leaned toward comments implying they would rather pay exorbitant fixed prices and get rid of the travel permit system altogether. That way, they say, “at least there would be no grounds for officials to demand bribes for their own gain.”
*The contents of this article were broadcast to the North Korean people via Unification Media Group.
