Citizens see silver lining in coinciding political events

Although people are always very busy trying to get by and accomplish their own goals, they nonetheless have to endure another year of draconian measures under their government, and it only gets more intense in December with the dreaded annual self-criticism sessions. The harsh truth is that the state simply cannot afford for its people to have free time. 

December 17 marked the conclusion of the ongoing ‘200-Day Battle’ enforced by the authorities, but the occasion was no cause for excitement among the people. It merely represents the passing of 200 days of stress for them, with their self-criticisms due at the end. The citizens are normally stressed about preparations for the anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death in December, but as it coincides this year with the end of the ‘200-Day Battle,’ I am hearing that there it’s being seen as a silver lining of sorts – that there is relief at the chance to get both ordeals out of the way at once.

As our listeners know, Kim Jong Il died on December 17, 2011. Each year since, the government has required citizens to pay their respects, attend events, and display their loyalty. Due to these kinds of requirements, it would not be an exaggeration to say that December is the toughest month of the year for them. 

Just like in the South, people will be closing out the year with parties and gatherings and hoping for an even better year to come. It’s just that there are so many government-related events in December, seemingly one after another. The two most important are again the anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il, and then the birthday of his mother Kim Jong Suk on the 24th. Because these are related to the Kim family, they are both mentally and physically exhausting for the people. On the plus side, with these special events comes greater demand for certain products in the markets and thus greater profits for some people. We are even seeing people invest in part-time work in the markets to sell the items that are in demand.  

For the anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death and the birthday of Kim Jong Suk, people are expected to present flowers at various designated spots of commemoration across the country. So we are seeing many more people selling flowers in the markets this month. I have heard that fresh flowers are being imported in from China in bulk, although domestic flower production is also up as many see the opportunity to make some extra money at the end of the year.

Since almost all people must attend these events and commemorations, there is likely to be a shortage of flowers available at the markets. But as we have come to expect from North Korea’s shrewd and savvy merchants, many are preparing bouquets of artificial flowers in anticipation.

However, according to what I’ve heard from various people, some district and city leaders take note of those who bring artificial flowers to lay at the foot of Kim Jong Il’s bronze statues throughout the country, and deem them as being less loyal to the party than those who bring real flowers. However, most people know the ramifications of not showing enough ‘loyalty,’ so many will scrape together the necessary funds for real flowers. In poorer rural areas, people will go out to the mountains and try to gather naturally growing flowers, then take them home and prepare their own bouquets that way. 

Hanbok (known as joseon ot in North Korea), traditional Korean attire, are also very popular in the markets these days because people are expected to wear them at these events. When I first came to South Korea, I thought there would be many opportunities to wear a hanbok, but in my 7 years here, I’ve only worn one on a single occasion. North Koreans by comparison have many more chances throughout the year to wear a hanbok. Merchants therefore tend to prepare a wide variety of styles and colors of the traditional outfit, especially toward the end of the year. 

In Ryanggang and North Hamgyong provinces right now, a bouquet of zinnias [most frequently used for the purpose] costs around 6,000 KPW for a small bunch and 10,000 KPW for a large bunch. A bouquet of artificial flowers will only cost about 900 KPW. 

Some families make their own flowers out of paper at home. I did this back when I lived there too. There are actually a lot of flower designs that are pretty easy to make yourself, so as long as a person has the materials, it can be an easy solution. For people who are particularly crafty, the end of the year presents a good opportunity to produce a bunch of these to go and sell pretty easily at the market due to their affordability. 

As for the price of a hanbok, it greatly depends on the style and material. Merchants may ask up to 200,000 KPW for one made of velvet, while those made of other materials can cost around 80,000 KPW. There is also the special type that is worn by university students, which is typically more expensive at around 550-600,000 KPW. However, I have heard that most young girls these days prefer Chinese-made hanboks which go for around 1,200,000 KPW. I think it could take quite a while to go through all the different prices and types of hanboks available at the market though.

No, a South Korean hanbok would be prohibitively expensive. Girls in the North have a certain understanding of the superior designs and materials of those from the South, but at around 3,000 USD, it is hard to imagine a regular person ever being able to purchase one. I have heard though that the affluent middle class (donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More) or those working in trade often seek out such South Korean hanbok. If I could, I would send the ones from my own closet to those who cannot afford one. I remain hopeful that someday, regular citizens in the North will easily be able to buy a South Korean hanbok and whatever items they desire in a free market.