Local newspaper reporters in North Korea are struggling financially despite receiving government-granted vacation rights to use hot springs. Some journalists are even borrowing money to use these benefits, causing domestic disputes at home.<\/p>\n
According to a Daily NK source from South Pyongan Province recently, the Central Committee’s Propaganda and Agitation Department issued directives on March 21 to provide Yangdok Hot Springs cultural vacation rights to provincial newspaper journalists, praising their hard work as “the party’s trumpeters” and encouraging them to take care of their health.<\/p>\n
The South Pyongan Provincial Party Committee’s Propaganda Department immediately relayed these instructions to the provincial newspaper’s party committee. Subsequently, the newspaper’s party committee distributed vacation rights by department, including all staff members from journalists to editors and columnists.<\/p>\n
Starting from Apr. 1, personnel were divided into groups to visit the hot springs for one week each. However, since all expenses must be covered individually, the newspaper journalists have become significantly burdened by financial concerns.<\/p>\n
While the North Korean authorities provided these benefits to journalists who convey the party’s voice, promising sufficient rest, the journalists themselves cannot comfortably go on vacation due to the expense burden.<\/p>\n
The provincial newspaper’s party committee, despite being aware of the financial difficulties, insisted that refusing the benefit provided specially by the central authorities would be disrespectful to the party, demanding that everyone prepare their expenses individually.<\/p>\n
As a result, the source reported that provincial newspaper journalists are frantically running around trying to secure funds in time for their scheduled vacations.<\/p>\n
“The minimum cost for a Yangdek Hot Springs vacation is known to be about $50 per person,” the source said. “Although newspaper journalists’ salaries are higher than those of ordinary factory workers, they aren’t affluent enough to spend $50 in a week, and since salaries aren’t paid regularly every month, securing the money is proving extremely difficult.”<\/p>\n
$50 is enough to buy 120 kilograms of rice in North Korean markets.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, some reporters’ households are experiencing marital disputes over securing funds for the hot springs vacation.<\/p>\n
The journalists’ wives are expressing dissatisfaction with their husbands spending expensive vacations, complaining, “We’re already struggling economically, so how can it be a good thing to take money that could feed the whole family for a month and spend it on heating your body at a hot spring?”<\/p>\n
Some journalists who cannot resolve the financial issues even within their families are reportedly approaching their sources, such as enterprise party secretaries and managers, asking, “I’ll write you a good article if you help me with money for my vacation,” and even reaching out to relatives and neighbors.<\/p>\n