Anna Hartz
Exclusive Resort in North Korea Drains Resources from Locals
When most people think of a sunny beach holiday, they picture Spain’s Costa Blanca or the packed sands of Benidorm.
North Korea now wants to change that image, at least for a select few. The country has built a seaside resort in Wonsan that looks like it belongs on the Mediterranean coast.
The location once served as a missile launch site. Today it has beach hotels, pools, restaurants, and waterparks, writes Express.
Foreign Tourists Banned
The project was inspired by Spain. Reports say Kim Jong-un sent a team to Benidorm in 2017 to study its style.
The result is what some have called the “North Korean Benidorm.” Foreign visitors are almost entirely banned.
Only Russians can book a stay. Most guests are wealthy North Koreans or members of the ruling class.
Tourists describe the resort as feeling like a film set. Visitors are told to keep smiling, clap, and wave for cameras.
People are said to be chosen for how they look and then guided through staged activities. Some joked they felt like extras in a movie rather than paying guests.
Even for North Koreans, a holiday here is expensive. A simple restaurant meal can cost $10. A waterskiing session costs $3.
That is about the same as the average monthly salary. Many families cannot afford to take part in activities. Those who can are often government officials, Pyongyang residents, or the country’s new rich.
Locals Are Down-Prioritized
Wonsan residents say the resort gets priority for electricity and water. Ordinary households often go days without running water.
Power cuts are common. The contrast between the luxury for tourists and the shortages for locals is drawing criticism.
Experts say this goes against Kim Jong-un’s public promises to reduce the excesses of the elite.
Some believe he knowingly diverted resources to complete the resort. Others think he may not have been told about the impact on residents.
North Korean leaders have a habit of checking new buildings personally. Kim, like his father before him, is known to turn on random taps and light switches during visits to make sure everything works.
For Wonsan’s residents, the lights and water may work for the cameras, but not always for daily life.
