North Korean Households Turn to Markets as 30,000-Won State Wages Miss 800,000-Won Food Costs
Updated
Updated · Daily NK · Jul 23
North Korean Households Turn to Markets as 30,000-Won State Wages Miss 800,000-Won Food Costs
2 articles · Updated · Daily NK · Jul 23
Summary
30,000 won a month in official pay covers only a fraction of the more than 800,000 won one family needs for monthly food, according to Daily NK interviews with workers, vendors and donju inside North Korea.
Markets and side jobs now fill that gap: vendors make about 20,000 to 100,000 won a day in sales, with 15% to 20% net profit—enough for a few market days to match or beat a full month of state wages.
State jobs still matter because quitting can trigger scrutiny as unemployment, so many residents keep workplace registration while earning real income through trade, hauling, repairs, farming and other informal work.
Authorities are managing rather than banning that activity, collecting market fees and letting traders or donju operate through registered stalls or state-linked institutions that take a cut of earnings.
Goods supply and transport have improved modestly, but rising import-linked prices, weak purchasing power and fear of crackdowns still leave households and private operators in an unstable system.