Although controls on street trading have recently been relaxed in North Korea, it is reported that the threat to street vendors’ livelihood remains. Sources say that this is an aftereffect of the rapid decline in the purchasing power of residents as prices rise due to the rise in foreign currency exchange rates in North Korea.
A Daily NK Hamgyongbuk-do source said on the 8th, “Recently, it seems that the crackdown on residents who do street business around Chongjin City’s markets or alleys has been eased. As a result, residents are selling goods on the streets without worrying about being cracked down, but sales volume is lower than usual.” “It is too low compared to the current income, so the difficulty of making a living has not been overcome,” he said.
In North Korea, residents who cannot afford to buy stalls and cannot find a place in the marketplace, that is, economically disadvantaged residents, make a living through street vending, which the North Korean authorities have long regarded as an anti-socialist act that disrupts social order and has been cracking down on it. .
If the women who were responsible for the family’s livelihood did not engage in street trading, the entire family would go hungry, so they moved from place to place to avoid the eyes of security guards and inspectors and continued their business activities.
However, since the middle of last month, crackdowns on street vendors have decreased noticeably in Chongjin City, and street vendors are said to be less worried about being cracked down. Accordingly, it is said that currently, street vendors selling vegetables, fruits, and food are lined up on the streets around markets in downtown Cheongjin, such as Sunam Market and Pohang Market.
However, since the goods are not sold, the street vendors’ livelihood difficulties are not being resolved. The source said that this is because overall prices have risen due to the rise in foreign currency exchange rates, leading to a decrease in purchasing power.
In fact, the current won-yuan exchange rate in the North Korean market has soared to the 2,000 won range, and the won-dollar exchange rate has soared to the mid-10,000 won range.
Regarding this, the source said, “With the dollar and yuan exchange rates skyrocketing, prices are also rising, and as fall approaches, residents are making food with the grains and vegetables they have planted in the fields, so things are becoming scarce. “The number of residents willing to buy has decreased significantly,” he said. “Even if they come to buy something, they only buy so little, so street vendors are not making a lot of money.”
According to the source, a resident in his 50s who sells cooking oil on the streets of Chongjin said, “As the exchange rate rises, the prices of almost all products have risen, so no one comes to buy them.” Even selling 100g was a struggle, so I ended up with a spider web in my mouth. “It is difficult to earn even 1,000 won, so I am at a loss as to how I will survive,” he said, sighing deeply.
Also, a resident in his 40s who sells bean sprouts on the street said, “It’s not easy to make a living, but the exchange rate started to rise a few months ago, and the prices of all products have risen these days.” “Business is worse than before,” he lamented.
When the crackdown on street business was severe, street vendors were able to sell goods and make porridge even while being chased, but now, even though they can do business with peace of mind, street vendors unanimously say that they are not making a profit.
The source said, “As life continues to become more difficult, there are many people who have lost hope due to the dire circumstances of making a living.”
Source: www.dailynk.com
