By John Q. Hosedrinker 
North Korea is set to open the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone on July 1st, a beach resort designed to attract domestic tourists with the potential to host up to 20,000 visitors. The project, spearheaded by leader Kim Jong Un, aims to boost tourism and potentially generate revenue in the heavily sanctioned nation. While the resort’s ability to attract foreign tourists is uncertain, the country previously opened its borders to some Western visitors before abruptly halting tourism weeks later. It is unclear when the resort will begin welcoming international guests.
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North Korea to open beach resort as Kim Jong Un bets on tourism, and honestly, it’s a wild thought. The idea of a luxurious getaway in a country known for its isolation and, let’s be frank, its human rights record is certainly a juxtaposition. It’s like something out of a darkly humorous movie.
This move, undoubtedly, is an interesting one for a few reasons. For starters, there’s a strong potential for this to be a novelty. Think about it: a vacation spot in North Korea? It’s a story everyone will want to hear about, even if they never plan on going themselves. This inherently brings in a lot of curiosity. This could attract “influencers” as they say, or people wanting to check it off of their bucket list. It’s a “been there, done that” kind of experience for some, and that’s valuable in the modern world. The rich and the curious, they’re the first to try something new.
But who exactly is the target market? Considering that there are 1.4 billion potential tourists in next-door China and the Russian population, there’s a ready-made customer base right there. The perspectives on North Korea are vastly different across the globe, and there’s definitely an audience in Asia that might view this differently than folks in the West. Maybe they can get enough people in that would make the resort a success.
The core concept of tourism, though, is being offered in a place that has absolute control. That makes things complicated. How can you ensure a vacationer’s safety? What happens if you upset the wrong person? What if you accidentally take a photograph that they don’t want you to take? History has shown that tourists have faced serious repercussions for seemingly minor infractions. The idea of an “all-inclusive resort you can’t leave” is probably the perfect description for what this is.
This is a country where the leader’s authority is built on a mythos and complete control over information. The economic conditions have been tough, with black markets initially propping up the economy. The government has attempted to control the black markets by devaluation, and now they are trying to bring tourism in to fix those problems. The underlying issue is that information gets in through the black market, and tourism might not be any different.
What if tourists don’t mind an all-inclusive resort? That’s probably the idea of North Korean controlled tourism. Imagine the kind of experience. You can check in, but you may never check out. Come for the beaches, stay for the… well, you get the idea. The risks are real, and the stories of past incidents should give everyone pause. The thought of being confined, or worse, is definitely not a relaxing thought.
Some people are fascinated by North Korea, and would like to visit, provided they could be 100% safe. Morbid curiosity is certainly a factor, and the idea of seeing a place so different, so isolated, has undeniable appeal. Plus, there is a lot of potential for a resort location in the country, even if it is a bit of a gamble.
Of course, this also raises serious questions about the ethical considerations. Is supporting a regime with such a record a good idea? Is this a cynical move by Kim Jong Un to bring in money while further controlling his population? It’s hard to imagine the living conditions of the citizens could be improved with tourism, as that could create more problems in the process.
But if they did go through with this, it might just become a content creator’s honeypot. The daredevils, thrill-seekers, and the curious folks would flock to experience it. It’s not too hard to imagine that people would go simply to experience the absurdity of it all. It is worth mentioning that people go to Dubai, so this North Korean beach resort might be a real thing.
This could also be a risky proposition because of the current climate of the country. The potential for a new Trump tower has also been mentioned, which could bring some more attention to the country. It might bring in the Russians too.
The resort’s design, as mentioned, could be another problem. Putting a road between the beach and the hotels? That’s just bad design. But, the core idea, the concept of a controlled tourism experience, seems to match the regime perfectly. With all the risks, there could be plenty of morbid curiosity that would make it a huge success. The fact that it’s different will be enough to draw in a crowd, and that’s what tourism is all about.