The Allure of the Forbidden: Why People visit North Korea

The Allure of the Forbidden: Why People visit North Korea

Chiora Bonkas

25-2 Yonsei PSCORE

Whitehead, K. (2013, December 2). What can tourists expect when visiting North Korea? CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/north-korea-tourist-protocol

The Allure of the Forbidden: Why People Visit North Korea

North Korea, often called the “Hermit Kingdom”, stands as one of the most secretive, isolated, and heavily controlled nations on Earth. Yet, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now again as it slowly reopens, thousands of tourists have chosen it as a travel destination. That raises a curious question: what drives people to visit a country where nearly every movement is supervised and every interaction is orchestrated?

The answer lies in a mix of curiosity, nostalgia, natural beauty, and the undeniable thrill of crossing into the unknown.

A Short History of Tourism in North Korea

Tourism in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has never been simply about leisure. From the start, it has served as a tool of propaganda and diplomacy. In the early years, visitors mostly came from friendly socialist nations and developing countries. Their tours were tightly scripted to highlight the country’s revolutionary history, the achievements of the Kim family, and the ideals of the Juche philosophy.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Kim Il Sung began envisioning a more structured tourism sector. Scenic areas such as Mt. Kumgang, Mt. Paektu, and cities like Pyongyang and Kaesong were promoted as “revolutionary heritage” sites. Tourism infrastructure improved modestly, though always under strict state control. In a speech, Kim Il Sung mentioned that “If Nampo is called a city for foreign trade, Wonsan can be called an international holiday resort.”

By the late 2010s, tourism had quietly become a growing industry. In 2018, North Korea reportedly received around 200,000 foreign visitors, and in 2019, more than 350,000 Chinese tourists alone crossed the border. That momentum came to a halt in 2020, when the country sealed itself off during the pandemic. Since 2023, however, the DPRK has begun reopening in limited ways, unveiling projects like the Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort and cautiously readmitting small groups of foreign visitors.

Why Go There? The Appeal of North Korea

For many travelers, North Korea represents the ultimate paradox: a destination both forbidden and fascinating. Few visit expecting comfort or freedom. Instead, they are drawn by curiosity, contrast, and the sense of stepping into a world that time seems to have forgotten.

One of the strongest motivators is simply curiosity; a desire to see behind the curtain of what is often called “the Hermit Kingdom.” For many, the idea of stepping into a world largely frozen in time is irresistible. Travelers describe Pyongyang’s empty highways, uniform architecture, and choreographed parades as feeling like entering a time warp. Visitors are drawn to witness the contrasts between propaganda and reality and to experience daily life, however curated, inside a country so often depicted as mysterious and forbidding in global media. As one traveler told The New York Times, it is “fascinating because it’s so different.”

For others, the attraction is tinged with historical nostalgia and emotional connection. Chinese tourists who make up the vast majority of visitors sometimes describe North Korea as reminiscent of China’s own socialist past. The slow pace, collectivist slogans, and 20th-century aesthetic offer a glimpse into an earlier era that has largely disappeared elsewhere.

In addition to ideology and nostalgia, nature plays a surprisingly significant role in attracting tourists. North Korea offers striking natural landscapes, including the volcanic peaks of Mt. Paektu, the scenic valleys of Hyangsan, and the coastal beauty of Wonsan and Mt. Kumgang. Because much of the country remains undeveloped, these areas appear relatively untouched by industrialization. For travelers seeking serene, uncrowded spaces, this raw environment adds another layer of fascination.

Finally, there is a psychological dimension: the allure of the forbidden. To visit North Korea is to do something few people dare. It satisfies the adventurous impulse to go where others cannot, to cross boundaries both literal and symbolic. Some tourists even describe it as “ticking a box”; a rare addition to a global traveler’s list of destinations. In a world where almost every corner feels reachable, North Korea stands out as a place that still resists easy access.

In short, North Korea’s appeal is multifaceted. It combines political curiosity, historical sentiment, aesthetic fascination, and a deep human attraction to what is hidden or forbidden. The experience promises not leisure or relaxation, but also a chance to confront one’s preconceptions and witness life in one of the world’s last closed societies.

The Risks: Otto Warmbier and the Dangers of Defiance

But this allure comes with real danger. The case of Otto Warmbier, an American student who was arrested in Pyongyang in 2016, remains a chilling reminder. Accused of trying to steal a propaganda poster, Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. After 17 months in custody, he was returned to the United States in a coma and died days later. His story is a stark warning that actions trivial elsewhere can carry devastating consequences in North Korea, where laws are vague and punishment is often severe.

Ethical and Practical Dilemmas

Visiting North Korea is not just an adventure. It is an ethical and political tightrope. Every tour is curated to promote the government’s narrative. Travelers see spotless monuments, model schools, and “ideal” workplaces, but little of the hardship ordinary citizens face. This carefully constructed reality deliberately conceals the widespread hardship and systemic human rights abuses faced by ordinary citizens.

The biggest ethical concern has to do with money. Tourism provides the government with a rare and important source of foreign currency. This money generally does not benefit the North Korean people but instead directly funds the state apparatus responsible for their oppression. Beyond supporting the military, tourism revenue can also help maintain political prison camps (known as kwan-li-so), the country’s widespread surveillance network, and the harsh limits placed on freedom of speech, assembly, and religion. In this sense, visiting North Korea can unintentionally contribute to the very human rights abuses that tourists are often shielded from seeing.

Freedom of movement is another issue. Tourists are accompanied by government-approved guides at all times and cannot explore independently. Internet access is restricted, photography is controlled, and casual interactions with locals are rare. For many, this lack of spontaneity can be frustrating and claustrophobic.

Then there is the question of safety. Even minor infractions like removing a newspaper with a leader’s photo or taking an unauthorized picture can result in detention as shown in the case of Otto Warmbier. Governments around the world, including the U.S., strongly advise against travel to the DPRK.

Current Tourism Vision

Under Kim Jong Un, tourism has become a key part of North Korea’s efforts to rebrand itself. Major projects like the Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort and new ski facilities reflect the regime’s desire to showcase modernity and normalcy. The regime has been explicit about transforming places like Wonsan into “world-level tourist resorts.”

Beyond appearances, these initiatives serve practical goals. Tourism provides much-needed foreign currency, especially amid sanctions and offers a soft-power tool to shape how outsiders perceive the country. The focus remains largely on Chinese and Russian markets, though specialized Western tours are cautiously allowed.

Overall, visiting North Korea is an adventure, a political act, and a gamble. For some, it is a bucket-list item; for others, a chance to reconnect with history and culture or a way to confront mystery. But every visit is framed by the presence of the state: in what you are allowed to see, who you are allowed to talk to, what narrative is presented. That dual reality (the pull of the unknown vs the power of control) is what makes tourism in North Korea so fascinating but also so ethically fraught.

References

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