After five years since the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), North Korea has resumed foreign tourism, and a well-known German influencer visiting North Korea for the first time has shared their travel experience.
German influencer Luka Fertmenges, 23, said in an interview with the U.S. economic media Business Insider on the 27th (local time) that they witnessed the unvarnished signs of poverty in North Korea and shared specific travel impressions. He toured North Korea for five days and four nights.
He noted that what surprised him most in North Korea was the blatant display of poverty. He mentioned that while touring the Rason Economic Zone, many people were still using oxen and carts. He described the area as poorer and more closed off than Pyongyang.
He also reported that particularly, people did not hide their homes with curtains to prevent tourists from seeing inside. Travel guides, instead of concealing the poverty, only advised not to take pictures because the houses were old and shabby, but did not actively prevent photographing.
Fertmenges interpreted that North Koreans do not deny poverty; rather, they simply do not like it when people take pictures that present it as if it were the sole truth.