North Korea (NK) is a nation that everyone has an opinion on, but no one has any experience. Throughout my entire life, this rogue state has been painted with the worst portrays possible, linked with human rights violation, poverty, a closed-off political system that no foreigner can seem to understand, and perhaps most damning a loose trigger finger with nuclear weapons. So, just imagine my surprise when I found a Westerner who hasn’t just entered NK, she’s done it multiple times and now she works for a travel agency in North Korea. This means, I finally have access to a place that previously seemed impenetrable. Does NK only allow a certain number of haircuts? Are blue jeans really banned? What are the poverty levels like? Will Koreans that speak English really be kidnapped and forced to teach English? So many questions, so little time.
After listening this podcast, I realise that some people might feel that I didn’t talk about the political situation enough, that I was too lenient with Zoe, by not pushing her harder to discuss the actions of the NK government. And while I think those criticisms are fair, when I first contacted Zoe, she stated that she generally tries to avoid the most politically sensitive parts of the country. This is probably because of her employment but also because she doesn’t have an interest in those fields. And while I didn’t push these topics, I don’t think I shied away from it either, I do ask questions about the DMZ, how NK sees the South, and what are some things that you can and can’t do or say in the country. Ultimately, I think Zoe’s goal is to humanise the citizens of NK, not as political pawns in a geopolitical struggle with Western democrat and capitalist countries, but people like us.
I hope you enjoy this podcast. A lot of my preconceptions about NK were broken and some of my older exceptions were reinforced. But how often do you get a chance to peer behind the curtain? Enjoy.

Zoe's Instagram: @zoediscoversnk

Zoe's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZoeDiscovers

TIMESTAMP:
(6:05) - Media Exaggeration
(8:50) - Telling your parents about visiting NK
(11:30) - Why the interest in NK?
(19:10) - How do people react to your job?
(23:40) - The reality of NK
(29:55) - South Koreans in NK
(40:00) - Poverty in NK
(50:50) - Political repression and the DMZ
(57:55) - Marriage proposals in NK
(1:04:15) - Crash Landing on You
(1:12:35) - True or False about NK