DPRK Forum

Update: My brain does not work. I forgot to divide by 12. Now I really look like an idiot.  Still, about $1458 is a lot for ramen.

This posting may seem trivial to many who may not live in a repressive regime such as the one ruling North Korea. I also figured such a thing as ramen noodles as trivial, and a tasty snack when I do not feel like cooking. Ramen noodles are merely an after-thought and something I simply throw in the shopping basket at the supermarket. That was until I ran into this anecdotal piece from the DailyNK. And like a lot of DailyNK articles, this one got me thinking, even though the food situation is well-known to be in dire straits in the DPRK.

I never tried Shin Ramyun before, but I have tried many others such as Top Ramen, Cup-O-Noodles and the list goes on and on. From the Wikipedia (cringe) entry, it gave some good indications on how popular ramen noodles are, the supposed prices, and so on. OK, so Ramen is cheap and used everywhere, so what?

From the DailyNK entry:

The source explained the economic backdrop to the rise of Shin Ramyun in the jangmadang, “Currently, cup or instant bowl ramen cost in the region of 3,500 won in the jangmadang, while package ramen is around 2,500.”

Alright, so according to the same article:

2,500 won is approximately half the monthly salary of a North Korean worker. However, among officials and the affluent classes, the social status associated with consuming luxurious, hard-to-get and expensive South Korean Shin Ramyun rather than common Chinese ramen influences purchasing decisions. Needless to say, average citizens also show a great appetite for consuming South Korean Shin Ramyun whenever they have some extra cash. As a result, Shin Ramyun has acquired the nickname “money ramen!”

Of course, it does depend on where you work, but you get the idea. Now I sat here and considered my own salary, which is not all that much, but wondered if the average salary in the United States is say (I will toss a number), $35,000, I cannot imagine a package of ramen costing $1458. I am not an economist (and somebody can help me better understand the numbers), but $1458 for something is beyond the reach of most normal Americans. Now I can see why Shin Ramyun is given as gifts to gain favors, make some extra cash, or as a status symbol.

So here I am putting myself in their shoes (to the best of my ability), and trying to contemplate this. In North Korea, there are no supermarkets in every town. Most people do not own a car, a fridge, television set, microwave or the things even poor people like me take for granted everyday.

I also cannot imagine having to go to some dark corner and whispering to somebody, “Pssst… I would really want some Ramen. Got any?”

“Sure thing, boss, do you have the cash?”

*Hands over a brown paper bag filled with $1458

“Unmarked bills right?”

“Right.”

*Looks around to see if anybody is looking and quickly slips the package of Ramen in my hands

“You never saw me.”

I guess in North Korea, this may be marketization at work, but it also seems to me if one does not supplement their incomes in some way, people cannot survive. Perhaps this is why the authorities look the other way, and the regime, even trying to clamp down on this market activity, may be losing control. Money indeed does talk, and bullshit definitely walks, no matter where you live.

Yes, I am also certain the markets have more to do than just curly noodles, but something as trivial as ramen noodles in my own country being a big commodity in North Korea does make me think. Also, during the Cold War, things like soap, shoes, jeans, and other light industry goods were in demand on the black market. According to PBS’s Communism: The Promise and Reality, talks to a Russian woman who had to spend a whole months salary for some blue jeans.

I think I will end this crazy post now. Just tossing that out there for you folks.

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Tags: Economics, Food and Aid, North Korea