Major markets throughout North Korea have bustled with activity since New Year’s Day. Even in struggling agricultural villages, more consumers are visiting markets stocked with fresh vegetables and seafood.
According to a Daily NK source in North Pyongan province, markets in agricultural regions like Unsan county have been receiving plenty of sandfish, pork, injogogi (artificial meat made from soybeans), and other holiday foods at the start of the new year.
Demand for these items grows every January around the New Year holiday, and this year was no different—merchants recorded strong sales, the source said.
“Sandfish, pork, and injogogi were quite popular as the holiday approached,” the source said. “People firmly believe you need these foods for the holiday, so they sell well even if you raise prices a bit.”
Particularly striking is how market stalls overflow with fresh vegetables despite the dead of winter. With more merchants selling greenhouse produce like cucumbers, lettuce, mushrooms, and tomatoes, sales of these items are climbing too.
Fresh vegetables now sold in North Korean markets include produce from local greenhouse farms, but many have been imported from China and distributed to provincial markets, the source said.
“As recently as last year, people in rural regions couldn’t even imagine eating vegetables like cucumbers or lettuce,” the source said. “Even if you found them, they were just for show. But nowadays, with plenty of supply, prices have dropped somewhat, and more people buy them, even if they’re still a bit expensive.”
State propaganda meets market reality
The authorities have repeatedly claimed they would build large-scale greenhouse farms so people could eat fresh vegetables year-round, and public consumption of vegetables has risen as a result.
“People began believing you could eat vegetables even in winter because the state keeps promoting it,” the source said. “In fact, more vegetables appear in markets, and people no longer think winter vegetables are either expensive or poor quality.”
Market stalls selling seafood have also done brisk business recently. “There are plenty of customers at seafood stalls as more people look for fresh or frozen fish,” the source said. “This is because seafood storage and distribution are better than in the past.”
With so much produce reaching markets and so many people buying compared to previous years, merchants are hoping the momentum continues.
One merchant told the source: “I think I’ll make money if there are plenty of goods and plenty of people in the markets, just like now. I hope this atmosphere continues.”
January 08, 2026 at 12:57PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)