As car culture spreads across North Korea, a new industry is booming: for-profit car washes. Drivers are desperate to keep their vehicles spotless, knowing that dirty cars can mean hefty fines at checkpoints.
“Some donju in Hamhung have recently been investing in car washes. Many are opening because more cars are on the road and dirty vehicles aren’t allowed in the city,” a source in South Hamgyong province told Daily NK recently, referring to North Korea’s wealthy entrepreneurs.
Traffic regulations prohibit vehicles with filthy exteriors from entering Pyongyang or major provincial cities. Even drivers returning from long trips must clean their cars before entering urban areas or face fines.
Those caught with unwashed vehicles must complete time-consuming paperwork, including written statements, and pay fines that can reach hundreds of thousands of North Korean won. To avoid the hassle, many drivers make car washes a priority before reaching checkpoints.
Despite the sharp increase in vehicles on North Korean roads, car washes remain scarce, leaving drivers frustrated. Enterprising individuals have filled the gap by opening informal operations, hiring day laborers to wash cars on rented or purchased lots.
In Hamhung, where traffic is growing heavier, many people have recently entered the car wash business. Most operate on the city’s outskirts—partly to avoid authorities, since running for-profit businesses without state permission can be punished as “non-socialist activity.”
The peripheral locations also solve a practical problem: wastewater disposal. Only the outskirts offer space to handle the runoff from washing vehicles, the source explained.
Day labor opportunity for the struggling
The car wash boom has created an income source for some of North Korea’s most financially vulnerable people.
“Donju in the car wash business pay workers between 7 and 10 Chinese yuan (roughly $1-$1.40) per day, regardless of how many vehicles they wash. That’s enough to buy over a kilogram of rice—actually better than daily earnings at the jangmadang. So people with tight finances want these jobs,” the source said, referring to North Korea’s markets.
In Hamhung, washing a vehicle costs at least 20 Chinese yuan (about $2.75). Prices can reach 60 yuan (roughly $8.25) depending on the vehicle’s size and condition.
“While some days bring no customers, there are typically two vehicles a day. That gives owners steady income and helps workers support themselves,” the source said.
North Korea has imported more vehicles through state-condoned smuggling and last year legalized individual vehicle ownership. The result is a growing number of unofficial automotive businesses that let donju accumulate capital while providing disadvantaged people with day labor opportunities.
But as privately operated car washes proliferate, some worry the regime will start making examples of these businesses.
“Since the car wash industry is currently expanding, police may crack down with unannounced raids. We’ll have to see how long these operations can keep turning a profit,” the source said.
January 06, 2026 at 10:45PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)