North Korea has been collecting unpaid electricity bills and housing fees across the country, sparking friction between neighborhood watch unit heads and ordinary people.
“In one neighborhood watch unit in Kimjongsuk County, an argument erupted between the unit head pressing a family to pay their electricity bills and housing fees, and the family pushing back, saying they would pay when they could,” a Daily NK source in Ryanggang province said recently. “The argument lasted over an hour, with voices growing louder. Eventually, everyone in the neighborhood watch unit came outside to watch.”
According to the source, the unit head informed the household that it hadn’t paid utilities in six months and demanded immediate payment.
The family responded: “You need money to pay, and it’s nonsense that you simply take our money when we don’t properly receive water or power.”
Household size determines utility bills, and this household—a mother and daughter—had a relatively small bill.
Still, after months of non-payment, the neighborhood watch unit head personally urged them to settle their debt, triggering the confrontation.
In North Korea, people can pay utilities like electricity bills and housing fees through mobile transfers. Those with phones can transfer money to designated accounts, but those without phones or who miss deadlines get visits from neighborhood watch unit heads collecting in person.
Pressure from above creates tension below
Arguments erupt when unit heads come demanding money. As authorities pressure them to collect unpaid bills quickly, unit heads have no choice but to pressure people.
“The neighborhood watch unit heads are getting pressed from above, so they have to push families to pay quickly, and people respond that they don’t have the money right away,” the source said.
Witnesses to such confrontations are divided. Some side with the unit heads, arguing “it’s not like they want to pressure families,” and that it would “simply be better for families to pay what they owe quickly without starting a fight.”
Most people, however, say unit heads should avoid confrontations “because families would pay if they had money,” and should be more understanding of those who cannot afford their bills.
“Electricity bills or housing fees aren’t high—maybe between 5,000 and 8,000 North Korean won (roughly $3-$5)—but they’re hard to pay all at once if you’ve been missing payments,” the source said. “These fights between neighborhood watch unit heads and ordinary people will keep happening.”
January 08, 2026 at 04:56AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)