North Korean authorities have launched nationwide inspections of retreats and sanatoriums, targeting drug use and prostitution. A source in North Hamgyong province told Daily NK on Monday that prosecutors and police began rigorous inspections mid-month, causing anxiety among low-level officials.
“These inspections were triggered by reports sent to the Central Committee about illegal activities such as drug sales, drug use and prostitution at retreats and sanatoriums. The inspections are focused on cracking down on illegal activities by users of these facilities,” the source said.
According to the source, North Korea has established retreats and sanatoriums throughout the country as a place for officials of state organizations and employees of large companies to rest and recover from illnesses.
While the resorts and sanatoriums are nominally run by the state, they are effectively run by individuals, the source said. Since the state does not cover the operating costs, the officials in charge of the facilities either sell the operating rights to individuals or raise the operating fees from their own resources.
The state provides companies with free tickets to use these facilities, but most facilities also sell tickets to individuals. Daily NK understands that these tickets are sold for 20,000 to 40,000 North Korean won (about $1.25 to $2.5).
Since retreats and sanatoriums have to cover their own expenses, they often set up special “VIP rooms” that they make available to donju (wealthy entrepreneurs) and other wealthy individuals. These facilities try to maximize their profits by selling deluxe services that are not available with the free tickets given to corporations.
The problem is that these VIP rooms are often the site of illegal behavior, including drug use and prostitution. The source said that these private rooms have become the illicit playgrounds of the wealthy and powerful.
Retreats and sanatoriums have been inspected in the past. But since the latest round of inspections was prompted by reports to the Central Committee, the source said, anyone caught now is likely to face a harsher punishment than ever before.
“The word on the street is that the authorities want to send a message with these inspections, and that the punishment will go beyond simply firing the guilty. That’s why officials at retreats and sanatoriums are quaking in their boots,” the source said.
For ordinary people, however, there is hope that the inspections will open up access to facilities that have largely been the preserve of officials and donju.
“There is a perception that only officials use sanatoriums. Residents of Kyongsong county don’t have the opportunity to visit the Kim Jong Suk sanatorium at the local hot springs. That’s the kind of place where officials and donju go, not ordinary people,” the source said.
“People say it would be nice if ordinary people could bathe and relax at the state-run retreats and sanatoriums. But it’s widely believed that these inspections will be tainted by bribes, as they always are.”
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
October 30, 2024 at 11:45AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)