North Korea bans vending near Wonsan Kalma resort
North Korean authorities have tightened controls around the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone in 2026, banning street vending near the showcase beach resort. Officials have also warned that anyone who tarnishes the resort’s international image could face expulsion from the city. The crackdown has cost many Wonsan residents their main income, and local officials have […]
North Korea tightened restrictions on vending near the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone in 2026, banning street vendors from operating near the popular beach resort. Officials warned that damaging the resort's international image could result in expulsion for offenders. The decree, issued on October 27, left many local vendors without a source of income.
Residents, who primarily earned money through selling dried seafood and other goods near the zone, have been struggling to make ends meet as a result of the new controls. Local officials have offered no relief to those affected by the ban. The Wonsan city social security department, acting as Wonsan's police force, informed the public about the new rules through neighborhood watch units and offices.
Officials claimed the restrictions aimed to maintain the resort's pristine image, but locals argue the authorities only care about the foreign visitors and wealthy elite who benefit from the luxury resort.
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