{
  "id": 17114602,
  "title": "North Korean women spend on leisure amid currency fears",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/north-korean-women-spend-on-leisure-amid-currency-fears",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-29T19:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily NK",
    "slug": "daily-nk",
    "url": "https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korean-women-domestic-tourism-autumn-outings/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "North Korean women with discretionary income are increasingly turning to domestic tourism, particularly during the autumn season in 2026. This trend was once reserved for wealthy entrepreneurs known as \"donju,\" but now even women with regular jobs are taking day trips. A source in North Hamgyong province noted that people previously believed only the wealthy could afford such outings, but now they see them as attainable for those who have some financial flexibility. The trend is most visible among women who face no serious financial hardship, who simply seek a brief escape from their daily routines. Groups of three to four women have been traveling together to popular destinations such as Chongjin, where they engage in leisure activities like bowling, billiards, and strolling along the beach. Kyongsong county, in particular, has gained attention for a newly constructed coastal resort that showcases North Korea's growing tourism industry. Currency concerns are driving this spending, as many women fear a potential future redenomination of the currency, which previously caused economic turmoil in 2009. This anxiety has led to a shift in spending habits, with people opting to enjoy themselves rather than save for an uncertain future.",
  "summary": "Small groups of North Korean women with a little money to spare are embracing domestic tourism this fall. Leisure trips of this kind were once seen as a pastime reserved for the country’s wealthiest traders, but now even women with regular jobs are carving out a day or two in autumn 2026 for outings. “More […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}