Kim Jong Un Wants North Koreans to Have FUN!

North Korea is building more cafes, malls, resorts and amusement facilities as Kim Jong Un pushes for greater domestic spending.

Why Is North Korea Suddenly Building Cafes, Resorts and Amusement Parks?

North Korea is known for strict government control. But in recent years, the country has been building more coffee shops, shopping centres, resorts, waterparks, ski facilities and amusement parks. So why is leader Kim Jong Un encouraging more spending and entertainment?

From Crisis to Informal Markets

North Korea faced a major economic crisis and famine during the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which had supported its economy. As the government struggled to provide enough goods, informal markets grew. People began buying and selling outside the official system.

These markets became important for everyday life, but they also made people less dependent on the government.

A New Focus on Spending

Since around 2022, North Korea has increasingly promoted restaurants, shopping centres, exercise facilities and tourist attractions.

Analysts say the government may be trying to bring more money from informal markets into state-controlled businesses. Electronic payment systems have also become more common, giving the government greater visibility into spending.

More Resorts and Entertainment

One major example is the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which opened in 2025. The resort has hotels, beaches and recreational facilities and was designed to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors.

North Korea has also developed luxury hotels, ski resorts, swimming pools, waterparks, restaurants and sports facilities in different parts of the country. Imports from China show a similar trend. North Korea's imports of massage equipment and treadmills have increased sharply, while more amusement equipment has also been imported. More than 3 tonnes of bumper cars were imported from China between January 2025 and July 2026.

Why Is North Korea Doing This?

Experts believe the government wants people to spend more money through official, state-controlled businesses instead of informal markets. It may also help support the economy at a time when North Korea faces international sanctions.

But these new facilities are not equally available to everyone. People in Pyongyang and those with higher incomes have greater access to them.

North Korea's growing leisure industry is therefore about more than entertainment. It may also be part of Kim Jong Un's effort to control spending, strengthen the official economy and reduce dependence on informal markets.