North Korean market vendors face days without sales as the nation’s economic crisis deepens. Many vendors struggle to earn a living as soaring prices and shrinking customer wallets disrupt business. Consequently, some vendors have abandoned their stalls entirely, seeking alternative ways to survive.
In Hamhung, vendors report a severe drop in customers, particularly those selling hand-wrapped cigarettes. Prices for these cigarettes have jumped 70 percent, rising from 60,000-150,000 won to 105,000-250,000 won per kilogram. Inflation driven by soaring exchange rates has left buyers unable to afford even small purchases. As a result, vendors see no sales for entire days, increasing anxiety about paying for basic necessities.
The North Korean market crisis extends beyond Hamhung. In Hyesan, Ryanggang province, vendors appear visibly stressed. They chase customers and plead for purchases to maintain their income. The scarcity of cash has forced buyers to request goods on credit, leaving vendors without immediate funds. A vendor in her 50s at Hungso Market recalled three consecutive days without any sales, describing the experience as exhausting and demoralizing.
Many market vendors once relied on their stalls not just for income but also as a path to financial stability. Now, survival dominates their concerns. Families depend on daily earnings to buy food and meet living expenses. Observers note that growing discontent reflects widespread frustration with the economic system and government policies.
“The situation was never this severe a few years ago,” a source explained. “Market income has fallen sharply, and vendors fear they may not survive the upcoming months.” The economic crisis has highlighted the vulnerability of ordinary citizens, who now face both high prices and declining customer activity.
As the North Korean market crisis continues, vendors remain trapped between rising costs, low customer turnout, and financial insecurity. Without structural reforms or economic relief, sources warn that these struggles will worsen. Meanwhile, citizens navigate a fragile system where basic survival increasingly depends on unpredictable market conditions.
