Are There Fast Food Restaurants In North Korea
It may be a surprise to most people to find out that there are fast food restaurants located in North Korea. Insert image. Despite the country’s general lack of technology and worldwide reputation for being a repressive regime, the government has been making great strides to incorporate more modern amenities into their society, including the introduction of American fast food restaurants. It may be inconceivable to some that such a nationally closed off nation could have a McDonald’s, but it is true.
In a period of five years, from 2009 to 2014, the North Korean government opened about thirty fast food restaurants. Many of them are located in Pyongyang, the capital city. The restaurants have names like KFC and Pizza, and the menu items include burgers, pizzas, and fried chicken. While the interiors of these fast food outlets have been built to match those of the American franchises from which they borrow their styles, the availability of ingredients is much more limited. Because of the country’s economic state, supplies are limited and some items are much more expensive than they are in other countries.
It’s important to remember that North Korea is still considered to be a totalitarian nation with one of the most strict political systems in the world. Despite the country’s dearth of basic human liberties, the government has sought to modernize the traditional life people live there by allowing some aspects of western culture to infiltrate. This includes the opening of these fast food outlets, which not only offer a hint of the outside world but might also help to garner more international recognition, both financial and political, for North Korea.
Prior to the opening of these restaurants, there were some fast food outlets in the country, but they were not as popular, nor did they have the same level of appeal or international recognition as the foreign outlets. The new restaurants offer something that North Koreans can enjoy and many have enjoyed the foods offered in these outlets. Although the arrivals of the foreign restaurants have been welcomed by many, the enforcement of strict and sometimes arbitrary policies in the restaurants by the authorities has limited their appeal.
In general, the locals are aware of the foreign restaurants but seldom have the money to patronize them. The menu items may be cheap in other countries but they are still beyond the reach of the ordinary North Koreans, and the cost of eating out is simply too high for most. As a result, the restaurants are mainly frequented by wealthy expats and foreign business executives who can afford the prices.
Despite the limited audience, the fast food outlets have become a popular destination for some and a source of fascination for others, particularly those from other countries. The fact that such “Western” establishments exist in a society as “closed off” as North Korea has come as a surprise to many and is a sign that the government may be more open to foreign influences than previously thought.
Political Impact
The presence of American fast food outlets in North Korea is often seen as an indication of the international recognition the regime has been seeking. As the political atmosphere in North Korea has been particularly tense since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the presence of American brands in the country has been viewed as a sign of progress and a way of establishing closer ties with the U.S. and other western countries.
The fast food restaurants also provide an example of how North Korea has been trying to change its image by introducing aspects of western culture into the mainstream. The most obvious example is the opening of fast food restaurants that serve familiar foods, such as hamburgers and pizza. This move has helped attract more foreign tourists, with many now visiting Pyongyang specifically to sample the local fast food outlets.
The opening of the restaurants also serves to highlight the economic development in North Korea, as it shows that the country is capable of accommodating foreign tastes. The opening of the fast food outlets has been viewed as a sign that the country is changing, and that the population is becoming more accepting of outside influences.
The influx of western food chains has also been seen as a sign of progress, with many people believing that the restaurants will eventually become more popular and lead to a greater number of tourists visiting the country. This could open up North Korea to the outside world more than ever before.
Results of Advent of Fast Food Outlets
The arrival of foreign fast food restaurants in North Korea has had a surprising impact on the country. The restaurants have provided a much needed respite from the staid local cuisine, and they have also provided employment opportunities for the local population. The restaurants have also helped to bring a bit of the outside world to North Korea.
The advent of these outlets has also been beneficial for the government, as the increased presence of foreign brands in the country serves to legitimize the regime in the eyes of the international community. The restaurants have also served as a way to showcase the economic development of North Korea, as the country is now able to offer foreign food products to its citizens.
The presence of foreign fast food outlets has also led to an increase in tourism in the country. The restaurants serve as an attraction for visitors, and many foreign tourists now visit Pyongyang primarily to sample the western food offerings. In addition, the restaurants have also helped to boost the number of locals visiting them, as they provide an opportunity to experience a taste of the outside world.
The arrival of fast food outlets in North Korea has also had a more indirect impact on the country, as the government has been able to showcase the modernization of North Korea through the presence of these restaurants. The restaurants are seen as a sign of progress and a signal to the international community that North Korea is slowly but steadily becoming more open.
Social Impact
The presence of fast food outlets in North Korea has had a positive social impact on the country. The restaurants have helped to introduce a new sector of employment for locals, as many of them have taken up jobs in the outlets. The jobs may not be highly paid, but they have provided many people with an opportunity to earn a steady income.
In addition, the presence of these restaurants has helped to introduce a degree of novelty to the local population, as many of them have been able to sample foreign cuisine for the first time. This has been particularly beneficial for younger generations, as they are now more accustomed to and more tolerant of outside culture.
The presence of the outlets has also helped to bring people together, as they now provide a place where locals can congregate and enjoy the new food offerings. The restaurants have become a popular destination for locals, who, despite the high prices of the items on the menu, often visit the outlets to sample the cuisine.
The arrival of the fast food outlets has also helped to bring North Koreans into contact with foreign culture. For many North Koreans, the food served in the outlets is something new and exciting and offers a chance to experience the western world without having to leave the country.
Conclusion
The introduction of fast food restaurants to North Korea has been viewed by many as a sign of progress and a way of introducing the outside world to the locals. The restaurants have provided employment opportunities, opened up a sector of tourism, and, most importantly, shown the world that North Korea is, to a degree, open to foreign influences. The restaurants are popular amongst both the locals and foreign visitors, and it is likely that more will be opened in the future.
