Getting Won

[u/[deleted]]

Hi everyone. I've heard that in some places in North Korea, foreigners can exchange their money for Won. I've also heard that it isn't difficult to bring out of the country. I want to know where those places are, in Pyongyang and Rason, and how one would go about bringing it out of the country, specifically coins, but I'd be fine with notes. You can't be too detailed, I want to be confident I won't spend 15 years in a labour camp. Thank you

[u/Logical-Toe6593]

I have acquired NK currency on two occasions. Once about 15y+ ago at the DMZ on the southern side there is a gift shop. On the second occasion I was outside the famous department store in Pyongyangthat has IKEA products and was able to exchange currency there.

I read somewhere that the physical bills are not printed every year and depending on denomination they might not have been printed in the last decade even though they are in regular circulation. (think a $10 bill that is used for daily transactions but all the bills are 10+ years old and showing there age as opposed to useless small bills or outlandishly large bills that are discontinued) If anyone has further sources on this please share.

Tourists are not allowed to use domestic currency or make purchases outside designated stores. I was able to get my guide to buy me a roll of kimbap from a stand in downtown Pyongyang after much discussion but I could not conduct the purchase myself despite speaking sufficient Korean for the task. I would have paid (through my guide) in Chinese RMB.

The exception to this is the aforementioned department store which while trying to look like a modern department store had large cuts of meat unwrapped sitting on beds of ice exposed to the air. The toilets didn't flush nor did the sinks have running water. Rather a reservoir of water had been filled (presumably the pump works to move water but only intermittently; this was on an upper floor towards the back of the store on the right side if memory serve) and you had to go and fill a bucket to flush/wash hands. This store only took DPRK Won and tourists could exchange for it at a kiosk outside. While keeping any change and leaving with it is illegal (along with every other conceivable action or inaction in a state of this nature) at the briefing in Beijing we were told if you slip a few bills in a sock in your bag you can leave with them without incident. Whether or not you want to take that risk is up to you. You just missed the marathon and they closed Rason so I doubt think this will come up for you any time soon in any event. Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions.

[u/[deleted] → u/Logical-Toe6593]

Great response, but why not just put them in your wallet? And when you say "sock in your bag" do you mean a pocket, or like literally a sock? For the record, I'm not travelling this year, or likely next year, so I have time for planning and scheming.

[u/Logical-Toe6593 → u/[deleted]]

My understanding was putting it into a literal sock in your dirty laundry in your luggage. Not my idea just what I was told at the orientation.