Residents in North Korea are criticizing Kim Jong Un for investing in the drinking water and beer markets as they understand that the regime’s intention is to earn more money from the residents.
Kim Jong Un issued orders to establish spring water production plants across the country after inspecting the Ryongaksan spring water plant in Pyongyang in September last year.
“People are widely commenting that Kim Jong Un’s intention to sell water is analogous to the classic folk story of Kim Seon Dal, [a clever swindler most famous for selling the public, free water from the Taedong River],” a source in North Pyongan Province recently told Daily NK.
“The story of ‘Kim Seon Dal’ was first circulated by Pyongsong merchants and spread by word of mouth. Now even the children are talking about it. A lot of people talk about how from old times there has been a saying that water traders profit the most,’ and ‘the regime must need money due to the economic sanctions,'” a source in Ryanggang Province added.
Many are critical of the fact that state enterprises are active in producing and directly selling the beverages.
“The supply of beverages including beer has increased considerably during the hot weather because state enterprises have increased production volumes. When the factories were being built, the residents weren’t expecting them to be used for such a purpose. So they’re talking about the story of ‘Kim Seon Dal’ who was an expert in making money,” the Ryanggang-based source noted.
As such, North Korean people are calling Kim Jong Un a businessman in the spring water market. They are well aware of the fact that most of the profits generated by state enterprises go into Kim Jong Un’s personal funds. Some are referring to him as a “cunning merchant.”
In particular, residents believe that the Taedong River Beer Festival, which was held to great success last year but cancelled this year, was another cash cow to generate ruling funds.
“The regime probably realized that holding a beer festival would increase beer sales. Only high-ranking officials used to drink the Sindok spring water and Ryongaksan spring water before, but now there are lot of ordinary residents enjoying such beverages. The regime was probably hoping for this to happen,” a source in Pyongyang said.
