Taiwan Vlogger's 5-night North Korea Trip Video Nears 2M Views, Shows Luxury and Control
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
A Taiwanese vlogger, Tian Guyuan, posted a three-part, 95-minute video documenting a 5-night, 6-day group trip to North Korea that has approached 2 million views. Traveling with students from Taiwan and Hong Kong via a state-run North Korean tour agency, the group entered through Dandong and crossed the Yalu River by international train; passport checks in Sinuiju took four hours. Onboard inspections showed officials opening luggage and checking books, cameras and storage devices; the travelers said offering small gifts like cigarettes appeared to speed up checks. In Pyongyang they were met by two guides, forbidden from independent interaction with residents, and told their footage would be rechecked on exit. The video highlights both upscale facilities — a restaurant with staged performances by staff in hanbok (traditional Korean dress), a hotel called Seosan Hotel claiming all three past leaders stayed there, and amenities including sauna, pool, massage and a karaoke room equipped with Korean-made Kumyoung (Geumyoung) karaoke machines — and strict surveillance and restrictions on tourists. Viewers commented on the rarity and curiosity of visiting a place South Koreans cannot, and noted the contrast between apparent luxury and pervasive control.
