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Eric Lafforgue - a French photographer - was one of the first guests to visit Jung Pyong Ri fishing village in a remote area of North Korea.
Eric Lafforgue - a French photographer - was one of the first guests to visit Jung Pyong Ri fishing village in a remote area of North Korea to prepare for a homestay project for tourists, allowing them to witness firsthand the daily life of North Korean people.
Having visited North Korea a total of 6 times, with the most recent visit in 2015, photographer Eric ventured to a fishing village in the northern province of Hamgyong. Opening homestays for tourists, Jung Pyong Ri fishing village stands in stark contrast to the impoverished scenes of neighboring areas. Here, they have flower arrangements and TVs.
Living in the village, the photographer expressed that he has witnessed the tough life of rural residents in a country where agriculture is the fragile backbone of the entire economy.
'There are only 23 families living here,' Eric stated. He stayed in a house arranged by the village chief, which, despite being quite simple, included basic amenities like a bathroom and a mattress on the floor for sleeping. All the houses in the village look identical.
The room is decorated quite lavishly compared to the communal life of the villagers. It features toys, plastic flowers, ornamental plants, and portraits hanging on the walls.
The village was visited by General Kim Jong Il 11 years ago, and even now, the local residents still proudly and emotionally recount his visit.
I was utterly surprised when General Kim Jong Il arrived unexpectedly,' the homeowner shared. 'Our neighbors were envious. In that moment captured forever in a photograph, he remarked on how beautiful the house looked. It truly filled me with happiness.
The photographer was treated to a sumptuous dinner of duck, yet the family admitted they still might go hungry during the winter months.
Despite Americans being barred from visiting, if they were to come, locals here say they would still warmly welcome them, 'in the name of North Korea's legendary hospitality' – as they told Eric Lafforgue.
Even though these beautiful houses stand tall, the residents have no concept of what a mobile phone is. And electricity is cut off after 9 PM.
The village chief proudly showed the photographer a picture of his son framed within a Mickey Mouse frame. His son is currently serving in the military, as for men, the service period lasts from 3 to 5 years. Even children aspire to become soldiers. And one mother told Eric that her son was born to serve in the army.
Though situated in a picturesque village, Eric remarked that from his residence, he could witness the impoverished conditions of neighboring households. Emaciated cattle, women toiling with heavy manual labor,' he observed.
The photographer was banned from taking pictures after his photographs depicted the harsh realities of life in North Korea, and he had to secretly smuggle the images out of the country on a memory card, after his camera was confiscated.
In a candid conversation with the village chief, he revealed that life here was completely severed and isolated from the rest of the country until 1990.
“Life here is extremely challenging, especially with food shortages in winter,' he stated.
80% of the tourists here are from China, and they are amazed by the purity of this place. They are also astonished at how laborers like the locals here can have such good accommodations,' he observed.
Posted by: Khương Phạm
Keywords: Staying at a homestay in a fishing village in North Korea
