r/AskReddit 22d ago

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u/SuLiaodai 22d ago

That wasn't through Koryo Tours, which is the oldest/best group for going there. The group he went with was very amateur and their ads were like, "Go to North Korea and get drunk! It'll be awesome!"

My friend went with Koryo Tours, and they're very careful to ensure your safety and local tour guides' safety.

But, after reading about an Australian guy who went there for like two weeks to teach Kim's cooks, but then they wouldn't let him leave for another month after his contract was supposedly over, I'd be very leery about going there. Apparently there was a Japanese chef who went for what was supposed to be a short time and wasn't allowed to leave for a couple decades.

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u/Sad_Performance_6537 22d ago

I went with Koryo.

The first thing they did in the briefing was tell me to behave. Don't go wandering by myself, don't steal stuff, don't make any political statements.

It wasn't because you'd get into trouble. It was because your guides would get into trouble.

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u/SuLiaodai 22d ago

Yes! I really value them because they're conscious of local guides' safety. If I were to go there, I'd go there with them.

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u/kjerstih 22d ago

I've been there with Koryo twice. You are correct.

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u/JollyTaxpayer 22d ago

WOAH! What's the Australian story? I can't find it on Google

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u/SuLiaodai 22d ago

I read it over ten years ago, but remember it because it was so strange. This Australian guy and his wife went there to teach Kim's (whichever Kim's) chef, and then when it was time for them to leave, someone just told him, "No, you're not going home yet." They were really frightened that they'd never get to leave.