The report reveals that while North Korean authorities have been distributing candy to children in elementary school and younger to mark Kim Jong Un’s birthday, the gifts, officially from Kim, are funded by ordinary residents. This has led to growing frustration. A source from Yanggang Province told RFA, “From November to December last year, authorities collected materials to produce the candy gifts for January 8.” The source added, “Households that couldn’t provide the necessary materials were required to pay cash instead.” In Hyehwa-dong, a neighborhood in Hyesan City, residents were expected to contribute 200 grams of soybeans (including red beans), two eggs, or 10,000 KPW (around $11). Local leaders and Women’s Union officials have been going door-to-door to collect items, with a source emphasizing the task’s difficulty. They likened it to trying to squeeze water from a dry tree, highlighting the desperation as people are already on the brink of starvation.
Criticism has arisen, with some suggesting that gift-giving should be canceled entirely due to resource constraints. A resident from North Pyongan Province noted that some believe the birthday event should not have been held without enough resources for candy gifts. They further commented that, given the severe food shortages during the Lunar New Year, it is utterly unreasonable to demand contributions to the gift fund.
Most Commented