Discover North Korea

In this episode, I have some extra special guests joining me; the pioneers and experts in North Korea tourism, my good friends, my co-workers, and indeed my bosses and superiors. We have a great chat reminiscing about our years spent working in the North Korea tourism industry, and also get pretty deep as we get more personal and reflect on the hardships COVID-19 has brought for the North Koreans.

A massive thanks to my guests Nick Bonner, Simon Cockrell, and Gergo (Greg) Vaczi.

North Korean Art, Documentaries & Cultural engagement: koryostudio.com / @koryostudio

Contact me with your questions & guest recommendations on [email protected].

Follow me on;

-> Instagram @zoediscoversnk for pictures, videos, and live sessions (when it's possible) from inside North Korea

-> TikTok @zoediscovers for long and short-form videos inside North Korea

-> YouTube @zoediscovers for vlogs inside North Korea

Visit North Korea: www.koryogroup.com / @koryotours

Music: Arirang (North Korean Version), Korea Film Export & Import Corporation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Discover North Korea gets a bit deep (and I get a bit passionate) as I talk about a topic that is dear to me but also one that is full of controversy, scepticism, and sensitive topics. I attempt to lay out why I think tourism to North Korea CAN be ethical, and also take a look at why it is often seen as unethical and how it sometimes isn't. I tackle this topic by first busting some common North Korea myths, and then going onto some more important points on ethical tourism. At the end, I attempt (somewhat awkwardly) to tackle another topic that is also brought up during this tricky debate.

Please note that all of the things said in this episode are opinions of my own (based upon facts and personal experiences) but do not necessarily reflect that of the North Korea tourism industry or Koryo Tours.

Ethical Travel to North Korea YouTube video link: https://youtu.be/HPWrojqwa5g

Contact me with your questions & guest recommendations on [email protected].

Follow me on;

-> Instagram @zoediscoversnk for pictures, videos, and live sessions (when it's possible) from inside North Korea

-> TikTok @zoediscovers for long and short-form videos inside North Korea

-> YouTube @zoediscovers for vlogs inside North Korea

This episode was made possible thanks to my amazing patrons. Thanks to you all!!!

Clarke, James, Charles, Alex, Yusuke, Simon, Stephanie, Eirik.

Become a Patron here:

www.patreon.com/zoediscovers

Visit North Korea: www.koryogroup.com / @koryotours

Music: Arirang (North Korean Version), Korea Film Export & Import Corporation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I base it around one of your questions 'Can you bring your iPhone into North Korea'. I cover three main things; myth-busting what ISN'T banned in North Korea, and going over what IS banned, I then talk about the rules you have to follow on a tour to North Korea, before discussing the topic is it safe to visit North Korea...

If you think you know all the rules and what's banned and what isn't (or you've been before), then arguably the most interesting thing about this episode is all the little anecdotes I slip in... Did you know North Korea has the equivalent of android vs iPhone? I look back at that time I was very prepared to kick a customer off tour, and discuss why North Korea is safer than Liverpool (my hometown....).

At the end, I end with some questions sent in by you, the listeners! I'll try to keep this section up weekly so send in any questions you have and I'll try to answer them once a week! Or even base a whole episode on it, if you're lucky!!!

Contact me with your questions & guest recommendations on [email protected].

Follow me on;

-> Instagram @zoediscoversnk for pictures, videos, and live sessions (when it's possible) from inside North Korea

-> TikTok @zoediscovers for long and short-form videos inside North Korea

-> YouTube @zoediscovers for vlogs inside North Korea

Visit North Korea: www.koryogroup.com / @koryotours

Support me and the podcast on Patreon:

---> https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/6667129

Intro Music: Arirang (North Korean Version), Korea Film Export & Import Corporation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So... this episode is all about me. I wanted to get this over and done with! There are so many questions you all seem to have and I repeat this story / parts of it all the time. So here it is; why I first went to North Korea, what my first experience in North Korea was like, how I decided to start working there, how my journey was working there, what I've been doing since the borders have been closed from COVID, and where I am now (and where I plan to be in the future!)

If it's boring or you want to fast forward a few bits, I won't be offended..!

Anything you want me to expand on, let me know!

Thanks for listening :)

Contact me with your questions & guest recommendations on [email protected].

Follow me on;

-> Instagram @zoediscoversnk for pictures, videos, and live sessions (when it's possible) from inside North Korea

-> TikTok @zoediscovers for long and short-form videos inside North Korea

-> YouTube @zoediscovers for vlogs inside North Korea

Visit North Korea: www.koryogroup.com / @koryotours

Music: Arirang (North Korean Version), Korea Film Export & Import Corporation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I invite past tourists to North Korea to give you an honest insight into what a tour to North Korea is really like. What you can expect and... what you might not expect at all!

Thanks to my guests James, Lok, and Tjasa.

Contact me with your questions & guest recommendations on [email protected].

Follow me on;

-> Instagram @zoediscoversnk for pictures, videos, and live sessions (when it's possible) from inside North Korea

-> TikTok @zoediscovers for long and short-form videos inside North Korea

-> YouTube @zoediscovers for vlogs inside North Korea

Visit North Korea: www.koryogroup.com / @koryotours

Music: Arirang (North Korean Version), Korea Film Export & Import Corporation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me (and sometimes my guests) every Thursday when I'll select one question or topic on North Korea based on a question from you, the listeners.

You won't find anything political here as this podcast aims to expand the North Korea narrative and rehumanise the issue. Discussions on nuclear weapons, leadership, and human rights issues can be found elsewhere. I aim to educate on North Korea as I know it through the, admittedly somewhat limited, eyes of the tourism lens.

Everyone has an opinion on North Korea. But few extend their knowledge past that found in the media; fewer still go to visit the country.

With a strong belief in the positive impact North Korea tourism can have both inside and outside the country, I aim to make DPRK tourism more accessible to a wider audience.

Contact me with your questions & guest recommendations on [email protected].

Follow me on;

-> Instagram @zoediscoversnk for pictures, videos, and live sessions (when it's possible) from inside North Korea

-> TikTok @zoediscovers for long and short-form videos inside North Korea

-> YouTube @zoediscovers for vlogs inside North Korea

Visit North Korea: www.koryogroup.com / @koryotours

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.