Talking with the Korean guides

As mentioned in an earlier blog, the KITC guides on a tour of the DPRK are incredibly interesting people, and are as friendly as they are humorous.  For many, the bond that is created between the guides and the tourists can make a visit to the DPRK that much more memorable.

It is important to remember though that the lives of people in the DPRK, including the guides who get a lot of exposure to foreign tourists, are vastly different to the lives of those in western countries.  As a result, historical, political and ideological beliefs are just not gonna be the same.  Therefore it is essential that tourists know which subjects to ‘steer clear’ of when visiting the country, so as not to irritate the guides who have been assigned to you.  Upsetting the guides on tour by use of inappropriate comments or questions will only cause an unpleasant atmosphere during your stay, and will reduce the enjoyment for both parties.

The following are some areas which should not be discussed with or within earshot of the guides:

• Do not criticize the leaders or the country.  The Kims, especially President Kim Il Sung, are revered in North Korea, and any criticism or flippant comments designed to get a few cheap laughs will cause the utmost offense to the guides.  Even innocent comments or questions can be insulting to them, so its best to not to discuss rumors you have heard or anything you have read about the past or present leaders.  The guides will at times catch you off guard and openly discuss issues affecting the country, occasionally they will even drop in their opinion.  However, please remember that under no circumstance should you say anything negative about the leadership.  This is the biggest ‘no-no’ for tourists.

• Do not lecture the guides on religion or politics.  No-one in any country likes to have religious or political beliefs forced upon them, and the same goes for North Korea.  It is totally fine to discuss religion or politics with the guides as long as it is not done in a way where they feel they are being converted, or having your views forced upon them.

• Do not discuss rumors or news.  It is not advisable to discuss current affairs which have been circulating in the western press, especially involving prison camps, nuclear weapons, or refugees.  The Korean guides will certainly have not heard many of these news stories, or if they have, their version will be quite different.  It’s best to stay well away from discussing western influenced news stories relating to North Korean issues.

• Do not challenge historical perspectives.  The guides are very aware that western tourists have heard a different version of events related to not-so-distant Korean history, events which contradict what North Koreans have been taught.  It is not a good idea to argue about whose version of events are correct, as you are not going to suddenly make them see the light and radically change their historical perspectives.  Arguing about who is right and who is wrong will only succeed in alienating and irritating the guides.

The above points may give the impression that chatting to the guides is restrictive, but in reality it’s not at all.  The guides are happy to chat and answer many questions about life in the DPRK, and they will also show genuine interest and ask questions of personal nature about the lives of the tourists.  Any questions the guides ask about the tourists lives, their home country etc should be answered seriously.  The guides are adults, and tourists should not feel that they need to be coddled or protected from ideas about the outside world.  However, answers to guides questions must be polite, and delivered in a way that doesn’t cause offense.

By avoiding the above questions, tourists will get the most out of the guides, who will accommodate your many needs on the tour.  They will also provide you with a wealth of information regarding the country and what it’s like to live there.  On a tour the KITC guides are tourists’ main point of contact in terms of Korean people, as due to language barriers it is rare to talk to other Koreans you will meet (unless you either speak Korean or have the guides translate for you).  If you treat the guides with the respect that they deserve, they will ensure that your trip to the DPRK is a truly remarkable and heart warming experience.