In North Korea, Black Markets Are Saving Lives

The rise in black market activity in North Korea led to the millennials of the nation being dubbed the 'Jangmadang (iee^1)' generation, named after the Korean term meaning 'market grounds'. Initially, these markets consisted of disorganized traders meeting in fields, facing seizure from police if they did not come up with a bribe.

Today, the jangmadang practice has led to fully-fledged markets, complete with stalls selling street food, smuggled electronics, ingredients, and clothes; certain markets allegedly grew to encompass upwards of a thousand stalls.

Today, the markets remain a crucial element of survival for many North Koreans, with some reports estimating that around 5 million (around a fifth of the overall population) are "directly or indirectly dependent on the markets".