Skepticism and Reality: Who Will Actually Visit?
Despite the fanfare, analysts remain skeptical about the resort’s viability. Will 20,000 North Koreans actually visit Wonsan Kalma each year? Are there enough people who can afford to travel, even within their own country? What will the experience look like beyond the glossy promotional materials?
In a country where private income is restricted, and the average citizen struggles with food shortages and unreliable electricity, luxury resorts seem painfully out of reach. The majority of the population may never see Wonsan Kalma in person. Instead, they will witness its image on television, in school lessons, and during state celebrations—proof of the regime’s supposed benevolence and achievement.
The few who do visit will likely be handpicked or rewarded, forming part of a curated spectacle rather than a genuine tourism economy. Unless North Korea dramatically changes its internal and external policies, the resort risks becoming another white elephant—a costly project that serves more as a stage set than a functioning part of national development.