Recently, a shopping mall has emerged in North Korea that appears to replicate the overall concept of IKEA, the Swedish multinational company, including its product range, display methods, and food court.
On Monday, a Chinese resident of Hangzhou shared intriguing photos on their X (formerly Twitter) account, claiming they were taken in North Korea. The images depict the interior of the Rangrang Patriotic Geumganggwan, located in the Rangrang District of Pyongyang.
The photos reveal that the store sells plush toys strikingly similar to IKEA’s signature stuffed animals, such as orangutans and golden retrievers.
The layout of office supplies, including chairs, closely mirrors that of IKEA stores. Notably, the carts used in the food court appear to be nearly identical in design and color to those found in IKEA.
The Chinese photographer noted that, while not everything seems to be a direct copy, the overall store atmosphere and the self-service restaurant style are remarkably similar to those of IKEA.
Earlier this year, a video posted on social media by a Chinese student in Pyongyang also garnered attention when it showed an IKEA sign filmed in North Korea. The footage featured a sign with the distinctive blue and yellow IKEA logo inside the Ryugyong Golden Plaza mall in Pyongyang.
This is the first confirmed sighting of the Rangrang Patriotic Geumganggwan, suggesting that North Korea is actively adopting store layouts similar to those of IKEA.
Another Chinese student recently shared a social media post featuring a café in the Rangrang Patriotic Geumganggwan with a logo and ambiance reminiscent of Starbucks Reserve, the upscale brand of Starbucks.
This approach aligns with North Korea’s recent emphasis on modernization across various sectors. However, it appears that the focus is currently on producing quick results by imitating Western styles rather than developing creative North Korean alternatives.
Some analysts speculate that the concentration of such facilities in Pyongyang indicates that the capital’s residents are more exposed to external information than those in other regions. This may prompt authorities to devise strategies that cater to their evolving tastes.
The United Nations (UN) Security Council has mandated, under resolutions 2270, 2371, and 2375, that all member states prohibit any existing or new joint ventures with North Korean individuals and entities. This effectively prevents UN member states from operating joint projects or collaborations with North Korea.