On Tuesday figures from the global toy company POP MART were spotted in the toy section of a large North Korean shopping mall, reflecting the brand’s recent worldwide popularity.
A Chinese university student studying in North Korea shared on social media that the toy section on the sixth floor of the Kumgang Patriotic Hall is selling POP MART’s popular character DIMOO random boxes for 28 USD and 42 USD.
While POP MART’s most famous character is LABUBU, the student’s post did not display any counterfeit LABUBU figures. The head color of the DIMOO figures on display differs from the official models, suggesting that most products are likely intentional replicas or imitations.
For comparison, the official POP MART store sells single figures for about 15,000 KRW (about 11 USD) and series boxes for around 180,000 KRW (about 126 USD).
The toy section also features LEGO products from Denmark. North Korea previously sold its own LEGO-inspired brand called Sangmyung, but this appears to be the first instance of products bearing the authentic LEGO logo being sold at the Kumgang Patriotic Hall. These items may have entered the country through China or Russia.
Additionally, miniature cars from the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy, branded as Tomica, are on sale for 18.40 USD and 22.20 USD.
The Kumgang Patriotic Hall primarily sells imported goods, catering to Pyongyang’s elite and international students. Another Chinese student reported that the mall’s first-floor market offers imported products from Japan and China.
The mall’s third floor reportedly features an IKEA-inspired store and a food court with IKEA-style furniture. A coffee shop called Future Reserve, mimicking Starbucks’ premium Reserve stores, is also said to be operating.
United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions 2270, 2371, and 2375 prohibit all member states from engaging in joint ventures with North Korean individuals and organizations. Consequently, UN member states cannot operate joint projects or cooperative entities with North Korea.
While North Korea typically restricts outside influences to maintain regime cohesion, analysts suggest the country is now producing various imitation products to meet its citizens’ rising expectations and promote ‘modernization’ without acknowledging foreign sources.
Some experts speculate that Pyongyang’s residents, known for their loyalty to the regime, may be subject to different standards regarding exposure to foreign influences compared to other regions in North Korea.
