Sep 2021/ November 2023 update

Graphic of North Korean State Run Shops Signs

North Korean state-run shops can be found throughout various districts in Pyongyang. And indeed throughout North Korea. These North Korean state-run shops have their own distinct signage.

We go over these North Korean State Run Shop signs below.

A collection of various North Korean state-run shops that light up at night.

North Korean State-Run Stores

There is still no privatization of North Korean stores.

Stores with blue signs are North Korean state-run shops. This means they are not run by individuals or groups who have set up quasi-private restaurants/shops. Here, there is more personal motivation involved in running a successful enterprise (perhaps perks like a car, better housing etc).

These shops can only accept North Korean Won. This means you can’t use foreign currency such as USD or RMB.

State-Run Shop Graphics

There is nothing like an illuminated graphic and a limited number of shops for you to know exactly where something is. The various districts in Pyongyang have official stores where you will find the basic necessities. This ranges from sweet shops to tobacconists. And vegetable shops to cold noodle restaurants, and bars!

In central Pyongyang, there is wonderful signage that dates back to the 1980s and gives a pretty clear graphic guide as to what is going on inside the North Korean state-run shop.

New signs from the 2000s are for the mobile phone shop and the Korean stamp shop. Markedly, the Chollima horse appears on an embossed stamp.

There are few customers other than foreigners at this Korean stamp shop. Don’t confuse it with the post office represented by the envelope.

speciality corn restaurant street life shops graphics

The Corn Shop

This photo was taken in February 2012. It shows pedestrians dressed up in warm clothing walking past the Corn Speciality Restaurant. It’s a restaurant in Pyongyang that specializes in corn/maize.

Note the restaurant has cleverly embellished the name with a corn-style font.
You cannot get corn-ier than that!