Being in North Korea | Stanford University Press

<북한에 산다는 것>: 외부자의 시선으로 본 평양의 일상과 변화

1. 요약: 폐쇄된 국가의 틈새를 들여다보다

이 책은 비영리 단체인 조선익스체인지(Choson Exchange)를 통해 수년간 북한을 방문하며 현지인들에게 비즈니스와 마케팅을 가르친 저자 안드레이 아브라하미안의 경험을 바탕으로 한다. 저자는 북한을 단순히 <악의 축>이나 <기이한 독재 국가>라는 거시적 프레임으로만 보지 않는다. 대신 그 안에서 살아가는 사람들의 일상, 경제적 역동성, 그리고 체제 내부에서 일어나는 미묘한 변화에 집중한다.

장마당 세대와 자본주의의 침투 북한의 공식적인 경제 체제는 여전히 사회주의를 표방하지만, 1990년대 고난의 행군 이후 형성된 <장마당>은 북한 사회의 근간을 바꾸어 놓았다. 아브라하미안은 시장이 단순한 물건 매매의 장소를 넘어 정보가 유통되고 새로운 사회 계층이 형성되는 공간임을 역설한다. 국가의 배급망이 붕괴된 자리를 시장이 대신하면서, 북한 주민들은 국가에 의존하기보다 스스로 생존 전략을 짜는 <자생적 자본주의자>가 되어가고 있다.

상호작용을 통한 변화의 가능성 저자가 수행한 비즈니스 교육 프로그램은 북한의 젊은 엘리트와 기업가들이 외부 세계의 논리를 어떻게 수용하는지 보여준다. 그들은 서구식 마케팅 기법과 경영 전략에 높은 관심을 보이며, 이를 북한 내부의 현실에 맞게 변용하려 노력한다. 저자는 이러한 인적 교류와 교육이 북한 사회의 폐쇄성을 완화하고 내부로부터의 점진적인 변화를 이끌어낼 수 있는 가장 효과적인 도구라고 주장한다.

평양의 현대화와 불평등 책은 평양의 화려한 고층 빌딩과 스마트폰을 사용하는 시민들의 모습을 묘사하며 북한이 결코 정체된 사회가 아님을 보여준다. 그러나 이러한 발전은 평양과 지방, 권력층과 일반 서민 사이의 심각한 불평등을 전제로 한다. 아브라하미안은 북한의 기술적 진보와 소비문화의 확산이 체제의 안정성을 강화하는 측면과 동시에 체제 모순을 심화시키는 측면을 동시에 가지고 있음을 지적한다.

2. 평론: 고정관념을 넘어선 실증적 관찰의 기록

이분법적 구도를 탈피한 균형 잡힌 시각 기존의 북한 관련 저술들이 극단적인 찬양이나 원색적인 비난, 혹은 핵무기와 정치범 수용소라는 안보·인권 프레임에 갇혀 있었다면, 아브라하미안의 저작은 <생활인으로서의 북한인>을 조명한다는 점에서 탁월하다. 그는 북한을 거대한 거부의 대상이 아닌, 이해와 분석이 필요한 복합적인 사회적 실체로 다룬다. 이는 독자로 하여금 북한을 감정이 아닌 데이터와 현장 경험으로 바라보게 만든다.

내부자적 관찰과 외부자적 분석의 조화 저자는 북한 체제의 경직성을 충분히 인지하면서도, 그 틈새에서 작동하는 유연함을 포착해 낸다. 특히 비즈니스 교육이라는 특수한 목적을 가지고 북한에 접근했기에, 북한 사회의 경제적 하부구조가 어떻게 재편되고 있는지에 대해 일반 관광객이나 기자보다 훨씬 깊이 있는 통찰을 제공한다. 북한 내부의 기업가 정신을 포착한 대목은 이 책의 가장 독창적인 부분 중 하나이다.

구조적 한계에 대한 냉철한 인식 아브라하미안은 희망적인 변화만을 나열하지 않는다. 그는 북한의 관료주의, 감시 체제, 그리고 국제 사회의 제재가 변화를 가로막는 강력한 장애물임을 분명히 한다. 교육을 통해 변화의 씨앗을 뿌릴 수는 있지만, 그것이 거대한 정치 체제의 변혁으로 이어지기까지는 여전히 넘어야 할 산이 많음을 시사하며 성급한 낙관론을 경계한다.

결론: 변화를 읽어내는 새로운 나침반 <북한에 산다는 것>은 북한이라는 블랙박스를 해석하는 데 있어 매우 유용한 가이드북이다. 저자는 북한을 <미친 나라>로 치부하는 대신, 그 안에서 각자의 생존과 번영을 위해 고군분투하는 개인들의 역동성에 주목한다. 이 책은 북한의 미래가 단순히 정권의 붕괴나 유지가 아닌, 내부 사람들의 인식 변화와 경제적 진화에 달려 있음을 설득력 있게 제시한다. 북한을 향한 우리의 시선이 어디에 머물러야 하는지를 다시금 생각하게 만드는 수작이다.

===

다음은 Andray Abrahamian의 『Being in North Korea』(2020)에 대한 <요약 + 평론>입니다.
(요청하신 방식에 따라 한국어 + 영어 병렬로 제공합니다.)

1. 책의 성격과 문제의식

<Korean>

이 책은 북한을 “밖에서 해석하는 책”이 아니라
→ <안에서 경험한 사람의 관찰 기록>입니다.

저자 Andray Abrahamian은

비정부 교류 프로그램 운영자
북한 방문 경험 수십 회
외국인 교육 및 경제 프로젝트 참여자

입니다.

핵심 질문은 단순합니다:

→ <북한은 실제로 어떻게 작동하는 사회인가?>

그리고 더 중요한 질문:

→ <외부에서 보는 북한 이미지와 내부 현실 사이에는 어떤 간극이 있는가?>

<English>

This book is not an external ideological critique of North Korea.
→ It is an <insider observational account>.

Andray Abrahamian is:

A practitioner in engagement programs
A frequent visitor to North Korea
Involved in educational and economic exchanges

The central question is:

→ <How does North Korea actually function as a society?>

And more importantly:

→ <What is the gap between external narratives and lived internal reality?>

2. 핵심 내용 요약

(1) “완전한 통제 사회”라는 이미지의 수정

<Korean>

외부에서는 북한을 흔히

→ 완전히 통제된 전체주의 국가

로 이해합니다.

하지만 저자의 관찰은 다릅니다:

시장 활동 존재 (장마당)
비공식 경제 확대
개인 간 협상과 거래

즉,

→ <통제는 존재하지만, 균열도 함께 존재>

<English>

Externally, North Korea is often portrayed as:

→ a fully controlled totalitarian system.

However, Abrahamian observes:

Active informal markets
Expansion of private economic activity
Everyday negotiation and bargaining

Thus:

→ <Control exists, but so do cracks within the system>

(2) 엘리트와 일반 주민의 격차

<Korean>

북한 사회는 단일한 집단이 아닙니다.

평양 엘리트
지방 주민
시장 기반 생존 계층

이들 사이에는

→ 매우 큰 생활 격차 존재

특히:

→ <국가 통제는 균등하지 않다>

<English>

North Korean society is not monolithic.

There are:

Pyongyang elites
Provincial populations
Market-dependent survival groups

These groups experience:

→ <very different levels of control and privilege>

(3) 외국인과 북한인의 관계

<Korean>

저자는 외국인으로서 북한에 체류하며

→ 제한된 자유 속 상호작용을 경험합니다.

특징:

공식적 감시 존재
그러나 개인적 관계 형성도 가능
북한인들도 외부 세계에 대한 호기심 존재

즉,

→ <완전한 차단 사회는 아니다>

<English>

As a foreigner, the author experiences:

Constant monitoring
Yet genuine human interactions
Curiosity among North Koreans about the outside world

Thus:

→ <North Korea is not a completely sealed society>

(4) 변화의 조짐

<Korean>

저자는 특히 경제 변화에 주목합니다:

시장화 확대
개인 경제 활동 증가
제한적 개방

그러나 동시에:

→ 정치적 통제는 여전히 강력

즉,

→ <경제 변화 ≠ 정치 개방>

<English>

Abrahamian highlights economic change:

Marketization
Growing private activity
Limited openness

But:

→ political control remains strong

Thus:

→ <economic change does not equal political liberalization>

(5) 외부 담론에 대한 비판

<Korean>

저자는 서구 담론을 비판합니다:

북한을 “괴물화”
단순화된 이미지
정책 결정에 왜곡 영향

핵심 주장:

→ <북한을 이해하지 못하면 정책도 실패한다>

<English>

The author critiques external narratives:

Demonization
Oversimplification
Policy distortions

Core claim:

→ <Misunderstanding North Korea leads to flawed policy>

3. 핵심 개념

이 책의 핵심은 다음 한 문장으로 요약됩니다:

→ <북한은 정지된 사회가 아니라, 제한된 변화 속의 복합 시스템이다>

4. 평론

(1) 강점

① 현장 기반 분석

< K >
이 책의 가장 큰 장점은

→ <직접 경험 기반>

이론이 아니라 실제 관찰입니다.

< E >
The strongest aspect is:

→ <field-based observation>

Not theory, but lived experience.

② 단순 이분법 거부

< K >

“악 vs 선”
“자유 vs 독재”

이런 단순 구도를 넘어서

→ 복합적 현실 제시

< E >
The book rejects simplistic binaries:

→ offering a nuanced, layered reality.

③ 정책적 함의

< K >
이 책은 단순 분석이 아니라

→ 정책적 교훈 제공

제재의 한계
교류의 필요성

< E >
It provides policy insight:

→ limits of sanctions
→ importance of engagement

(2) 한계

① 접근 제한의 문제

< K >
저자의 경험은

→ 제한된 공간과 계층 중심

따라서:

→ 전체 북한 사회 대표성 부족

< E >
The author’s access is limited:

→ mostly elite or controlled environments

Thus:

→ limited representativeness

② 체제 비판의 약함

< K >
책은 비교적 균형적이지만

→ 강한 체제 비판은 약함

일부 독자는

→ 지나치게 온건하다고 느낄 수 있음

< E >
The critique of the regime is relatively mild.

Some readers may find it:

→ overly cautious or restrained.

③ 구조적 폭력 분석 부족

< K >

인권 문제
정치적 억압

이 부분은 상대적으로 덜 강조됨

< E >
Structural issues such as:

→ human rights
→ political repression

are underemphasized.

5. 기존 북한 담론 속 위치

이 책은 다음 세 흐름 중

→ <중간 위치>

유형	특징	이 책의 위치
강경 비판	인권 중심, 체제 붕괴 강조	아님
체제 옹호	북한 정당화	아님
현실주의 분석	제한된 변화와 구조 분석	← 여기에 위치

6. 더 큰 의미

(1) “적대 이미지”의 정치성

< K >
북한은 단순한 국가가 아니라

→ 국제 정치에서 구성된 이미지

< E >
North Korea is:

→ a politically constructed image in global discourse

(2) 정책 실패의 구조

< K >

과장된 위협
단순화된 이해

→ 잘못된 정책으로 이어짐

< E >
Simplified narratives lead to:

→ ineffective or misguided policy

(3) “변화 가능성”의 현실적 이해

< K >
이 책은 낙관도 비관도 아닙니다.

→ <제한된 변화의 현실>

< E >
The book avoids both optimism and pessimism:

→ presenting <constrained transformation>

7. 결론

<Korean>

이 책을 한 문장으로 정리하면:

→ <북한은 우리가 생각하는 것보다 덜 단순하고, 더 변화 중인 사회다>

그리고 더 중요한 메시지:

→ <이해 없는 적대는 아무것도 바꾸지 못한다>

<English>

In one sentence:

→ <North Korea is less static and more complex than commonly assumed>

And the deeper message:

→ <Hostility without understanding changes nothing>

8. 한 줄 정리

원하시면 이어서:

→ <이 책 vs 탈북자 증언 vs 위성·정보기관 분석 비교>
→ <북한 변화 가능성: 경제 vs 정치 구조 분리 분석>
→ <한반도 영세중립화론과 연결한 정책적 함의>

까지 구조적으로 이어서 정리해드리겠습니다.

===

좋습니다. 앞선 <Being in North Korea>의 문제의식을 바탕으로, 요청하신 세 가지를 한 번에 묶어 정리해보겠습니다. 최근 공개 분석을 함께 붙여서, 책의 관찰이 지금도 어디까지 유효한지까지 보겠습니다. 38 North의 최근 분석은 북한에서 시장이 완전히 사라진 것이 아니라 국가가 다시 강하게 틀어쥐려는 방향으로 움직이고 있음을 보여주고, 미 정보기관 평가는 김정은 정권이 핵·미사일 능력과 체제 보존을 최우선으로 두며 경제도 그 목적에 종속시키고 있다고 봅니다.

<English> Good. Building on the lens of <Being in North Korea>, I’ll connect the three requests into one framework and check how well the book still fits current evidence. Recent 38 North analysis suggests that markets have not disappeared, but the state is trying to reassert tighter control over them, while the U.S. intelligence community continues to assess that Kim prioritizes regime survival and strategic weapons above all else, subordinating the economy to those goals. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

1. <이 책 vs 탈북자 증언 vs 위성·정보기관 분석 비교>

1. <This book vs defector testimony vs satellite/intelligence analysis>

<한국어>
이 책의 가장 큰 장점은 <북한을 인간들이 살아가는 현실 공간으로 본다>는 점입니다. Abrahamian류의 관찰은 장마당, 협상, 외국인과 북한인 사이의 제한된 상호작용, 그리고 제도와 실제 삶 사이의 틈을 잘 보여줍니다. 이 시각은 최근 연구와도 부분적으로 맞습니다. 38 North는 김정은 시기 시장 영향력이 커졌고, 식량·농업 운영에서도 국가의 일률적 지시가 다소 완화된 흔적이 있다고 봅니다.

<English> The book’s greatest strength is that it treats North Korea as <a lived social space>, not just an object of fear or ideology. Abrahamian-style observation is strong at showing markets, negotiation, constrained interaction, and the gap between institutions and daily life. That lens is partly supported by recent research: 38 North argues that market influence expanded during the Kim era, and even food and farm governance shows signs of somewhat less rigid top-down command in some areas. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

<한국어>
반면 탈북자 증언의 강점은 전혀 다릅니다. 탈북자 증언은 <공포, 처벌, 감시, 굶주림, 계층 격차> 같은 체제의 폭력성을 드러내는 데 훨씬 강합니다. 특히 외부 방문자가 볼 수 없는 지방, 구금, 내부 통제, 정보 차단의 실제 감각은 탈북자 증언 없이는 거의 잡히지 않습니다. KINU가 지속적으로 <북한인권백서>를 발간하는 것도 바로 그 공백 때문입니다.

<English> Defector testimony has a very different strength. It is much better at revealing <fear, punishment, surveillance, hunger, and stratified inequality>. The feel of local repression, detention, internal discipline, and information isolation is often inaccessible to foreign visitors. That is one reason institutions such as KINU continue to maintain dedicated North Korean human-rights documentation programs. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

<한국어>
그러나 탈북자 증언에는 구조적 한계도 있습니다. 첫째, 탈북자는 대개 특정 지역·계층·시기의 경험을 말합니다. 둘째, 탈북 이후의 정치적 환경, 기억의 선택, 언론의 선호가 증언의 강조점을 바꿀 수 있습니다. 그래서 탈북자 증언은 <체제의 폭력>을 읽는 데는 강하지만, 북한 전체 경제가 어떻게 돌아가는지, 평양 엘리트와 지방 주민 사이의 상이한 적응 방식이 어떤지까지 일반화하기에는 조심해야 합니다. 이 점에서 Abrahamian의 책은 탈북 서사의 반대가 아니라, 그것을 보완하는 자료로 보는 편이 정확합니다. 이 평가는 책의 성격에 대한 해석이며, 최근 시장·통제 병존 양상은 38 North의 분석과 부합합니다.

<English> But defector testimony also has structural limits. First, defectors usually speak from a specific region, class position, and period. Second, post-defection political context, selective memory, and media incentives can shape what gets emphasized. So defector testimony is powerful for reading <regime violence>, but it should be used carefully when generalizing about the whole economy or the varied adaptations of Pyongyang elites versus provincial residents. In that sense, Abrahamian’s book is not the opposite of defector narratives; it is a corrective complement to them. That is my inference, and it fits the recent evidence of coexistence between markets and tighter control. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

<한국어>
위성·정보기관 분석은 또 다른 층위입니다. 이 자료들의 강점은 <보이지 않는 것을 간접적으로 측정>하는 데 있습니다. 야간조도 위성 자료는 팬데믹 시기에 경제활동이 평양과 전략 부문으로 재분배되었음을 보여주고, 미 정보기관 평가는 북한이 핵전력 증강, 러시아와의 군사협력, 사이버 탈취, 대남·대미 강압을 지속할 것이라고 봅니다. 즉 위성·정보기관 분석은 군사·거시구조·국가 우선순위를 읽는 데 강합니다.

<English> Satellite and intelligence analysis operate at a different level. Their strength lies in <indirectly measuring what cannot be openly observed>. Nighttime-light analysis suggests that economic activity during the pandemic was redistributed toward Pyongyang and strategic sectors, while the U.S. intelligence community assesses that North Korea will continue expanding strategic weapons, deepening military cooperation with Russia, using cyber theft, and coercing South Korea and the United States. In other words, satellite/intelligence analysis is strongest on the military, macro-structure, and state priorities. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

<한국어>
하지만 이 자료들은 <북한 사람이 그 안에서 어떻게 살아가는가>를 잘 못 보여줍니다. 미 정보기관 스스로도 북한의 최근 재중앙화와 단속이 경제활동을 제약하고 주민 생계와 식량 상황을 악화시킨다고 보지만, 그 고통의 사회적 질감은 위성사진만으로는 알 수 없습니다. 그래서 가장 좋은 읽기 방식은 이렇습니다. <탈북자 증언은 고통의 내부, Abrahamian은 일상의 내부, 위성·정보기관은 국가의 외부 골격>을 보여줍니다. 셋 중 하나만 붙들면 왜곡됩니다.

<English> But these methods are weak at showing <how people actually live inside the system>. Even the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that recentralization and crackdowns restrict economic life and worsen livelihoods does not capture the social texture of suffering. So the best reading strategy is this: <defector testimony shows the inner experience of pain, Abrahamian shows the inner experience of everyday negotiation, and satellite/intelligence analysis shows the outer skeleton of state priorities>. Relying on only one of the three distorts the picture. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

2. <북한 변화 가능성: 경제 vs 정치 구조 분리 분석>

2. <North Korea’s capacity for change: separating economic from political structure>

<한국어>
지금까지 공개 자료를 보면, 북한은 <경제 변화는 가능하지만 정치 변화는 훨씬 더 어렵다>고 보는 편이 맞습니다. 38 North는 김정은 시기 시장 영향력이 커졌고, 농업·분배 제도에서도 일부 운영 자율성이 보인다고 분석합니다. 동시에 다른 최근 분석은 지난 수년간 시장 폐쇄, 허가 점검, 비허가 상품 압수, 외부 정보 차단 등을 통해 국가가 시장 공간을 다시 정치적으로 장악하려 한다고 봅니다. 즉 경제 영역에서는 완전한 계획경제로의 복귀도 아니고 완전한 시장화도 아닙니다. <허용과 단속의 반복>입니다.

<English> The public evidence suggests that <economic change is possible, but political change is much harder>. 38 North argues that market influence expanded under Kim, and that some agricultural and distribution arrangements show greater operational flexibility. At the same time, more recent analysis points to market closures, permit inspections, confiscation of unlicensed goods, and tighter blocking of outside information as part of an effort to politically recapture market space. So the economy is moving toward neither full central planning nor full marketization. It is better described as <repeated cycles of tolerance and repression>. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

<한국어>
정치 구조는 훨씬 덜 유연합니다. 2025 미 정보평가는 김정은이 핵무기를 협상에서 포기할 의도가 없고, 체제 보존과 정권 권위를 위해 핵탄두 수 확대, 미사일 기술 개선, 외부 정보 유입 차단, 경제 재중앙화를 추구한다고 봅니다. 이는 경제 실용주의가 나타나더라도 정치적 자유화로 이어지지 않는다는 뜻입니다. 바로 이 지점에서 Abrahamian의 책이 중요한데, 그는 이미 2020년에 <경제적 틈은 생겨도 정치적 통제는 계속 남는다>는 구조를 보여주고 있었습니다. 최근 자료는 그 진단을 상당 부분 지지합니다.

<English> The political structure is much less flexible. The 2025 U.S. intelligence assessment says Kim has no intention of negotiating away his strategic weapons and is pursuing larger nuclear stockpiles, improved missile technology, tighter blocking of foreign influence, and expanded state control over the economy in the service of regime survival and authority. That means economic pragmatism does not lead automatically to political liberalization. This is exactly where Abrahamian’s book matters: already in 2020, it suggested a system in which <economic gaps can open while political control remains intact>. Recent evidence broadly supports that diagnosis. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

<한국어>
그래서 북한 변화 가능성을 한 문장으로 말하면 이렇습니다. <경제는 적응하지만 정치는 방어한다>. 시장은 주민 생존과 국가 재정 모두에 필요하므로 완전히 없앨 수 없지만, 정권은 시장이 자율적 사회공간으로 발전하는 것은 막으려 합니다. 팬데믹 시기 경제활동이 평양과 전략 부문으로 재배분되었다는 야간조도 분석도, 변화의 기준이 주민 복지가 아니라 체제 우선순위라는 점을 보여줍니다.

<English> So in one sentence: <the economy adapts, while politics defends>. Markets cannot be fully eliminated because they serve both popular survival and state extraction, but the regime seeks to prevent them from maturing into autonomous social space. The nighttime-light evidence showing redistribution toward Pyongyang and strategic sectors during the pandemic also suggests that the governing criterion is not citizen welfare but regime priority. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

3. <한반도 영세중립화론과 연결한 정책적 함의>

3. <Policy implications for Korean Peninsula neutralization theory>

<한국어>
여기서 영세중립화론과 연결하면, 우선 <장점>이 보입니다. 한반도는 오래전부터 대륙세력과 해양세력의 전략적 교차지대로 이해되어 왔고, 일부 구상은 바로 이 충돌을 줄이기 위해 미국·일본·중국·러시아의 국제적 승인 아래 중립화를 상정했습니다. 이런 발상은 지정학적 압박을 줄이고, 북한이 느끼는 포위 공포를 완화하며, 남북 모두의 군사비와 대결 비용을 낮추는 방향의 상상력을 제공합니다.

<English> Linked to neutralization theory, there is first a visible <advantage>. The Korean Peninsula has long been understood as a strategic crossroads between continental and maritime powers, and some proposals explicitly envisioned neutralization under international approval by the United States, Japan, China, and Russia. The appeal is clear: it could reduce geopolitical pressure, ease North Korea’s sense of encirclement, and lower military and confrontation costs for both Koreas. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

<한국어>
하지만 <현실적 난점>도 매우 큽니다. KINU의 연구는 한반도 중립화론이 전략적 이해가 교차하는 공간에서는 실현 가능성이 희박하고, 설령 국제적으로 보장된다 해도 동아시아 세력균형이 바뀌면 그 보장이 지속되기 어렵다고 지적했습니다. 더구나 최근 미 정보평가가 보여주듯 북한은 핵무기를 체제 보장 수단으로 여기고 러시아와의 군사협력을 심화시키고 있습니다. 이런 조건에서는 “중립화 선언”만으로는 북핵·동맹·주변 강대국 이해를 동시에 봉합하기 어렵습니다.

<English> But the <practical obstacles> are very large. KINU research argued that neutralization on the peninsula has low feasibility precisely because it is a zone of intersecting strategic interests, and that even an internationally guaranteed neutrality would be hard to sustain if the East Asian balance of power shifts. On top of that, current U.S. intelligence assessments say North Korea treats nuclear weapons as a core regime-security guarantee and is deepening military ties with Russia. Under those conditions, a mere declaration of neutrality would not be enough to settle the nuclear issue, alliance structures, and the conflicting interests of surrounding powers at the same time. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}

<한국어>
그래서 정책적으로는 <영세중립화론을 즉시 실현 가능한 최종안>으로 보기보다, <긴장완화를 위한 중간 프레임>으로 쓰는 편이 더 현실적입니다. 제 판단으로는, 이 이론의 실질적 가치는 세 가지입니다. 첫째, 한반도를 미·중 대결의 전초기지로만 보지 않게 만드는 사고 전환. 둘째, 군축·평화체제·대북 안전보장·경제협력을 하나의 패키지로 묶게 하는 상상력. 셋째, 통일을 단번의 흡수나 붕괴가 아니라 단계적 안전보장 질서로 재구성하게 하는 틀입니다. 이것은 직접 인용이 아니라, 위 자료들을 바탕으로 한 저의 분석입니다.

<English> So, in policy terms, neutralization is more realistic when treated not as an immediately achievable end-state but as an <intermediate framework for de-escalation>. My assessment is that its real value lies in three things: first, shifting thought away from treating Korea solely as a forward platform in U.S.-China rivalry; second, encouraging a package approach linking arms reduction, a peace regime, security guarantees for North Korea, and economic cooperation; and third, reframing unification not as sudden absorption or collapse but as a gradual order of mutual security. This is my inference from the sources, not a direct quotation. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}

4. 최종 정리

4. Bottom line

<한국어>
핵심만 남기면 이렇습니다. <Being in North Korea>는 북한을 “움직이는 사회”로 보게 해주는 책이고, 탈북자 증언은 그 사회의 폭력성과 공포를 드러내며, 위성·정보기관 분석은 그 사회를 움직이는 국가 우선순위를 보여줍니다. 이 셋을 합치면 북한은 <경제적으로는 부분 적응, 정치적으로는 강경 봉쇄, 전략적으로는 핵무장 고착>의 방향에 있습니다. 따라서 한반도 영세중립화론은 곧바로 실현될 청사진이라기보다, <동맹·핵·군축·평화체제를 함께 다시 설계하자>는 문제제기로서 더 가치가 큽니다.

<English> Boiled down: <Being in North Korea> helps us see North Korea as a society in motion; defector testimony exposes the violence and fear within that society; and satellite/intelligence analysis reveals the state priorities driving it. Put together, they suggest a system of <partial economic adaptation, hard political closure, and entrenched strategic nuclearization>. For that reason, Korean Peninsula neutralization is more valuable today as a prompt to redesign the whole package of alliances, nuclear risk, arms reduction, and a peace regime than as a near-term blueprint ready for implementation. :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}

원하시면 다음 단계로 <한반도 영세중립화론: 찬성 논리 5개 vs 반대 논리 5개>를 아주 선명하게 표처럼 재구성해드리겠습니다.

===

Description

In 2009, while working on a PhD in Seoul, Andray Abrahamian visited North Korea, a country he had studied for years but never seen. He returned determined to find a way to work closely with North Koreans. Ten years and more than thirty visits later, Being in North Korea tells the story of his experiences setting up and running Choson Exchange, a non-profit that teaches North Koreans about entrepreneurship and economic policy.

Abrahamian was provided a unique vantage into life in North Korea that belies stereotypes rampant in the media, instead revealing North Koreans as individuals ranging from true believers in the system to cynics wishing the Stalinist experiment would just end; from introverts to bubbly chatterboxes, optimists to pessimists. He sees a North Korea that is changing, invalidating some assumptions held in the West, but perhaps reinforcing others.

Amid his stories of coping with the North Korean system, of the foreigners who frequent Pyongyang, and of everyday relationships, Abrahamian explores the challenges of teaching the inherently political subject of economics in a system where everyone must self-regulate their own minds; he looks at the role of women in the North Korean economy, and their exclusion from leadership; and he discusses how information is restricted, propaganda is distributed and internalized, and even how Pyongyang's nominally illicit property market functions. Along with these stories he interweaves the historical events that have led to today's North Korea.

Drawing on the breadth of the author's in-country experience, Being in North Korea combines the intellectual rigor of a scholar with a writing style that will appeal to a general audience. Through the personal elements of a memoir that provide insights into North Korean society, readers will come away with a more realistic picture of the country and its people, and a better idea of what the future may hold for the nation.

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Review

By far the most informative book I've read on life in North Korea. Andray Abrahamian writes very entertainingly and knows what he's talking about. This is a rich and surprisingly revealing portrait of a super-secretive society.

Each page of Being in North Korea is a fresh revelation. Andray Abrahamian has spent more time in North Korea than anybody I know and he's such a knowledgeable and amusing guide that you'll feel like you've had the privilege of an exclusive tour by the time you finish reading his book.

Few North Korea watchers have the breadth and depth of experiences like Andray Abrahamian. Ranging from running a nonprofit training North Koreans on entrepreneurship to undertaking academic studies as a PhD-trained scholar, the author's work highlights his valuable perceptions about North Korea's society and markets. Being in North Korea captures Abrahamian's experiences in a way that informs and entertains.

Quite simply, a must-read for anybody going to North Korea. For everybody else, it is a literary excursion of the best kind -- humane, funny in ways you will never expect, grim when it should be, and rich beyond belief with hard-won expertise.

What is it like over there? This simple but at the same time immensely difficult question is what Abrahamian seeks to answer. Having worked in North Korea and speaking the language, he is the right person for such an endeavor. He identifies himself as an "engager," but he is far from being apologetic. Based on years of hands-on experience working with an NGO that offers capacity building to North Koreans, he paints a remarkably colorful, detailed, and multifaceted image of what Westerners, in his words, often experience as a 'no' society.

About the Author

Andray Abrahamian was the 2018-19 Koret Fellow at Stanford University. He is also an Honorary Fellow at Macquarie University, Sydney and an Adjunct Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute. He is an advisor to Choson Exchange, a non-profit that trains North Koreans in economic policy and entrepreneurship. He was previously Executive Director and Research Director for Choson Exchange. That work, along with supporting sporting exchanges and a TB project, has taken him to the DPRK nearly 30 times. He has also lived in Myanmar, where he taught at Yangon University and consulted for a risk management company.

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Being in North Korea

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Publisher ‏ : ‎ Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center

Publication date ‏ : ‎ 16 July 2020

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Print length ‏ : ‎ 206 pages

From the United States

Michael MacArthur Bosack

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for seasoned North Korea hands and novices alike

Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2020

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If you're looking for an insightful, useful, and readable account on North Korea, this is the best option available today.

I say this having studied and worked on North Korea issues for over a decade. All too often, commentary on the country carries the baggage of personal politics and DPRK tropes, but not Abrahamian's book. He brings a scholar and practitioner's view to the subject, all in a very personal way. Abrahamian's experiences serve as case studies in illustrating key points about North Korean life, history, and politics, and he delivers them with passion and wit.

I found this book extremely useful in filling gaps in my own knowledge on North Korea, and I only wish I had something like it when I first started studying the country years ago.

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Ayesha

4.0 out of 5 stars Fair, experiential, scholarly and loads of wit with plenty of humaneness.

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2020

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With such wealth of experience working in the DPRK, it is no wonder that a lucid rhetoric does not escape Andray Abrahamian. It is a personal appraisal of people he has met, engaged and exchanged ideas with, most often giving it a humane touch. Witty and humorous, the book is a scholarly and fair assessment through much lived experiences. And Andray even finds answers in non-experiences. The stereotypical rhetoric of an oft misunderstood state is persuasively dispelled with intelligibly. People all over the world feel and want the same - to live a good life no matter the circumstances, to laugh, to cry, to send our kids to the best schools, to give our children a bright future, to eat and be merry, to dance and to sing, to be achievers and so on. They are no different too. Andray has made invaluable effort in engagement and this book is a splendid observation of engaging with the Koreans. Kudos!

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K. Dekleva

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb insider’s view of life in the DPRK

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2020

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I confess my bias, having met Andray personally and having read most of his other writings, which are very, very good. But this book is his best. It is a deeply personal and human account of how North Koreans manage their day to day lives. Having traveled to the DPRK over 25-30 times, and speaking fluent Korean, he brings out their humanity, grit, sense of nationhood, and sheer resilience. Andray makes the people and country come alive, in in odd, peculiar way. And that’s impressive, for unless one has lived or traveled to theDPRK or to other similarly controlled societies (e.g. former Stalinist regimes) or currently, Turkmenistan, it’s hard to appreciate the DPRK’s way of life. Andray’s book is a good companion read to the works of Felix Abt and Andrei Lankov, as well as the fiction ofJames Church, a fascinating portrait of everyday life in the Hermit Kingdom. Congratulations Andray on an excellent, must-read book for any person interested in the DPRK.

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J. Sauvage

5.0 out of 5 stars Informed and perceptive

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021

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My wife and I spent 3 years in North Korea working for the UN, around the time covered by Dr. Abrahamian's book and I did meet him in Pyongyang once or twice. The book manages the difficult feat of capturing the oddity of working there, mixed with the attachment one develops for the very real human beings one encounters in the course of the stay. Also, the book illustrates a foundation of solid research with vignettes and stories, all in a balanced way. As a result, this book is accessible for all public, from those who just want to have a sense of being in North Korea to better-informed practitioners who like me still wonder how to unravel the North Korean puzzle.

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Van

5.0 out of 5 stars Book that brings unique insights and is humble about what it knows or don't about the country

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2020

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I bought a number of copies for friends as Christmas reading. It's a book that manages to bring a unique perspective in the country. I joined Choson Exchange as a volunteer on one of their training program and found the visit so fascinating that I went back multiple times. This book captures what I found fascinating going to North Korea and learning that what I did not know about the country is so much more than I imagined.

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I. See

5.0 out of 5 stars unique insights into a country which is often depicted from a monolithic point of view

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2021

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This book takes an approach few others have and the perspective is from someone with a wealth of first-hand experience. While still facing the harsh realities of life there, this book provides a glimmer of hope for the future of a fascinating closed society

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Brian T. Neubert

5.0 out of 5 stars The stranger real reality of North Korea.

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2025

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Most of what we think we know about North Korea is wrong or exaggerated. Yes it is unique and weird and tragic, but western headlines are comically inaccurate. Andray takes us there with him.

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Lou Alicegary

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, engaging, and informative - a unique perspective on North Korea

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2020

As a layperson with a passing interest in Korean history and politics, I find that the canon of readily available North Korea literature penned by Westerners typically falls into one of several camps. The overtly academic geopolitical and historical mélange, the lurid "dystopian Disneyworld" takedown, the adventure backpacker travelogue, and the defector memoir comprise 90% of what's available to readers like me. Refreshingly, Andray Abrahamian's newest offering, "Being in North Korea," is a departure from the typical treatment North Korea receives.

The most fascinating part of the book, and what sets it apart from its peers, are the firsthand anecdotes Abrahamian shares of his NGO's decade-long effort to expose hundreds, if not thousands, of North Korean students and businesspeople to modern principles of capitalism, markets, and business. The middle section of the book is dedicated to exploring his interactions not just with the students invited to his workshops, but also the government bureaucrats, guides, minders, and other personnel involved in coordinating these cross-border exchanges. North Koreans are not brainwashed automatons; the characters we encounter are inquisitive, ambitious, and imbued with the same hopes and saddled with the same fears that many of us share, despite the obvious differences in our day-to-day lives. Their portrayal is three dimensional and sincere; not flat and pandering as is so often the case.

Moreover, I found the book quite engaging and accessible - it weighs in at slightly over 200 pages and can easily be digested in one sitting. This is in large part due to the voice with which Abrahamian writes. His pedigree as a Korea watcher is strong and while he has full command over his subject matter, he still peppers his writing with the occasional wisecrack or sardonic musing. We're talking about a nation where Dennis Rodman arguably holds more political capital than scores of career diplomats, and as such we deserve an interlocutor who is not just an intellectual authority but also possesses an appreciation of the absurd - just don't let the author hear you lazily call the country "Kafkaesque."

The final chapter acts as a coda of sorts, where the author lays out his vision of the future of North Korean international relations and acknowledges what all but the most hawkish among us surely recognize: sanctions and bluster are a losing game because North Korea is uniquely positioned to wait such aggression out, as they have for decades already (albeit with admittedly deleterious consequences). Such acts have not been and will not be a death knell for the regime. A more pragmatic approach is required.

If you have an interest in how North Korea is dipping its toes into market-based economic principles, how its burgeoning entrepreneurial hopefuls see the world around them, or you simply want an extremely readable, entertaining glimpse into what it's like to live and work in North Korea and with North Koreans, purchase this book. Perfect for a lazy Sunday morning.

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J. Natiuk

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, deeply empathetic, and highly enjoyable

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020

Format: Paperback

Without a doubt, the best book about North Korea I have ever read. I will also freely admit that it is the only book about North Korea that I have ever read — which is precisely why I believe this is such an important and timely work.

Despite the potentially daunting subject matter, “Being in North Korea” is a highly enjoyable read from start to finish no matter your knowledge or level of interest in North Korea. Andray Abrahamian pulls you into this fascinating world with a mix of his own hard-earned experiences, intimate perspectives from North Korean citizens, and historical context. He does so with an insightful, engaging, and empathetic writing style that balances out the unavoidable squirms with plenty of humor. You get a unique look into the struggles, questions, and dreams of North Korean citizens. In doing so, you might also gain a new appreciation as well as some questions around your own relationship with your country.

If you’re deciding why to read this book, perhaps you’ve viewed North Korea in a similar way that I have - with a distant curiosity. How can such a place exist in the age of the internet? What do the citizens really think of their country? Why the focus on nuclear power? What is daily life like inside the country? Abrahamian has invested years into earning the knowledge and relationships necessary to be able to answer these questions in a fresh way that you will not find anywhere else.

One of my favorite portion of the book is Abrahamian and his partners creating a "Women in Business" program. If you don't find the idea of an American-born, British-finished, Armenian-heritaged, South Korean PhD'd scholar establishing a program for aspiring women entrepreneurs in North Korea interesting, well, then, maybe this book wouldn't be your cup of tea.

The book closes with a soulful chapter that begins with a reggae scene in Beijing, progresses through a discussion of current and hypothetical politics, and ends with a simple dream for a friend in Pyongyang. You really must read it.

This book may be the first significant reading I have done into North Korea, but credit to Andray’s work, it will not be the last.

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Sof

5.0 out of 5 stars First rate memoir from a first hand experience

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2020

Format: Paperback

Early in his book, Andray Abrahamian notes that "North Korea is an intense experience and describing it is a challenge." Indeed the author seems to have taken on this challenge quite eloquently and elegantly in his new book, which is both a form of travel memoir and an expert's analysis of the current situation in North Korea. Having traveled to North Korea many dozen times over the last decade, the reader is treated to Andray's experiences and analysis of what can only be described as a misunderstood country. Many readers will be familiar with outlandish news headlines on the "hermit kingdom"; the joy of Andray's new book is that he both dispells or confirms many of those myths while outlining the provenance of such views. To be fair, the book is written from a Westerner's perspective - as the author himself admits - but a Westerner with in depth academic grounding on the country and personal experiences with thousands of North Koreans. Similar in scope to Barbara Demick's essential book on North Korea (Nothing to Envy), Mr. Abrahamian's book gives the reader an honest, witty and often times amusing peak into what it is actually like to "be in North Korea". Of course, no Westerner has ever really been able to describe life in North Korea (for that you can read memoirs of escaped North Koreans) but the value of Mr. Abrahamian's book is that he situates the country and its people in the greater global context; most amusingly, one North Korean candidly admits to the author while on a group trip to Signapore: "I know very little of my own country". I would certainly recommend this book if you are looking to better understand North Korea, its place in the world, or just to appreciate what it is like to spend so much time in a country that is so foreign to both those inside and outside its borders.

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Clay Thomas

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Beyond the Headlines

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020

A lot of Westerners think about a country like North Korea purely through the lens of sociopolitics: Kim Jong Un. Communism. Nuclear Weapons. Bad.

This book, to its great credit, isn't narrowly focused on that layer of reality - although Abrahamian clearly knows his stuff, and you'll get plenty of useful big-picture context throughout. In the best bits, though, it really is just about what it feels like to actually be in North Korea, and catch an occasional glimpse of what it might feel like to live there: you’ll meet people navigating their good days and their bad ones; getting into petty disagreements; loving and being loved. They might not have McDonald's in North Korea, but if you look carefully, you'll recognize plenty of the landscape there, and plenty of the people.

In any travelogue, having the right guide is crucial, and Abrahamian is a wonderful guide. Informative and witty, sardonic yet warm, he’s able to shed light on the occasionally baroque, often mundane absurdities of the system while never losing sight of the common humanity he shares with those who navigate them every day. Through his eyes, moments of genuine human connection arrive unexpectedly, and rarely stay for long: fleeting triumphs against an indifferent world. But those moments helped me understand why someone might be motivated to endure all the bureaucratic run-around and keep going back. Such moments are rare everywhere. You take em where you can get em.

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Elizabeth

5.0 out of 5 stars Humanizing the DPRK in immensely readable, accessible prose

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2020

This book offers a lot, but what it does best is dispel or confirm the unbelievable and sometimes all too believable things you have heard about life, people, and places in North Korea. It does this with a voice that is personal, well-researched and, in Dr Abrahamian’s endearing, quirky way, mercifully lighthearted. Learning about the many hardships that Koreans in the north face can be dejecting, especially when their fellow countrymen in the south are enjoying such excesses and wealth (mukbang, anyone?). But the book takes you through the difficult life choices North Koreans have had to make and continue to make daily (Which member of the family gets to eat today? Should a son give his ailing mother methamphetamine because the government can’t (or won’t) provide her medicine?) in a sensitive and thoughtful manner, shedding however much light a foreigner can on the macro and micro policies that shape these peoples’ lives.

Dr Abrahamian offers us a glimpse of the humanity that survives in the DPRK. This book is a welcome supplement to the constant stream of essentializing speculation proffered by mainstream western media. Spend a few hours with this book and you'll be wondering what other wonders lie under the "fog" that hides Joseon.

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Phillip Matias

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating and highly informed glimpse into North Korea and its people

Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2020

Format: Paperback

For most people, North Korea is a curiosity and a passing fascination. Even for those fortunate enough to visit, it is hard to know what is real and what is mere propaganda by an eccentric and reclusive state. That is where Andray Abrahamian comes in. As someone who has dedicated much of his life and professional career to studying the country, his new book provides deep and thoughtful insights based on his many, many visits. His interwoven anecdotes about travel mishaps, humorous experiences, and personal exchanges with North Koreans make the book read like a travelogue where you cannot wait to see what happens next. Yet, amidst the stories, Andray’s deep expertise on the country shines through, leaving the reader with a profound and authentic sense of what life is really like in the DPRK. “Being in North Korea” delivers a rare, well-informed, first-hand account of the Hermit Kingdom. It is a fascinating page-turner for anyone with a passing interest in the country, and crucial reading for anyone intent on finding a way to engage with the DPRK.

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Jeff Stonebraker

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2020

In opening Andray Abrahamian lays out the most difficult question that he gets about North Korea. What's it like? While he states that it is difficult or impossible to fully detail he fully delivers. Being in North Koera is a fascinating look at this closed off part of the world that most people rarely see. My only view of North Korea is what I get from western media outlets. I hear of the eccentricities of their leader. I hear of the brutal methods of the regime. What I have never heard is the human and personal aspects of what it is like to live there. Mr. Abrahmanian paints a picture of daily life that allows the reader to get a sense of the similarities and differences of the people of North Korea.

Andray obviously has a great sense of humor and the book is easy to read and found myself reading large sections at a time because I didn't want to put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

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Rizki

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful, informative account of life in North Korea

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2021

Andray Abrahamian provides an outstanding account of his experiences in North Korea. He avoids prevalent stereotypes and instead shares a more thoughtful portrait of the country today. Written as a narrative, the book is easy to read despite the extraordinary amount of information in it. As an academic researching North Korea, I have found Being In North Korea to be extremely helpful: it is an unmissable update to existing literature on the life inside the country. I can't recommend this book enough - to novices and experts alike.

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sheed

5.0 out of 5 stars Wondering what North Korean people are really like? Read this.

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2020

Format: Paperback

Andray Abrahamian takes us on an intimate journey into North Korea, revealing sides of the people, culture and politics that would not otherwise be seen. Almost anyone can be in North Korea, but Abrahamian shows what it is like to really put in time, form relationships, and go deeper to find what North Korean people really think and what they really want.

An undisputed authority on the region, Abrahamian forgoes dry sociopolitical analysis for warmth, humor and an empathy that is rarely afforded to the topic of North Korea. This book is an enlightening and very enjoyable read.

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Orion

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, thoughtful and humorous!

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2020

This is a great read. If you're curious about what its really like in North Korea then this book will give you some great insights. It does a great job of avoiding stereotypes and really tries to get to know the people - which is really difficult under the circumstances. The author also has a dry sense of humor that will give you chuckles throughout. Highly recommended.

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Stuart J. Leighton

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, and up there with the great books about DPRK.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

Very interesting read that gives a historical and up to date insight into life in North Korea, told by a guy who has spent many years visiting the country providing business training to North Koreans with his NGO. Abrahamian does a great job commenting on the country, his efforts to educate both male and female entrepreneurs as well as discussing what might lie ahead for the DPRK. Funny, heartwarming and in places a little depressing, this book is up there in strength with the great books about North Korea, such as Barbara Demick's 'Nothing to Envy'. If you are interested in gaining more knowledge about DPRK, this is a must-read. Thoroughly enjoyed reading.

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Joerg Lehnert

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book

Reviewed in Germany on January 8, 2025

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The author gives an inside view about this strange monolitic country/society. Sometimes funny always informative. Worth reading.! Great book, well dritten.

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Barry DeFord

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and candid

Reviewed in Canada on October 22, 2020

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A good and engaging read.

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stalina

5.0 out of 5 stars Great work, view from the insight, supported by years of research and first hand experience.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2020

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

You might have heard something about North Korea, and you might be even remotely interested in learning more about it. Then look no further, this is the book for you.

The author is knowledgeable with hands on experience of the subject. His insight is very personal, and his research is remarkable. Book is very well structured, with good humour and a joy to read from first page to last. Subject is not always easy, but humour and empathy helps the author to navigate through some very dark parts.

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James B

73 reviews

1 follower

July 26, 2020

For anyone curious about North Korea (perhaps you friends who know me!), this is an insightful and very human account of the country over the past decade from an author who knows the country better than most.

"Being in North Korea" is required reading for anyone who wants to know what it is like to work in, deal with North Korea, think about, or study North Korea in a substantial and realistic way.

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Richard Deneault

9 reviews

July 13, 2020

2 likes

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Candacee

13 reviews

July 18, 2020

1 like

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Clay Thomas

1 review

1 follower

July 28, 2020

A lot of Westerners think about a country like North Korea purely through the lens of sociopolitics: Kim Jong Un. Communism. Nuclear Weapons. Bad.

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Bill Lovegrove

10 reviews

December 26, 2020

This is the best book on what it is like to visit North Korea as an outsider. The author was one of the cofounders of Chosun Exchange, a nonprofit that teaches North Koreans about entrepreneurship and economic policy. Note the past tense; he no longer is involved with Chosun Exchange, or he probably would never have written this book. One of the challenges with reading about North Korea is that the more people know the less they talk, because doing so jeopardizes their access.

I have visited North Korea several times, although not with the depth of experience that Andray has, and from my experience his descriptions are accurate and his observations insightful. This book is easy reading, and every chapter is full of both interesting stories and thoughtful analysis.

This book is the story of Andray's personal experiences in North Korea, and it doesn't clam to be or pretend to be comprehensive. But it is must reading for anybody considering visiting North Korea, and an engaging book for anyone even mildly interested in the country.

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Lesley Parker

59 reviews

1 follower

September 23, 2020

Andray Abrahamian has been visiting North Korea for a decade, running up over 30 visits as he and Geoffrey See of Choson Exchange bring business training to North Koreans. I've been aware of Choson Exchange for a while and - as a former business journalist, and as a North Korean visitor and watcher - I was quick to order this book. I wasn't disappointed. Andray shares experiences that will interest those who want to learn about the 'marketisation' of the NK economy, those who want to know what 'ordinary' North Koreans are like, and those thinking of travelling there one day (when tourism restarts). Andray is a serious observer - and 'engager' - but his meaningful insights extend to warm, funny and sad vignettes that make this book not just informative but really engaging. I hope Choson Exchange will be able to continue their work in trying to make life a little better for at least some North Koreans, and in so doing building bridges with the outside world.

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Jacob M.J.

Author

1 book

4 followers

July 19, 2020

Andray Abrahamian has spent a lot of time working and living, being, in the DPRK and it shows. This book is full his personal stories from his time inside the Hermit Kingdom. Some of these stories are humorous, particularly those about the handful of foreigners who have somehow found themselves in North Korea. Other stories, particularly those about North Koreans themselves, serve to humanize. Unlike many writers, who take the easy way out when writing about North Korea by emphasizing the strange, Abrahamian makes a concerted effort to understand North Korea and North Koreans on their own terms.

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Dylan

55 reviews

December 25, 2020

This was a humanizing account of the people and experience of living in DPRK. One of the best lines of the book says something like life there is 80% normal and 20% profoundly weird. Seems appropriate. The book is also well researched with plenty of footnotes. Not an earth shattering account, but a worthwhile read.

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Stuart Leighton

11 reviews

1 follower

August 23, 2020

Great book to read if you want to get some background knowledge of North Korea. I was actually on the 2011 Frisbee tour that Andray mentions, that brought back some memories.

Awesome book, about a mysterious and fascinating country.

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

북한에 산다는 것: 외부자의 시선으로 본 평양의 일상과 변화| Andray Abrahamian 2020

<북한에 산다는 것>: 외부자의 시선으로 본 평양의 일상과 변화

1. 요약: 폐쇄된 국가의 틈새를 들여다보다

2. 평론: 고정관념을 넘어선 실증적 관찰의 기록

1. 책의 성격과 문제의식

<Korean>

<English>

2. 핵심 내용 요약

(1) “완전한 통제 사회”라는 이미지의 수정

<Korean>

<English>

(2) 엘리트와 일반 주민의 격차

<Korean>

<English>

(3) 외국인과 북한인의 관계

<Korean>

<English>

(4) 변화의 조짐

<Korean>

<English>

(5) 외부 담론에 대한 비판

<Korean>

<English>

3. 핵심 개념

4. 평론

(1) 강점

① 현장 기반 분석

② 단순 이분법 거부

③ 정책적 함의

(2) 한계

① 접근 제한의 문제

② 체제 비판의 약함

③ 구조적 폭력 분석 부족

5. 기존 북한 담론 속 위치

6. 더 큰 의미

(1) “적대 이미지”의 정치성

(2) 정책 실패의 구조

(3) “변화 가능성”의 현실적 이해

7. 결론

<Korean>

<English>

8. 한 줄 정리

1. <이 책 vs 탈북자 증언 vs 위성·정보기관 분석 비교>

1. <This book vs defector testimony vs satellite/intelligence analysis>

2. <북한 변화 가능성: 경제 vs 정치 구조 분리 분석>

2. <North Korea’s capacity for change: separating economic from political structure>

3. <한반도 영세중립화론과 연결한 정책적 함의>

3. <Policy implications for Korean Peninsula neutralization theory>

4. 최종 정리

4. Bottom line

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