Pyongyang unveils housing plans but quality concerns persist
The KCNA agency showed a photo of a representative block housing complex in Pyongyang visited by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It consists of 10,000 apartments, but not everyone can live there. Tenants will be selected based on their loyalty to the regime. The authorities proudly discuss the investment, but CNN reports that the quality of the buildings leaves much to be desired.
According to a study conducted in 2021 by scientists from the Institute of Civil Engineering and Construction Technology in South Korea, North Korea can only provide accommodation for 70-80% of households.
The complex, consisting of 10,000 apartments in the new Hwasong district, is intended to address these problems. Residential buildings are being built there as part of an ambitious five-year plan announced in 2021, aiming to construct 50,000 apartments in Pyongyang. The quality of life for residents is expected to be significantly higher than in other parts of this impoverished country, according to CNN.
This housing estate, a source of pride for the regime, was personally visited by Kim Jong Un. It features not only skyscrapers but also commercial and service facilities. State media bragged about the construction pace in the capital, calling it "Pyongyang Speed." Officials claim to have completed the skeleton of a 70-storey skyscraper in the capital's Ryomyong New Town in just 74 days.
However, experts question the quality of building materials and project execution in the country—especially after the collapse of a residential building in Pyongyang in 2014, which could have housed dozens of families. State media attributed the disaster, without disclosing the official number of casualties, to "careless construction" and "irresponsible oversight by officials."
Living in North Korean skyscrapers is not necessarily a symbol of luxury. Frequent power outages disable elevators, making everyday life difficult for those on higher floors. As a result, younger residents are assigned higher apartments, while older residents are moved to lower floors, CNN reports.
The government allocates housing, prioritizing those considered most loyal to the ruling Kim family and those working in sectors deemed most valuable to the nation, such as scientists and engineers.
