Koryo Tours

Koryo Tours
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Koryo Tours is an independent Western travel company based in Beijing, specializing in group and independent tourism to North Korea .[1][2]

Their tours run throughout the year though December is generally closed to tourism due to the cold and closure of the museums. There are packages for staying in the capital Pyongyang with visits to the DMZ at the border with the Republic of Korea. At different times of year there are other events such as the Mass Games and the Pyongyang International Film Festival which are available as special tours when they are running.

History

A photo taken during a tour organized by Koryo Tours

In 1993, Koryo Tours was set up by Nick Bonner and Joshua Green and they have been organizing trips into North Korea since 1993.[3] Simon Cockerell joined the company in 2002 and in 2015 was the general manager.[4]

Tourism

In 1993, Koryo Tours was appointed as a travel specialist by the Korea International Travel Company, part of the Government of North Korea. Koryo Tours takes in over 50% of westerners visiting North Korea. Koryo Tours is responsible for opening up of new destinations in North Korea as well as new activities such as; cycling, educational tours etc.[5]

Film production

Koryo Tours was involved in the production of a number of films. The Game of Their Lives (2002), A State of Mind (2004) and Crossing the Line (2006) were documentaries.[6] Comrade Kim Goes Flying (2012) was a romantic comedy feature film, shot in Pyongyang, with a North Korean cast and crew.[7][8]

As part of the making of The Game of Their Lives, Koryo Tours organized the return of the North Korean team of the 1966 FIFA World Cup to the United Kingdom in October 2002. Over 100,000 British football fans turned out to welcome the players at various football clubs.

Cultural activities

Koryo Tours is the international co-ordinator for the bi-annual Pyongyang International Film Festival which has a local audience total of 120,000. In 2004 and 2006 they screened Bend It Like Beckham, Mr Bean the Disaster Movie and Bride and Prejudice, each film seen by over 12,000 locals. They assisted the British Embassy with the nationwide broadcast of Bend It Like Beckham on December 26, 2010 (the first western feature film to be broadcast in North Korea).

They have organized various cultural exchanges, including music and sport. In conjunction with the North Korean Ministry of Sport, they arranged the first friendship football, ice hockey, cricket, volleyball and ultimate frisbee matches between locals and westerners. In September 2010 with the support of the British Embassy and CLSA to mark ten years of diplomatic relations they took Middlesbrough Women’s FC to Pyongyang to play two North Korean teams, both matches watched by 6,000 Korean fans and broadcast nationwide.

Published work

2009 in-house publishing of ‘The Art of DPRK – North Korean Film Posters’. 2007 produced ‘Welcome to Pyongyang’ a photographic study with Charlie Crane (winner of the British Journal of Photography International Prize). 2008 co-writer ‘A Night in Pyongyang’ (mass games photographic book) Werner Kranwetvogel. 2002 Wallpaper Magazine produced and wrote an architectural feature on Pyongyang in conjunction with a North Korean photographer.

In 2012, Koryo published Pyongyang Racer, a browser-based racing video game, to promote tourism to North Korea.[9]

Media

BBC Radio 3 – Co-ordinator for Travelogue Channel 4 (UK) the first travel programme on North Korea (1995). Arranged the first music programme on North Korea with Andy Kershaw, two-parts, Sony nomination (2003). BBC Radio 4- Profiled in two-part radio travelogue following Nicholas Bonner on tour in North Korea, Sony nominated (2005). Regular media contributor/interviews. (2007) CNN:s TalkAsia interview with Nicholas Bonner. (2006) Nicholas Bonner and Daniel Gordon interview on their documentary Crossing the Line for CBS:s 60 Minutes feature with Bob Simon. Co-presenter in TV travel series Departures on North Korea (2009) broadcast on the National Geographic Adventure Channel.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Glain, Steve (February 19, 1997). "A Visit to North Korea Can Be Amazingly Hip ... If You Get in". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-09-15. Koryo Tours is a British-run company. The company has organized travel and cultural exchanges with the DPRK.
  2. ↑ "US tourists can visit DPRK for mass games". People's Daily Online. September 23, 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  3. ↑ Lee, Su Hyun (October 2, 2005). "North Korea Allowing U.S. Visitors (but Time Is Short)". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  4. ↑ Fifield, Anna (August 5, 2015). "North Korea tours: Simon Cockerell of Koryo Tours has visited 143 times". Washington Post.
  5. ↑ "Tough going, but a holiday in North Korea is not impossible". Daily Times (Pakistan). July 21, 2004. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  6. ↑ Koryo Quarterly newsletter Archived 2014-12-16 at the Wayback Machine., August 2008
  7. ↑ "Official website". Comradekimgoesflying.com. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  8. ↑ "Comrade Kim Goes Flying", Toronto Film Festival
  9. ↑ Eördögh, Fruzsina (December 20, 2012). "Drive Deserted Streets in North Korea's Super-Depressing New Video Game". Slate. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
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