Remember that University of Virginia dude who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea after he stole a damn political sign in a hotel? What a heinous crime, huh? Well, a travel blogger has made a short video to shed light on a different side of the world’s most secretive country. He even goes so far to call his experience ‘pretty chill’ which I believe translates to ‘I didn’t get my head cut off.’
Drew ‘Binsky’ Goldberg spent three days inside Pyongyang last month and produced a video documenting his experience in the country’s capital. He claimed to be intimidated by all the police and soldiers in Pyongyang but knew he’d be fine “as long as I didn’t break any rules.”
Drew visited monuments, took the metro (which ranks among the deepest underground transport systems in the world at 110 metres below ground level), ate at restaurants, sang karaoke, ran a 10K, and got called out for his ginger hair.
Drew said in a viral Facebook post:
“I’d like to disclose that all tours to North Korea are heavily organised and pre-planned as to what we could do, eat and see. Everyone must stick with tour group at all times or else they will face severe consequences.
Many of you know my deep love and appreciation with Korea, as I lived and taught English in Seoul for 18 months. I can speak Korean conversationally, so I used my ability to meet eye to eye with as many locals as I could and have conversations with them. Most people I came across were friendly and kind-hearted, even after telling them I was American. It’s unfortunate that they were born into such a controlling regime, but it certainly wasn’t their fault or choice.”
Goldberg went on to say that while propaganda is used heavily in the north, it was a laughing stock in the south.
“Honestly, most of my former students laughed when I brought up North Korea or Kim Jong-un,” he said.
“They think it’s a big joke, and they are not scared or intimidated by their neighbours to the north in the slightest.”
As far as returning to North Korea, Drew said he’d go back in a heartbeat. Can’t help but think this dude is playing with fire.
[h/t LADbible]