NOTES FOR TRAVELLERS

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THESE NOTES WITH YOU INTO NORTH KOREA
We are looking forward to meeting you in Beijing. Before you depart please take the time to read the following.
Please note you will need to print and fill in the journalist and insurance contract at the end of the notes and
bring it with you to the pre-tour briefing which will be held at our office in Beijing the day before the trip departs.
Best wishes,
Koryo Tours

ARRIVING INTO BEIJING ...................................................................................... 1

ARRIVING INTO THE DPRK ................................................................................... 2
WHAT TO BRING ................................................................................................. 3
MONEY MATTERS ............................................................................................... 4
HEALTH AND HYGIENE ........................................................................................ 5
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS ............................................................................. 6
PHOTOGRAPHY ................................................................................................... 6
JOURNALISM....................................................................................................... 7
CROSS-CULTURAL MATTERS ................................................................................ 7
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF ...................................... 8
JOURNALIST AND INSURANCE CONTRACT ........................................................... 9

ARRIVING INTO BEIJING

DOCUMENTATION NEEDED TO TRAVEL TO CHINA AND DPRK
You will require a passport valid for at least six months after the date of your trip, a DPRK visa, and a double-entry
visa for entry into China (unless you are in transit). Visas are NOT issued at Beijing airport.

CHINA VISA
Most tourists will require a double-entry visa for China. In emergency cases it is possible to obtain a re-entry visa at
the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang, however this takes at least 1 week and is therefore only an option for tourists
on longer tours. Also, the embassy is closed for weekends, both DPRK and Chinese holidays, and the visa can be
quite expensive (EUR 60-160 depending on your nationality, urgency, etc.). This should absolutely be a last resort;
please do your very best to obtain a double entry Chinese visa for the trip and inform us if you have not been able
to do so. If you are finding it hard to get a double entry visa then there is another solution: If you arrive and depart
directly from and to international destinations from Beijing airport you can visit Beijing without a visa as long as
your stay is less than 72 hours. If this applies to you then we can send you a scan of the plane ticket to Pyongyang
and the DPRK visa which will enable you to board a plane to China. There is no possibility of transiting in China if
you exit the DPRK by train. If visiting China in transit you simply pass through the transit channel at immigration
(you are permitted to leave the airport). This waiver scheme does not work if you then fly to another airport in
China before arriving/departing you have to fly directly into/out of Beijing airport. You cannot fly, for example,
from Beijing to Guangzhou and then abroad, this is not considered to be in transit and would require a Chinese
visa. You can find more information here http://en.bcia.com.cn/server/notice/72visafree/

DPRK VISA
At this point you will have already applied for this visa through us by sending us a copy of your passport and recent
passport photo; we dont require your actual passport for the visa at any time. The visas are issued separate to the
passports and passports are not stamped at any time.

MONEY IN CHINA
You can change money on arrival at the machines at baggage collection and exchange them to Chinese RMB - there
are also ATMs at Beijing airport but only one of them airside (after customs) in Terminal 2, which is where Air
Koryo flights depart from.

LEAVING BEIJING AIRPORT

DO NOT go with taxi touts. Queue up at the official taxi rank directly outside the terminus (there will be uniformed
staff directing this) make sure they put down the meter - it will cost NO MORE than RMB 100 total to get into the
city centre. Dont tip or negotiate with taxi drivers in China, always pay only what is on the meter.
Beijings airport express train runs between the airport and downtown you can take this to Dongzhimen (fairly
near to our office) or Sanyuanqiao and then get a cab from there to our office (the train takes approx 30 mins and
costs 25 RMB per person). If you want to go by subway, the stations nearest to the office are Dongsishitiao on the
nd
rd
2 ring road (line 2), or Tuanjiehu on the 3 ring road (line 10).

FINDING THE KORYO TOURS OFFICE

TAXI TO OUR OFFICE: PLEASE PRINT OUR OFFICE MAP BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME COUNTRY AND HAVE IT
READY TO SHOW THE DRIVER. IF POSSIBLE HAVE YOUR HOTEL ADDRESS IN CHINESE CHARACTERS very few taxi
drivers speak English or understand English hotel names.

Office number: +86 10 6416 7544

ARRIVING INTO THE DPRK

CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Weather in DPRK varies throughout the year and is quite changeable; we wont be visiting clothing markets on the
tours, so we advise you to bring clothes for all eventualities. The northern areas of the DPRK are significantly colder
than Pyongyang. Some of the larger buildings can be uncomfortably chilly so please bring a sweater or jacket every
morning on tour. For weather forecasting and other info check www.wunderground.com or similar websites.

TRANSPORTATION
Flights to and from the DPRK are on the national airline, Air Koryo, or Air China. When in the DPRK you will travel
by bus or minibus depending on the size of the group. Some itineraries include an internal flight and those taking
the train out of the country will of course experience train travel!

ARRIVAL IN THE DPRK

Upon arrival at the airport in Pyongyang, you will go through immigration and customs. Once you have passed
through passport control, pick up your baggage; officials will X-ray and/or inspect your luggage. They usually check
each piece of electronic equipment individually (i.e. laptop, tablet, camera, mobile phone). It is unlikely though
that anything will be confiscated if this does happen then it will be stored at the airport until your departure. As
you are leaving the customs inspection area you must show your baggage claim ticket.
When arriving or leaving by train, procedures take much longer; customs officials board the train and hand out
forms. Then an official will take the completed forms, passports and visa away for checking. Meanwhile, other
officials conduct a thorough hand-search of all baggage, which could take more than an hour for each carriage.
Once you have met your guides they will need to collect up your DPRK visa and passport so that they can register
you with the local authorities and stamp your visa. At this time they also check that you have your visa to get back
into China. If you are doing the 72 hour transit you will need to give them a copy of your onward flight out of
Beijing so that they can see you are eligible for this. The passports are usually held by them up until the day before
your departure when they will be returned to you.

BAGGAGE AND INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

For flights between China and the DPRK on Air Koryo your total baggage allowance is 20kg plus one carry-on bag.
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The airline may charge passengers for overweight luggage. If you have more than 20kg of luggage, or have items
you dont wish to carry with you into the DPRK, luggage storage is available at Beijing Airport for a small fee.
Alternatively, you can store small items and valuables at our office in Beijing; however, we cant take responsibility
for any loss/damage.

SECURITY AND CRIME

Petty crime is exceptionally rare in DPRK. Nonetheless, it always pays to be careful when you are traveling. Do not
carry large amounts of money around and always lock room doors.

INSURANCE
Medical, Accident and Emergency Evacuation Insurance
Before traveling with Koryo Tours you must take out travel insurance to cover medical and evacuation costs.
Koryo Tours cannot be held liable for any medical costs whatsoever. Koryo Tours can sell insurance coverage for
the tour - please contact us or see website for details. This can be booked as late as the pre-tour briefing but
cannot be done on day of departure. http://www.koryogroup.com/travel_terms.php
Trip cancellation
If the tour is cancelled by Koryo Tours or the DPRK authorities we refund all money received minus the bank
transfer fee. If the tour is cancelled by the tourist then our cancellation charges apply. For our full cancellation
policy, please see our website. http://www.koryogroup.com/travel_terms.php

WHAT TO BRING
ESSENTIAL ITEMS
torch/flashlight areas outside Pyongyang are quite susceptible to power cuts
Imodium or charcoal tablets some people have a bad reaction to food they are not used to
digital camera memory it is not possible to buy more in DPRK if you run out, and you will take more
pictures than you expect. A spare camera battery is also advisable.
a good supply of any prescription medicines you need these will not be available in DPRK
spending money it isnt shoppers paradise but there is no way of getting more money; so we suggest
that EUR 400-500 would be adequate for a week-long trip. However we always suggest you take more
than you expect to require, just in case! Remember, you can use USD and Chinese RMB, or EUR.
Toilet paper/hand sanitizing liquid/wet wipes on occasion there may be no soap available
button up shirt and tie - for men, if your tour includes a visit to the mausoleum
OPTIONAL ITEMS
photos of home and family the guides and other Koreans like to see what the lives of their tourists are
like, this makes a good ice-breaker
gifts for guides and driver makes a good impression and shows an appreciation for their work, anything
from cigarettes to face cream to something typical to where you live is good, remember this is a gift not
aid so bring quality rather than quantity (dont present it on the first day, and do it somewhat privately)

DO NOT BRING
books about DPRK or the Korean situation (from Sep 2014 this includes guide books to DPRK such as the
Lonely Planet/Bradt Guide)
American or South Korean flags or clothes prominently showing these
radios
books or magazines/newspapers from South Korea or in the Korean language
clothes with political or obscene slogans (they will ask us to translate for them)
bibles (please see section religious material for more info)
THINGS YOU CAN TAKE WHICH YOU MIGHT THINK YOU CANT TAKE
mobile phone (although you wont get a signal unless you buy a local SIM card), laptop, iPad, iPod/MP3
notebook and pen
food/snacks/alcohol
tape recorder
jeans, shorts and T-shirts
E-Readers (such as Kindle)
3

Tablet computers/ laptops

GPS-enabled Devices Specific GPS devices are forbidden and may be confiscated on entry. Computers, cameras,
etc. with GPS function are technically not allowed but this injunction has not been strictly enforced for some time.

RELIGIOUS MATERIAL
Proselytising in the DPRK is an extremely serious offence and we do not want to compromise the safety of our
tourists or our local Korean guides. Do not take a Bible with you. The DPRK Authorities are very sensitive about the
potential for tourists to leave Bibles behind in the country, if you carry one with you this could cause huge
problems for the guide and for yourself. This also applies to any other religious material, incl. religious messages on
notes, crosses etc.

ELECTRICITY
Electric current is both 220 and 110 volts AC, 60 Herz. The
two-round-pronged plug (European style) is the most common but you do
also get the two-flat-pin plugs (American style) and three angled flat blade
sockets. We suggest that you bring a voltage adaptor or a dual-voltage
appliance, and bring a replacement set of batteries. Although there is a shortage of electricity in the DPRK, hotels
have their own generators and, therefore, generally reliable power.

GIFTS
Personal gifts are very much appreciated. Some good ideas are fruits that will last the journey, as well as cookies,
etc. Gifts for children such as crayons and picture books are a great ice-breaker but handing them out at random is
not encouraged. You may visit a school or kindergarten where you can distribute them, and if you haven't found an
opportunity to do so by the end of the trip we work with several charities who will gratefully receive them.

CLOTHING
Dress in the DPRK is modest and Koreans always try to dress their best and will very rarely look scruffy. Generally,
there is no dress code for tourists, but it would be polite to make an effort to look presentable. The only place
where there is a dress code on this trip is at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the Mausoleum of Kim Il Sung & Kim
Jong Il. Here, men will need a collared shirt and tie and women should wear more formal clothing. Open-toed
shoes should not be worn by either sex, neither should trainers/sports shoes. No denim is allowed. It is a site of
great importance to the Korean people and you may be refused admittance if you dont adhere to the dress code.

MONEY MATTERS
Tourists to the DPRK are not allowed to use local currency (won). Tourists may use EUR, USD and Chinese RMB
Bring enough money for your trip, in cash, with plenty of small denominations as there is a shortage of
change, large notes may cause problems. EUR coins and USD 1 bills are ideal
Credit cards and travelers cheques are not accepted
There are no ATMs
Do try and bring 'clean' notes as they will not accept any that are torn, heavily creased, have writing on
etc (this is not such an issue with RMB as it is with EUR and USD)
Korean won may be obtained for souvenir purposes only

EXTRA COSTS IN ADDITION TO THE TOUR FEE

The tour is sold all-inclusive from Beijing to DPRK and back again and so the only extra costs you will have are:
Special events - if there is an event outside the itinerary such as a revolutionary opera or football match
we may offer it as an extra a ticket usually costs EUR 20. We will provide alternative (and free!)
arrangements if you do not wish to participate
Funfair - often included on the itinerary as an optional visit - entry costs EUR 2, rides are between EUR 4-7
Fee for the lift to go up the Juche Tower (EUR 5)
Tip for DPRK guides & driver (see below for guidelines)
Spending money aside from souvenirs and the items mentioned above, you might also want money for
drinks in the evenings (beer is cheap, from EUR 1 per bottle). The hotels also offer various forms of
entertainment such as bowling, swimming, karaoke etc. These all cost a couple of EUR per person
Flowers at the Mansudae Grand Monument & the Revolutionary Martyrs cemetery (around EUR 5 per
bunch. If on a group tour the tour leader buys on behalf of group but feel free to get your own bunch too)
4

Tour DVD sometimes a cameraman from KITC accompanies the group to film what you are doing and
make a 90 min DVD of your tour which can be acquired for approx. EUR 50 depending on length of tour.

SHOPPING
The DPRK is not a consumer culture so there is little to buy besides souvenirs such as postcards, books, stamps,
DVDs, ginseng, t-shirts, embroidery and traditional-style paintings.. Shops frequented by tourists have fixed prices
there is no bargaining unless a lot of purchases are being made. Guides do not receive commissions so they will
not take the group shopping just to make money.

TIPPING GUIDELINES
DPRK is not a tipping culture, however it is customary to tip the tour guides and driver, there is no need to tip
anyone else such as bellhops, waiters, etc. On group tours the tour leader will collect a group tip at the end of the
tour and divide it between the guides and driver. The recommended and international standard daily rate is EUR
10 per tour participant for group tours and EUR 10-20 per day, per tourist for independent tours - this
recommendation is a minimum amount and if you wish to and can give more then it will be greatly appreciated!

HEALTH AND HYGIENE

As elsewhere in Asia, the most common problem experienced in the DPRK is a stomach upset. On group tours your
tour leader will carry a basic first aid kit, but cannot prescribe, recommend or give you any prescription medicines,
so we therefore encourage you to discuss with your doctor what you need to bring such as anti-diarrheal
medications and any other personal products you think you might need such as paracetamol, aspirin, etc. You can
get almost no medicine or any of the usual medicaments in the DPRK, not even Tylenol/acetaminophen. We
recommend you bring a duplicate supply of any prescription drugs and keep them separate from your main supply.
Medical facilities in the DPRK are basic, with very few drugs and little equipment available. Hospitals and clinics are
subject to power cuts. Blood and blood products may not be screened. In serious cases please ask your tour
leader/guide to take you to the compound of the World Food Program where there is a UN clinic. If you do become
seriously ill you will need to be evacuated to Beijing for treatment.
Please note that the area around Kaesong is considered to be a malarial area by the WHO, however, there is very
little risk of contracting the disease from the places that we visit. The WHO state that there is no need to take
malaria prophylaxis when visiting and in any case, this is not recommended for visits of less than 1-2 weeks. We
have never had any cases of our tourists contracting the disease.

FOOD AND DRINK

Those living near Korean communities may already be familiar with Korean cuisine. Koreans eat dog meat as a
delicacy and it is not served to tourists as a rule (if you dont know what the meat is, it isnt dog!). Local beer is
good and, on occasion, ginseng wine or rice wine (soju) is available. Vegetarians can be catered for, but once you
have declared you are vegetarian it is very difficult to change arrangements so stick with your dietary choice! Those
requiring strict Halal or Kosher food cannot be accommodated. Expect the offerings in the DPRK to be basic but
adequate. Its a good idea to bring your favorite snacks from home to perk up your palate. A thermos of boiled hot
water is provided in your Pyongyang hotel room but nothing is provided to put in it, so you may like to bring
teabags or coffee for yourself. The Koreans take the role of host very seriously and will always over-provide in the
way of food. This means there will usually be plenty left over. Don't worry about this, it has all been paid for - if
everything is eaten up they will feel that they haven't provided enough.
We do our best to ensure the highest level of cleanliness at all hotels we use, but it pays to be prudent. Food in
DPRK is generally clean and safe to eat. Avoid drinking tap water though, bottled water is cheap & readily available.

BATHROOMS
All of the hotels that we use in the DPRK have en suite bathrooms and these all have western-style toilets.
However, outside the hotel rooms, the most common style of toilet is a squat/Asian-style. Often, there is no
running water to flush these but a bucket of water with a scoop is provided to clean it afterwards.

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

Local Korean and satellite channels are available in your Pyongyang hotel, including BBC World. The Pyongyang
Times is published in English in the DPRK (every Saturday) and you can also get English language news on the web
at http://www.kcna.kp/kcna.user.home.retrieveHomeInfoList.kcmsf?lang=eng

MOBILE PHONES
You are allowed to take your phone into the country but will not have any network coverage with your own SIM
card. It is possible to purchase local SIM cards from a booth in Pyongyang airport. With these you can make and
receive international phone calls and call any other foreigner in Pyongyang who has a mobile phone. However, you
wont be able to call the guides (there are essentially 2 networks which are mutually exclusive - one for foreigners
and one for Koreans). The SIM cards are pay-as-you-go which means you need to buy top-up cards in order to add
credit. Please note that calls are not cheap, you also pay to receive calls and there is no international texting. 3G
phones do exist but these are generally not available for tourists.
International Call rates:
- China & South East Asia- EUR 1.43/min
- Russia- EUR 0.68/min
- France & Switzerland- EUR 0.38/min
- UK & Germany - EUR 1.58/min
- USA - EUR 5/min

MAIL
You can buy postcards and stamps at your hotels and postcards are available at most tourist sites. Mail usually
takes over two weeks to reach the U.S. or Europe. In the DPRK, be aware when writing home that your letters and
postcards may be read. Mail sent to addresses in South Korea will not be delivered.

TELEPHONE AND FAX

International Direct Dial telephone and fax are available in most Pyongyang hotels, although, in the DPRK,
connections arent reliable and calls may be monitored:
Most hotels have a telecommunications centre where you can make calls, this is better and more reliable
than the rooms
Calls are expensive (see above for rates)
It is generally not possible to make international calls from a landline anywhere other than Pyongyang
Do feel free to pass on our office numbers to family in case of emergency - this is a much more reliable
way for them to get in touch with you rather than trying to call the hotel in Pyongyang
Calls to South Korea will not be put through

INTERNET AND EMAIL

The internet is not widely available in the DPRK. It is possible to send an email from the Yanggakdo Hotel using the
hotels own email system but this correspondence may be monitored and there is no way to browse your own
account. There are now one or two hotels in the DPRK with a single computer with internet access to be used by
tourists but none of these are in Pyongyang.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Bring plenty of memory for your camera as you will take more photos than you expect! Lenses over 150mm are
officially not permitted in DPRK, but theres almost never a problem taking them in. Be very careful what you
photograph the golden rule is to always ask your guide or leader; you will be under close scrutiny and so will
what you photograph. Additionally:
Dont photograph anything or anyone military or strategic this includes soldiers
Dont take photographs of people without asking many Koreans dont want to be photographed
Be extra cautious when taking photos at particularly venerated monuments so as not to cause offence. At
the statues of Kim Il Sung & Kim Jong Il, dont photograph behind the statue, its feet, or just a part of it,
make sure the entire body is in the frame. If you are posing in front, do so respectfully.
Taking photos of soldiers, poverty, shops, or housing, as well as sneaking photos and/or taking close-ups of people
without their express permission can cause serious problems - even day to day scenes may cause problems for
6

you, your group, and particularly your guide. Shots that seem innocent or interesting to you to others may be
suspicious or threatening to North Koreans. These are likely to be reported and could either result in the trip being
curtailed or your guides being made responsible for your actions. Turn to your tour leader for guidance on this as
you travel around. In the end, it pays to conform to the restrictions - if the group earns the confidence of the
guides there will be considerable opportunities for photography, and you are less likely to miss anything.

JOURNALISM
The laws of DPRK prohibit journalists and photographers (full or part-time) from traveling on tourist visas. We do
not make the laws in the DPRK but our work is subject to them, if a journalist/photographer poses as a tourist and
manages to join one of our tours then we will be put out of business (as happened for 9 months in 1997 when an
undercover journalist joined a tour). More importantly, our partners in DPRK are responsible for tourist behaviour
and could face serious consequences. Since 1993 we have worked on filmmaking, art, sports, education and
cultural exchanges as well as tourism and are working to help open the DPRK to the outside world. It is important
we continue this business. We ask journalists/photographers to please respect our position and DO NOT APPLY
for a visa with Koryo Tours.
TOURISTS: We cant allow the writing of articles/publishing of photographs from our trips in mainstream media
without prior permission and we would be obliged to take proceedings against anyone who breaks our trust. A
personal travel blog, pictures on Facebook etc are fine but if you plan anything more high-profile please consult us.

CROSS-CULTURAL MATTERS
Co-operation with the guides
Your relationship with your guides is crucial for the success of your trip. Being a North Korean guide provides many
benefits and certainly is a privileged position. However, the guides are held responsible for everything you do
even if they dont see it or cant stop it. Be aware that even if you unwittingly cause a problem, it is your tour
group, and especially your tour guide that are considered to be responsible. Guides can restrict a whole group they
decide cant be trusted even if only one member broke the rules. The authorities can even recommend the group
be sent home in an extreme case. The more you co-operate with the guides and show genuine interest, fairness
and cultural sensitivity, the more they will trust you and the better your experience will be.

Politeness and respect

Asian cultures place great value on politeness and respect; this is especially true in the DPRK. Koreans know they
are completely isolated internationally, and they believe that certainly America and much of the outside world is
against them. They are sensitive and react quickly to perceived or real slights or inappropriate behavior. It is very
important not to show any disrespect to any aspect of Korean life or belief, and especially not to their Leaders Kim
Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un no matter what you may privately think. (Notice how newspapers are
folded so that their faces are not creased). Dont fold or crumple up any piece of paper with their pictures on and
throw it away! Please dont smoke, eat or chew gum at sites of national importance - this would offend.

Bowing
When visiting the Mansudae Monument you will be expected to bow to the statues of Kim Il Sung & Kim Jong Il.
This is simply about respecting other peoples customs, just as non-Buddhists/non-Muslims take off their shoes in
temples/mosques. Bowing is also expected at the bodies of Kim Il Sung & Kim Jong Il in the Mausoleum. If you are
not willing to behave at some points as expected by the local customs then we recommend that you do not visit
the DPRK, the potential for offense to be taken by the hosts which then adversely affects the tour is too great.

Conversation and communication

Koreans will appreciate those who come to the DPRK with a genuine interest in learning more about the country.
For reasons of politeness and consideration, be careful what you say about your observations and beliefs about the
DPRK. Politics, economics, religion, the power supply, famine, poverty, the Kims, South Korea, your understanding
of the Korean War, nuclear issues, etc, are all topics which can be discussed but please take care to avoid doing so
dogmatically; in other words, no preaching. North Koreans are aware and can accept that foreigners hold different
opinions, but they dont wish to be taught or saved by their guests. Notice that if a subject appears to be
delicate and/or the other person is hesitant in replying, you may have inadvertently trodden on a sensitive area.
Do not press the point, and try to find a graceful way to drop the topic.

General cultural customs

People in Asia consider displays of anger extremely offensive; you will not get what you want and will cause the
other person to lose face. Patience and calm always work better
You shouldnt pour your own drink; pour for others at the table first and they will be obligated to pour for you.
When presenting gifts or business cards, for example, do so with both hands, showing that what you are
offering is the fullest extent of yourself. Study with interest any card you receive before putting it away
Wave someone over with your palm down, motioning to yourself, not with your finger crooked upwards.

Names
As elsewhere in East Asia, Korean surnames precede given names. For example, Kim Ye Jin would be referred to as
Mr/Mrs Kim. North Koreans never use English names. Generally men prefer to be called Mr. Kim, Mr. Chae, etc.
while many young women like to be called by their given names.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF

If any of the following apply to you please inform us immediately.

KOREAN WAR VETERANS

We have taken Korean War veterans in on our tours before with no problems whatsoever however, it is important
that you inform us about this before you decide to travel so that we can advice accordingly. The Korean War is still
a hugely sensitive issue and as such, what you say and do in connection with this topic has the potential to cause
problems.

TOURISTS WHO HAVE FRIENDS IN THE DPRK

If you know someone who is working in Pyongyang and they have suggested meeting up whilst you are on the tour
then this is absolutely fine. However, you can only do so at the hotel you are based at. We can advise in advance of
the best time to arrange to meet up and if you get a contact number for your friend then we can easily contact
them on your behalf when you are on the tour.

ETHNIC KOREANS LOOKING FOR RELATIVES

This is something that we absolutely cannot help with so in this case you should contact the ROK Ministry for
Reunification and seek their advice on how to proceed.

Since 1993 Koryo Tours has been the only company running regular tours to the DPRK. We
are very concerned that we do not endanger our Korean guides who, as well as giving you an
insight into the DPRK society, are responsible for your conduct on tour. The group will be
monitored by authorities other than our guides and if there is a problem, our guides will
receive repercussions. Obvious examples are leaving the hotel unescorted, taking
photographs without the guides permission, not seen to be respecting the Korean people
and their history, spreading religious material to Koreans, and so on. We ask all tourists to
consider their behaviour remembering North Korean society is NOT in any way similar to
the West or even China. It is surprising what articles are seen by the Korean authorities and
therefore even for blogs and websites we ask you to contact us so you do not inadvertently
create problems either for us or our Korean colleagues. PLEASE PRINT AND FILL IN THE PAGES
BELOW and bring to the pre-tour briefing at our office.

Journalist and Insurance Contract

AGREEMENT BETWEEN KORYO TOURS Ltd. (Koryo Tours) and Mr/Mrs/Ms _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
DATE: __/__/____
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY: Koryo Tours is a company that specializes in leading tours to
the DPRK (North Korea). As a condition of taking part in the tour, you are required to agree to the terms
and conditions set out in this agreement.
(1) JOURNALISM/PHOTOGRAPHY: The DPRK authorities place strict conditions on Koryo Tours leading
tours to the DPRK (North Korea). In particular, there are restrictions upon the publication of materials
regarding the DPRK. Also, we are not permitted to arrange DPRK tourist visas for
journalists/photographers. I confirm and agree that:

I am visiting the DPRK for tourism purposes only;

I am not currently engaged as a journalist or photographer (and have not been engaged as a
journalist or photographer in the last 12 months);
I shall not sell or submit for publication in any mainstream media, any article, book, film, travel
diary, photograph or similar material without the written consent of Koryo Tours;
I shall inform Koryo Tours in advance before publishing for personal use only any blog, travel
diary, online photo collection or similar.

I understand that should I breach any of these terms and conditions Koryo Tours may suffer significant
losses and potentially the cancellation of its license to conduct tours in the DPRK. I understand that I
shall be held liable to compensate Koryo Tours for such losses suffered and I agree to indemnify Koryo
Tours for such losses. This agreement is governed by the laws of Hong Kong, and the parties submit to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the Hong Kong legal system/courts.
PRINTED NAME (CLEARLY PLEASE) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
SIGNED: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
(2) PROSELYTISING: Any form of religious dissemination by foreigners in the DPRK is illegal and anyone
caught doing this faces serious consequences such as detention, deportation and other potential actions.
Prohibited activities include: giving bibles/religious material to Koreans; hiding or leaving bibles/religious
material with the aim that they will be found later; conducting any form of religious meetings with the
aim of teaching Koreans about religion; showing any religious material whatsoever to the guides or any
other Koreans; or any other such activities.
In order to not put myself, the tour group or the guides at risk, I confirm that I agree to respect the
rules of the DPRK and promise not to carry out any sort of religious activities whatsoever while in
North Korea. I understand that Koryo Tours and their agents are not responsible for any consequences
that may occur should I break this agreement and engage in any form of religious proselytising or other
prohibited activities while in the DPRK.
SIGNED: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

(3) TRAVEL INSURANCE:

Koryo Tours cannot be held responsible for any personal liability to yourself, others or your property and
in particular any consequence or effects of flight/train cancellation/delay, robbery, sickness, Government
intervention or other such happenings. Koryo Tours has in place a specially designed travel insurance
package for all travelers on their tours, covering all Personal Liability, Accident and Personal Belongings.
If you do not take up this option, then Koryo Tours holds no liability or responsibility whatsoever on your
Personal Liabilities.
If you do insure yourself, you must make sure your Insurer covers against any possible risk and that of
any dependants travelling with you in the DPRK. It is therefore your responsibility to be covered by
insurance, which must include adequate cover for baggage, medical expenses and the cost of
repatriation should you become too ill to continue. Any claims must be directed to your insurers. If you
have any medical conditions, which may affect your health or safety while you are in DPRK you must
inform us prior to departure.
Please note that travel insurance for your trip in the DPRK, is NOT a replacement for medical insurance
and so ensure you read your table of benefits to fully understand your insurance coverage. We believe
for your best interests, you should have your own medical insurance in place at the same time. For the
detailed coverage and terms, please refer to your insurance certificate and/or policy wording, or consult
the insurer by contacting the number on your travel card.
Koryo Tours will not accept anybody on any tour to DPRK without travel insurance for the DPRK. If you
do have your own travel insurance already that covers DPRK, we request the information below.

I, the undersigned, confirm that I understand and agree with the above and that I have
arranged my own travel insurance.
TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
INSURANCE TELEPHONE No. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICY No. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
TRAVEL INSURANCE Expiry date_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
SIGNED _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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