북한의 비공식 신발제조 활성화 실태 분석

Abstract

This study analyzed the background and activation factors of informal shoe manufacturing in North Korea, which have been accumulating based in the region since the economic crisis in the 1990s. As a result of the analysis, first, North Korea's traditional state-owned shoe industry had inherent market elements as a priority development policy line for the heavy industry from the beginning. Second, these factors led to the collapse of the shoe industry due to the suspension of material supply in the 1990s, attracting shoe factory workers to informal shoe manufacturing entities. Third, informal shoe manufacturing, which entered the production stage based on the division of labor from a single-person production structure, was integrated into an advantageous position to reduce raw material procurement and energy costs. Fourth, informal shoe manufacturing, which was developed through diversification of supply and targeting consumers, gained momentum as the state-led mobile communication network supported the logistics, information, and remittance markets. However, since capital and technology are at a low level and are not provided with institutional protection, continuous development is limited. Nevertheless, it seems possible to make an institutional compromise in terms of the Kim Jong-un administration's light industry policy, which emphasizes improving people's lives, and compensating for the shortage of state supply. This will be meaningful as empirical data to understand the durability of the North Korean economy in response to prolonged sanctions against the country.