A British tournament guide showing groups of tourists around North Korea say that everyone “wrong” for the country “and is just a” normal “place to live.
Zoe Stephens, 31, has visited North Korea 30 times since March 2016 – receiving countless “foreigners” from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia with it.
She says there are defined rules that the group should follow in order to avoid traveling as problems in a tourist report two guides for one, and never taking the silly photographs of the art resistance dictator Kim Jong Un.
The tournament guide posts video of normal life in Pyngyang, North Korea, in Tiktok – and says people in the comments accuse him of spreading propaganda.
But Zoe wants people to see the “stunning” side of the country from growing up with amazing views of the “lovely humanans” living there.
Zoe, an international tournament and marketing manager, originally from Liverpool, said: “I want to show people the human side of North Korea – many foreigners think that people there are hungry and trying to escape.
“But in reality, people just go for their daily lives there.
“I like to go for walks in North Rural Korea” and in psyngyang, my favorite things to do are literally just catching coffee and getting my hair. “
Before North Korea closed its second borders in the Covid-19 Pandemia in January 2020, Zoe visited the country once a month.
But in March 2025, it first returned to five years.
Her trips usually start in Beijing, China and heading towards Psyngyang, North Korea-and whenever she gets her group, she must undergo a one-hour information session on the rules.
“I want to ensure everyone’s safety and help them challenge cultural misunderstandings,” she said.
“There are three generals you follow as a traveler; when you take pictures of a leader’s image, you have to stay respectful.
“You can’t take any photos of military places or construction.
“Stay together as a group – solo travelers are not allowed in place – and there should be two guides with you at all times.”
Even in its tournaments, Zoe hopes to encourage people to challenge their North Korean culture “misunderstandings”.
She wants people to see how “normal” can be the place, and believe that it is not an unsafe place to stay inside, if you follow the rules.
The tournament guide says there are also beautiful, rural walks that she often tastes.
Zoe added: “There are many misunderstandings between North Koreans and foreigners.
“Like, in Pyngyang, North Koreans don’t understand why foreigners don’t want to take the bus.
“In their minds, it’s something they have provided and built – would you not do?
“But indeed, it’s just tourists who want to walk around, go out there and get the vibrancy of the city.”
Despite social media trolls telling her she is spreading propaganda, Zoe says she has never felt something in the city, and has made many friends over the years.
She struggles to stay in contact with friends from North Korea due to restrictions on international calls and social media.
But Zoe says people are the best part of the country, and she left the “Normal Humanans meeting doing normal things”.
“I fully see how my content can be propaganda,” she said.
“But I think this is because people are pleased to see a non-negative side of North Korea.
“I’m not trying to promote the place.
“I have to say, my favorite thing to visit is people” over food and sights. “
#British #Tours #guide #attempts #show #human #side #North #Korea #claims #propaganda #spreading
Image Source : nypost.com