Ep. 42 Did Influencers Close North Korea, & a Look at the Future of North Korea Tourism

With special Fragkiska Megaloudi, author of 'In The Land of Kim'.I am joined by Fragkiska Megaloudi who spent two years living in North Korea under the UN, an organisation with a surprising amount of freedom to roam around the country. Or, so it used to be. Fragkiska is a fascinating individual with an incredible background. We couldn't help but chat for 2 hours, so this episode will be in two parts. More from Fragkiska - The Book (In the Land of Kim: Two years in North korea) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F98D8KJ8 (paperback & kindle)Ebook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/in-the-land-of-kim/id6746357349Website: https://fragkiskamegaloudi.com/Substack account (in English): https://substack.com/@fragkiskamegaloudi----Thanks as always to my Patrons! Support me over at Patreon, it's free to join and you can choose your tiers for ad-free access! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am joined by Fragkiska Megaloudi who spent two years living in North Korea under the UN, an organisation with a surprising amount of freedom to roam around the country. Or, so it used to be. Fragkiska is a fascinating individual with an incredible background. We couldn't help but chat for 2 hours, so this episode will be in two parts. More from Fragkiska - The Book (In the Land of Kim: Two years in North korea) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F98D8KJ8 (paperback & kindle)Ebook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/in-the-land-of-kim/id6746357349Website: https://fragkiskamegaloudi.com/Substack account (in English): https://substack.com/@fragkiskamegaloudi----Thanks as always to my Patrons! Support me over at Patreon, it's free to join and you can choose your tiers for ad-free access! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I chat to North Korea film expert Nick Bonner, who's attended every PIFF since 2002, for some insider knowledge on everything from how to process works to cute anecdotes like how acting can lead to getting yourself a husband.Koryo Tours will be attending PIFF 2026 and will be posting on their Instagram and YouTube accounts. Make sure to follow along!North Korean Films produced with Nick BonnerKoryo Tours & Studio on Vimeo - Aim High in Creation / Game of Their Lives (Vimeo) / Centre Forward ("North Korea’s best football film ever made” - Simon Cockerell)Comrade Kim Goes Flying Film Review (by me! Youtube).Comrade Kim Goes Flying (Vimeo)AnecdotesJoss Stone in PyongyangPyongyang International Film Festival InfoPIFF 2025Bend it Like Beckham at PIFFKoryo Tours North Korea Film ProductionsNorth Korean Film Star PhotographyThe North Korean Film StudioYanggakdo International CinemaPIFF 2026 entries - email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just me on the show today as I get a bit passionate about a topic close to home; content creation on North Korea. As much as I have my qualms with some of the content that has come out from Rason and the Pyongyang Marathon - I don't believe it was 'influencers that closed North Korea'.One big argument I forget to mention here is....North Korea closed after just *one* group of tourists went in. About 20-30 of them - and not even half of those influencers.Most of the content produced came out *after* it already announced it closed.Anyway,Enjoy! And leave a comment below! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna and I talk about some of the interesting content that has come out online since the marathon and what it's like to produce 'normal' or 'mundane' nuanced content on North Korea, away from the sensationalist headlines. Follow Anna Pelova's work - TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@visiteverycountry/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annapelova/Contact me: [email protected] / @zoediscovers /@zoediscoversnk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I get together with Greg at the Beijing office for an impromptu meet-up and discuss all things behind the scenes at the Pyongyang Marathon. Links mentioned: Eastern Bhutan 2026 (with Greg)https://koryogroup.com/tours/offbeat-eastern-bhutanBangladesh & Bhutan Combo (December 2025, with Greg & Zoe!)https://koryogroup.com/tours/koryo-bhutan-and-bangladesh-adventureInternational tours - Koryo Tours may not be able to do DPRK tours at the moment but they have a great list of international tours! https://koryogroup.com/international-tours Kangwon Greehouse - https://koryogroup.com/blog/new-north-korea-tour-itineraries Info on Munsu Waterpark - https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-korea-cracks-down-on-water-park-corruption/ https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-korea-arrests-water-park-manager-for-alleged-secret-leaks-to-foreigners/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A here there and everywhere episode as I take you into Pyongyang and for a bit of the behind the scenes of the Pyongyang Marathon.Pyongyang Marathon 2026 UpdatesPYM 2026 Early Bird (closes 1st Sept 2025)Pyongyang Marathon VlogKoryo Tours & Afghanistan Michael Palin in North KoreaContact me: [email protected] / @zoediscovers /@zoediscoversnk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Discover North Korea, I take you on a much-awaited AIR KORYO flight back to Pyongyang for the Pyongyang Marathon. We start in Beijing Airport and finish with some conversations with North Korean colleagues at Pyongyang Airport. The next couple of episodes will be covering my time in Pyongyang & the Pyongyang Marathon! The Pyongyang Marathon 2026 has not yet been announced. Watch this space for more info! Follow me on: @zoediscovers / @zoediscoversnkKoryo Tours - @koryotours / koryogroup.comSign up to the newsletter for updates on the Pyongyang Marathon and North Korea tourssubscribepage.io/koryo-toursKoryo Documentaries - https://koryogroup.com/engagement/category/film Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final episode of our Rason trip! We enjoy our last few sights on the tour as well as have a little interview with our young guide Miss Kim. Tune in next time when I TAKE YOU TO PYONGYANG. Thank you to my Patrons and to the Koryo Tours gang for your constant support. NOTE: North Korea borders are once again CLOSED indefinitely. Rason tours are now suspended. I will be posting updates on my Instagram & all other platforms. (@zoediscovers / @zoediscoversnk). 🔗 North Korea Tours - https://koryogroup.com/tours/dprk-north-korea/group🔗 Read about my first trip here - https://koryogroup.com/blog/back-in-north-korea-the-return-to-rason🔗 Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/zoediscovers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of this 3-part episode, I take you on a tour around Rason in North Korea. Thank you to my Patrons and to the Koryo Tours gang for your constant support. NOTE: North Korea borders are once again CLOSED indefinitely. Rason tours are now suspended. I will be posting updates on my Instagram & all other platforms. (@zoediscovers / @zoediscoversnk). 🔗 North Korea Tours - https://koryogroup.com/tours/dprk-north-korea/group🔗 Read about my first trip here - https://koryogroup.com/blog/back-in-north-korea-the-return-to-rason🔗 Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/zoediscovers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.