Kim Jong Un Unveils Lavish Wonsan Kalma Coastal Resort Featuring 54 Hotels, Cinema, and Entertainment Venues
After seven years, North Korea finally opens the Wonsan Kalma coastal resort, and Kim Jong Un, his wife, and daughter attend the grand inauguration.
After almost seven years of building, North Korea has formally opened the beachfront resort area of Wonsan Kalma, according to state media. The resort, which is situated on the east coast of the nation, has 54 hotels, a movie theatre, bars, and other recreational amenities.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is frequently pictured in military settings, was accompanied at a lavish completion ceremony by his wife Ri Sol Ju and their daughter Kim Ju Ae.
Ri Sol Ju made her first public appearance in a year and a half at the event; her last was on January 1, 2024. She was seen with what looked to be a Gucci purse, an Italian luxury brand.
In contrast to his typical Mao-style attire, Kim wore a dark suit, white shirt, and tie, which was unusually formal. He called the beach resort one of the nation’s “greatest feats” of the year. Together, the family observed the festivities, underscoring the project’s significance to the government.
According to a guide map at the northern entrance, the Wonsan Kalma coastal resort, which stretches over five kilometres along the Kalma Peninsula, has a wide range of facilities, including 54 hotels, indoor and outdoor waterparks, a mini-golf course, a cinema, shopping centres, several restaurants, five beer pubs, and two video game arcades.
Early in 2018, construction got underway, but the COVID-19 pandemic and logistical issues caused delays. On July 1, the resort is expected to open to North Korean visitors.
Russian travel service Vostok Intur has organised a week-long tour starting on July 7, despite COVID-era restrictions on overseas travel.
A four-night stay at the resort, one night at the Masikryong ski resort, a day of touring in the capital, and a flight from Pyongyang to Wonsan on July 8 are all included in the package.
Tourism in North Korea
One of the few legitimate industries in North Korea that is unaffected by UN sanctions is still tourism. However, because of continuous international prohibitions related to its weapons development, the Wonsan resort apparently did not get any significant outside investment.
Due to the pandemic, the nation closed its borders in early 2020, but in 2023 it started to loosen travel restrictions. Russian tour groups have been allowed entry, but the majority of places, including Pyongyang, remain off-limits to ordinary tourists.
North Korea hinted at a gradual openness to foreign tourists in April when it hosted a marathon event with international competitors.
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