@article{ART003194200},
author={Seong Bo Kim},
title={After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network},
journal={The Review of Korean History},
issn={1225-133X},
year={2025},
number={157},
pages={429-472}
TY - JOUR
AU - Seong Bo Kim
TI - After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network
JO - The Review of Korean History
PY - 2025
VL - null
IS - 157
PB - The Historical Society Of Korea
SP - 429
EP - 472
SN - 1225-133X
AB - In this article, through the case of Chosun Trading Co., Ltd., North Korea’s first comprehensive trading company, we will examine what kind of trade network North Korea created with regions other than the Soviet Union, and we will shed light on the dynamic relationship between North Korea and the international community before the East-West Cold War became entrenched.
Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. played a role in supplementing the limitations of trade between countries that were biased towards the Soviet Union by importing materials for various purposes necessary for building the national economy, while finding and trading export items from various angles to make up for the trade deficit, thereby obtaining foreign currency. This company expanded its trade network to Hong Kong and North China, and also partially traded with Japan and South Korea. The region where Chosun Trading Company achieved the most outstanding results was Hong Kong. North Korea was able to establish a channel of communication with the international market through Hong Kong and earn foreign currency by exporting yuan, graphite, marine products, and red ginseng. In the process, This company employees had to have the dual qualifications Dual qualifications as ‘red merchants’ who must be faithful to the ideology and principles of North Korean power in addition to his qualifications as an international trade experts.
The formation of Chosun Trading Co.,s East Asian trade network was not a departure from Soviet influence, but was carried out with Soviet cooperation within the framework of the Soviet Union's macroeconomic policy of advancing into East Asia.
KW - Chosun Trading Company Limited;North Korea;East Asian trade network;red merchant;Hong Kong
DO -
UR -
ER -
Seong Bo Kim. (2025). After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network. The Review of Korean History, 157, 429-472.
Seong Bo Kim. 2025, "After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network", The Review of Korean History, no.157, pp.429-472.
Seong Bo Kim "After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network" The Review of Korean History 157 pp.429-472 (2025) : 429.
Seong Bo Kim. After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network. 2025; 157 : 429-472.
Seong Bo Kim. "After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network" The Review of Korean History no.157(2025) : 429-472.
Seong Bo Kim. After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network. The Review of Korean History, 157, 429-472.
Seong Bo Kim. After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network. The Review of Korean History. 2025; 157 429-472.
Seong Bo Kim. After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network. 2025; 157 : 429-472.
Seong Bo Kim. "After liberation, North Korea’s Chosun Trading Co., Ltd. operation and East Asian trade network" The Review of Korean History no.157(2025) : 429-472.
