Chanel and Ikea to a large shopping mall in Pyongyang?... Suspicions of unauthorized theft are raised.

The Woo-in

While a number of famous foreign luxury brands were spotted entering a large store in the middle of Pyongyang, North Korea, allegations were raised that the North had stolen the intellectual property rights of these brands without permission.

According to North Korean media NK News and other foreign media on the 13th, stores with signboards of famous overseas brands such as Chanel and Ikea, Adidas, and SK-II are operating at the Ryugyong Gold Commercial Center (Ryugyong Golden Plaza), the largest shopping mall in Pyongyang.

The Ryugyong Geumbit Commercial Center, which opened in Pyongyang's Lakrang district in July last year, has a total area of 87,000㎡. The North's foreign propaganda magazine Geumsugangsan introduced it as a comprehensive service base, including commerce, feeding, hotels, and office areas.

However, it was found that the foreign brands that entered the store have never officially announced their intention to enter the store.

In particular, a spokesperson for Ikea told NK News that it had never granted brand trademarks to North Korea.

As a result, suspicions have been raised that North Korea has unauthorizedly stolen the intellectual property rights of famous overseas brands.

Experts analyzed that North Korea illegally imported famous brand goods through China and other countries and sold them to Pyongyang's upper class, or stole several high-end foreign brands without permission to show off to outside tourists.

Recently, Chinese college students who said they were studying in North Korea made headlines by sharing the scenery of North Korea's Daesung Department Store, where many high-end foreign brands entered, through social media.