How in the world did your friend get this much currency out of the DPRK? Foreigners aren't technically supposed to handle DPRK currency, and I'm sure this would've been flagged during a luggage check.
Just so everyone here knows- this is no longer legal tender currency in North Korea and is sold in North Korea to tourists as souvenirs. OP's friend didn't violate the NK law or risk anything by bringing it home- he bought this and they let him have it specifically as a souvenir. This particular style of currency was massively devalued and the residents of NK got super screwed over in the transition from this era of currency to the one which followed.
wes7946 on November 4th, 2023 at 13:13 UTC »
How in the world did your friend get this much currency out of the DPRK? Foreigners aren't technically supposed to handle DPRK currency, and I'm sure this would've been flagged during a luggage check.
spaceporter on November 4th, 2023 at 16:37 UTC »
If you get them wet, the Korean washes off and you are left with shiny $100 supernotes.
doucheydp on November 4th, 2023 at 18:48 UTC »
Just so everyone here knows- this is no longer legal tender currency in North Korea and is sold in North Korea to tourists as souvenirs. OP's friend didn't violate the NK law or risk anything by bringing it home- he bought this and they let him have it specifically as a souvenir. This particular style of currency was massively devalued and the residents of NK got super screwed over in the transition from this era of currency to the one which followed.
More reading for those interested:
https://www.youngpioneertours.com/north-korean-money/
And here you can find the entire catalog of known NK currency. Clicking them will give you year of circulation.
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/coree_du_nord-banknotes-1.html
The NK Won pictured in the OP photo is from the end of the Second Won period.