5 Chon KPW #394

Front

North Korean Foreign Exchange Certificate for 5 chon, issued by the Foreign Trade Bank of the DPRK for use by visitors from socialist countries. Features the national emblem of North Korea (depicting Mount Paektu with a hydroelectric dam, a red star, and rice ears bound with a red ribbon) at upper right. The header text '외화와 바꾼 돈 표' indicates 'money exchanged for foreign currency'. This red-tinted note was part of a parallel currency system restricting foreigners' purchasing power.

Back

The second image shows a different denomination (1 chon) from the same series, indicating a mismatched pair. This 1 chon note bears identical design elements: the DPRK national emblem, Foreign Trade Bank issuer text, and 1988 date, but with denomination '1' in the central rosette and '일전' (1 chon) at lower right.

History

North Korea operated a complex foreign exchange certificate (FEC) system from 1988 to 2002, with different colored notes for different visitor categories: red/pink for visitors from socialist countries, blue for visitors from capitalist countries, and green for DPRK citizens with foreign currency. These certificates had no value outside designated shops and were part of the regime's isolation of foreigners from the domestic economy. The socialist-visitor series (pink/red) was typically used by visitors from China, the Soviet Union, and other aligned nations. The system was abolished in 2002 when the won was revalued.