A satirical phrase mocking North Korea’s wealthy class has been making the rounds in Ryanggang province marketplaces, blending lyrics from two well-known songs into a sharp jibe at the affluent as frustration over inequality deepens.
“The phrase ‘Though the years go by, take a look at me’ is often heard at marketplaces and other social gatherings in Hyesan nowadays. It refers to people with a comfortable lifestyle, and in particular those with money and power,” a source in Ryanggang province who requested anonymity for security reasons told Daily NK recently.
The phrase was coined by combining lyrics from two songs familiar to North Koreans. “Though the Years Go By,” released in 2014, praises the North Korean regime: its lyrics describe how, thanks to the favor of the Workers’ Party, people feel young in their twilight years and their hearts will never grow old. The phrase “take a look at me” comes from “Milyang Arirang,” an upbeat folk song well known on both sides of the Korean Peninsula. Together, the two fragments take on a new meaning — a sarcastic dig at wealthy North Koreans who love to flaunt their financial abundance.
“The rich and powerful are free of want and worry no matter what happens in the world around them. But while they’re flaunting their newfound wealth, most North Koreans are floundering in the swamp of poverty,” the source said. “Bitterness about that reality is what that phrase conveys.”
A resurgence rooted in deepening inequality
The phrase is not a new coinage. It enjoyed a burst of popularity in 2020 before fading, likely because the COVID-19 pandemic hit the wealthy hard enough to blunt its message. Its recent resurgence suggests that the class divide has widened again and is plainly visible to ordinary people.
“Everybody struggled during the pandemic, but over the past few years, an unbridgeable gap has opened up between the haves and the have nots. For those reasons, many people are impressed by the phrase and really relate to it,” the source said.
People living in Hyesan describe stark contrasts in daily life. Some families do not have enough food to eat while others dine lavishly and dress in the latest fashions. Some households have cars; others lack even a bicycle or an oxcart.
“People wouldn’t relate to this phrase so much if not for the huge lifestyle gap between the rich and poor,” the source said. “What the government needs to do right now is ensure that the worst off still have something to eat.”
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