Koryo Tours General Manager - Simon Cockerell

Simon Cockerell is from the south-west of England. He moved to Beijing in 2000, becoming Koryo Tour’s General Manager two years later. Having traveled to North Korea 182 times, he has probably been to the country more than any other westerner. Simon is a respected speaker on the DPRK and appears regularly in international media. Simon’s tireless work, alongside Koryo’s partners in Pyongyang, has been essential in opening up new territories within the DPRK to tourists.

You can follow Simon’s adventures on his Instagram account: @simonkoryo.

On this episode, Simon shares his one way ticket to a future utopian post-scarcity society. He offers why and what it will look like, including how travel may be impacted.

Plus, Simon talks all about venturing to North Korea – from who goes and why, the “dos and don’ts” once you’re there, his favorite spots, and what would surprise most people about the country. 

The DPRK has been closed to tourists since January 2020 and since September 1, 2017, the U.S. government has banned people traveling with a U.S. passport to the country. Like many, Simon is waiting for travelers to be able to visit North Korea once again.

Meanwhile, Koryo Tours orchestrates some tremendous tours to off-the-beaten-path destinations (Turkmenistan, anyone?) which Simon also spotlights in our conversation.