The Rise and Fall of Anti-Corruption in North Korea

Abstract North Korea is widely seen as having among the most corrupt governments in world. However, Kim family regime has not always been so accepting of government wrongdoing. Drawing on archival evidence, this study shows that Il-sung saw corruption a threat to economic development and launched campaigns curb it throughout 1950s. I find these were at least somewhat successful, they contributed post-Korean War reconstruction rapid afterwards. So when why did shift from combating embracing it? argue changes country's system following crisis 1990s, especially de facto marketization, made more beneficial both source revenue an escape valve for public discontent. This study's findings contribute our understanding politics control authoritarian regimes.