The Imperial Hotel in Rason, North Korea was formerly not only the most deluxe in the country, but also the most infamous. Sadly though it seems that Covid-19 has managed to do what incredibly powerful politicians could not and that is close the place down.
The building now sits as a stark reminder of what once was, with even the writing stripped from the outside, an almost Ryugyong like state. How though did this come to pass?
Lies and Romours – a History of the Imperial Hotel Rason
Originally owned by Emperor Group, many said it had closed, stories about governors blowing budgets.
My favorite anecdote actually came from a North Korean guide who I had questioned about a Hummer Limo that I had seen driving in Rason. I was told it was owned by the casino after a Chinese gentleman who could not cover a rather large bill and had to leave it there. Obviously I have no huge comment in how mafia like this sounds……
Later years
When I last went in 2018 after running a stall at the Rason Trade Fair things were still OK, with me even attempting a Rason Gambling Tour one year, although this got us little more than media at the time.
Things though had started to change in China though with Xi Jingping really cracking down on corruption. This and flights to Macao and Sihanoukville becoming cheaper and easier meant that less people were already coming to North Korea to gamble.
The Closure of the Imperial Hotel Rason
Rumor has it that the deluxe hotel and casino changed hands just before covid with the value being in the tens of millions. Covid-19 though meant that not only did North Korea close, but the businesses inside the zone all fled as well. This affected not only the many joint-ventures, but also the one whole owned foreign enterprise in the DPRK, the Imperial Hotel and Casino.
This happened in early 2020 when the country first closed it’s doors with the current decor of there place being indicative of this. Our guides though could not confirm exactly when this did happen.
What was the hotel like?
We used to visit the Imperial Hotel just for a quick coffee when we ran Rason Tours. The hotel itself only cost about $150 a night had a great menu, as well as massage services, a beach and even access to China Construction Bank via a branch in the hotel. It is thus expected that Alipay could also be accessed here.
There were also suggestions that Chinese ladies of the night crawled the grounds, and then there was the casino. I only ever went in once, because it was a 500 Euro buy in – note that USD was not a currency accepted here. And the most popular game? Why baccarat of course.
Will the Imperial Hotel and Casino in Rason reopen again?
Whether the Imperial Hotel and Casino reopens is pretty much the tens of millions of dollars question, but the honest is that it will probably not reopen, but in reality none of us know.
Currently the Rason SEZ while open to foreigners is not open to Chinese tourists (yet) all. And while Russians could also featly visit here due to the two nations newly found friendship, they appear to be less interested than had been hoped even in the summer months. This potentially casts a bit of doubt on just how successful the impending Kalma Resort in Wonsan end up being.
And sadly while it is not possible to do any Urbex ins the hotel grounds, there is still at least potential to see it from Pipha Island, as well as even from where we stayed at Pipha Number 6 Hotel.
Oh and they still have some posters up as you enter the country just before immigration. Ironically a new hotel is now pretty much number 1 on the Rason tour planners wanted list. Will that ever happen? Well Rome, nor Rason were not built in a day….