KOKSAN COUNTY CONSUMER'S GUILD (ORGANIZATION & FUNCTIONS OF; PRICES OF FOOD AND OTHER COMMODITIES; SALARY SCALE)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A044500300001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 19, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
SUBJECT Koksan County Consumer's Guild, DATE DISTR.
*AJCKa6J1 C4 ? j NO. PAGES
~a1G Ot a hSJRE UIREMENT
{ ) .
o "
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE AC Q.
/' September 1958
1
RD
A report on the organization and functions of the consumer's coopers G'` 25X1
in Koksan County, Hwanghae-pukto, the prices of commodities on sale at~e
cooperative the,salar scale, and personal description z of some of ibs
employees
158
25X1
[!ATE ARMY
(Not.: Washington distrib
NAVY
AIR
F81 AEC
ution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
0
Q
N FORMATION REPORT I N FORMATION REPORT
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ti I I
i FIDUJTIAL
I.' Details
Koksan-gun Joint Committee, Korean Consm.ers' Guild
7 Dec 57
1. According to the rules of the consumers' guild, all citizens, male and
female, above the full age of 18, may join by making free application for
membership. But in fact, it is obligatory and not optional to become a
member. At present, 10,000 people out of the total population of 30,000
in Koksan-gun are merbers of the guild, ttiich collects 300 WOn from each
member as admission fee at the t hi e of induction. This is an increase of
200 WWn over the amount collected up to Dec 56. The management runs the
guild with this fee although it is being run with the financial aid of the
Central Bank or the Farmers' Bank. The management is supposed to sell its
purchased goods to its members only, but now money can buy anything at the
store of the guild, which started its business in 1946, to do away with
all profiteers and private merchants by way of strengthening the national
economic control and providing daily commodities to the members to promote
their living level. It was the first step ever taken toward the socializa-
tion of the economic structure by instructing the people to understand th~t
the circulation of commodities through an organized channel was most important
in safeguarding the interests of the people. In outward appearance, the
guild is maintained by the"independent accounting system", but it is a
semi national undertaking, operated under the national budget. At present
its business is being expanded to make it a pure national enterprise in
the near future.
2. The Central Joint Cormittee is the supreme organ above all consumers'
guilds. It is located in Pty$ngyang, and is operated under the direction
of the Commercial Department, CC, KLP, which orders the cor;r,ittee to call
a guild enthusiaists' conference once a year. At this conference, the
staff officers from provinces and counties and enthusiastic salesmen from
the local guild stores participate in the summary report on the business
results of the past business year and in the audience of lectures for the
coming business period. The committee also organizes various lecture
meetings from time to time in order to give training to the members of the
guild.
3. The provincial joint committee is operated under the directions of the cen-
tral joint committee and the Commercial Department of the provincial KLP
conmdttee? It also organizes enthusiasts' conference and lecture meetings
on its own accord at all tir:-es.
4. The Koksan-gun Consumers' Guild Joint Join nittee is operated under the
directions of the }iwanghae-bukto Consumers' Guild Joint Committee and the
Organization Department of the Koksan-,run KLP Committee. it consistts of
aprrroximately 35 committeemen, elected at tti-a (aunty Guild Representatives'
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Conference. The committeemen organize a standing eomr_ittee to which they
entrust the execution of business and come into a regular session in
each quarter period to make summary reports on business results, and
it also opens lecture meetings once a month for two (2) or three (3) days
for the employees in order to strengthen their service spirit, prevent
dispossession and theft, explain Party policy on commerce, land to give
information on the domestic and international situation. The lectures
are given by the chairman and vice-chairman of the county joint committee,
the staff officers from the Koksan-gun KLP Committee, and the Koksan-gun
People's Conn ittee.
5. The Koksan-gun Consumers' Guild }representatives' Congress comes into regular
session once each year, and temporary sessions by order of higher authori-
ties, at the call of the county joint committee. It is attended by the
chairmen of the junior Party organs and the management chairmen of farm
cooperatives, and other enthusiasts in the business of the consumers'
guild. Unlike the Party conferences, the attendance is not so large
and it seldom exceeds 300 people. At the congress, summary reports on
business results of the past business period are present and officers
of county joint committees are elected. In former days, there were no
representatives' congress, and even staff members were appointed by the
higher authorities, but from early 57, it is called with the 'slogan of
democratic government.
6. The standing committee consists of nine (9) members, who elect the
chairman and two (2) vice chairmen. They are supposed to come into
regular sessions twice a month, but in fact only once at present.
7. The chairman is the head of the county joint committee and its standing
committee. He is nominally elected at the standing cony. ittee meeting or
rather approved unconditionally on baing recommended by the Organization
Department of the county Party concerned. The chairman is responsible
for the undertaking of the consumers' guild in the county. He renresents
the guild in all public relations, calls various confer noes and settles
all sorts of accounting, while maintaining a close liaison with the county
Party chairman, vice-chairman, and the chairman of the county. people's
committee.
8. The two (2) vice-chairmen in charge of org!nizing commerce, and purchasing
and accounting respectively.
9. The chief of the Organization Department is responsible for the business
organization of subordinate organs, and especially for the Party business
of the county consumers' guild. He holds the additional post of chairman
of the junior Party of the county joint committee.
10. The Commercial Department seeks places of origin of all goods in order to
make purchases and to regulate sales. The department has a second-hand
Soviet truck and a driver, for the transport of goods, and in:addition,
a guard who rides on the truck for the security of the goods in transport-
ation.
COLIFID12,17AL
..z
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11. The chief warehouseman is responsible for the custody and delivery of
goods. The warehouse is a one (1)-story building, ten (10) meters long,
five (5) meters wide, and five (5) meters high. It is so small that a
large portion of the {hods are piled in the open air. The chief controls
two (2) laborers.
12. The Purchasing Department is in charge of buying all. surplus farm products
such as rice, miscellaneous grains, medicinal herbs and vegetables, offered
by farmers for sale after payment of their tax-in-kind and the national
collection of grains. These farm products are usually bought at higher
prices than those paid by the Government.
13. The Accounting Section is in charge of all financial receipts and disburse-
ments, cash settlements, bank transactions, bookkeeping, and wage payments
to employees.
14. The Planning Director prepares sales statistics, receipts and stockpiles
of goods in the warehouse at the end of each month, and submits one (1)
copy to 'the 'provincial joint committee via the vice-chairman' in charge,
with the approval of the chairman, before the fifth day of the following
month, and he keeps another copy. He also inspects each restaurant to
see that sales plans are faithfully executed.
15. The restaurant manager is responsible for the operation of the restaurant
of the Y.oksan-gun Consumers' Guild in Koksan-4p and controls. one (1) cook
and four (4) waitresses. The restaurant was newly built in the spring of
57, with capacity for 40 visitors. The menu and the prices are as follows:
Unit
Price (Win)
nice in soup
Bowl
50
- 70
Vermicelli in cold soup (corn)
"
35
Vermicelli in cold soup
(oatmeal)
60
Lunch
70
Soju (strong drink)
Sy(ng
250
16. Each consumers' guild n:ana ;ement committee is composed at the guild
members' general meeting in each district, and the committee consists
of 9 - 11 members, who elect a chairman and vice-chairman. In larger
districts, however, they elect two (2) vice-chairmen. The chairman is
chosen usually from among the management committee chairmen of the farm
cooperatives in the district, but since he is not on the payroll, he is
indifferent to the business of the guild in many cases. The chairman,
by order of the county guild, calls the general meeting of his district
guild for summary reports on business results during the past period,
and for the election of the management committeemen to assist the
district guild store in doing business.
C011,M)EN TIAL
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17. The barber shop of the Koksan-gun Consumers' Guild, has three (3) barbers,
and is run under the supervision of the chief of the Commercial
Department by special directive of the vice-chairman in charge of account-
ing. The barber shop is next door to the consumers' guild store, where the
people buy tickets at 35 I"lin a piece, and have their hair cut in order.
Each barber has a responsible norm to cut the hair for 17 people a day.
There is another barber shop of the Production Cooperative, which is always
full of visitors.
18. There is a shop in each town and district. Each shop in Ko1san~p and 16
districts in Koksan-gun is manned by a manager and one (1) salesman.
Cor=odity Prices
19. The following are the prices of common ccmr.odities on sale at the Koksan-
gun Consumers' Guild Store:
Descri, tion
Unit '
Price 010n)
Match, NK
Box
5
Cigarettes (Taedongmun), M
Packet
20
Cigarettes (Kalmaegi), TIK
It
25
.Cigarettes (K$ns4), 11'.
n
35
Cigarettes (Kimgang), NM
n
60
`Confectionery (Moranbong), NK
Box (Weight unknoV,n) 280
Towel, Cotton, NK
Bach
150
- 250
Soap, Toilet, NK
Bar
100
- 150
Soaps Laundry, NK
Bar
100
Toothbrush, 1Z
Each
70
- 80
Tooth-Powder, NK
Each
10
Tooth-Paste, MK
Each
80
Socks, NK
Pair
70
- 100
Pencil, Black, NK
Each
3
Pencil., Red, NK
Each
10
Notebook, School children, NK
Each
5
.,Notebook, College students, iK
Each
40
Book, Account., 1M
Each
280
Mirror, Portable, NK
Each
50
Comb, Hair., 11
Each
100
Handbag, Fiber, Student, NK
Each
800
Shoes, Rubber, Women's., NK
Pair
34=
- 390
Shoes, Rubber, Men's, Nfl
Pair
350
- 400
Sneakers, NM
Pair
380
Shoes, Leather, ready made, 1'IK
Pair
1,800
- 2,200
Shirt, Running, NK
Each
300
Shorts, PK
Each
200
Underwear, Spring & Autumn, Cotton,
NK
Gray,
Suit
1,600
Underwear, Short, Winter, NM
Upper
1,500
Underwear, Short, Winter, I K
Lower
1,200
Sheeting, Cotton, Grade C, NM
Meter
200
Clothing, Silk, Skirt,. (Yutong), ,. ,.
Each
6,000
- 8,000
C( FED NTIAL
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Cloth, Silk, Grade C, IK Meter
Cloth, Silk, Grade B, iiK Meter
Cloth., Silk, Grade A, PNK Meter
Powder, Ink, NK (Made by P'y~ngyang Ink
Production Cooperative) Bag
Clothing, Cotton, Read Made, NK Suit
Clothing, Children's, Ready Made, NK Suit
Shirt, White, IdK Each
Tie, PNK Each
Cap, Lenin, MK Each
Clothing, Foreign, Winter, (East Germany
& Czechoslovakia) Suit
Alaska Pollack, NK Lach
Mackerel, MK Two
Pork, NK Kj n
420
1,200 -. 1,500
2,000 2,500
60
3,300 - 3,500
1,500
1,200 - 1,500
800 - 1,200
300 - 350
22,000 -25,000
5-7
150
150
(Remarks: No beef is on sale, because the slaughter of cattle is forbidden.)
20. Source of Goods: Most commodities are delivered to the Hwanghae-bukto
Consumers' Bazaar Warehouse, at YC 4064 in Sariw0n-si, on presenting the
goods allocation slip, issued at the Commercial Department of the
Provincial Consumers' Guild Joint Conmii.ttee; seafoods are purchased
at the Marine Production Cooperative in Vl$nsan-si by contract and are
carried by truck; vegetables and bean paste are kept in stock through the
Purchasing Department.
21. Salary Schedule of County Consumers' Guildiaployees
Position Salary (Per Month)
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Departmental
Sectional Chief
Director, Grade A
Director, Grade B
Laborer
Store Manager
Salesman
Truck Driver
3,200 W n
2,800
2,500
2,200
2,000
1,800 - 2,000
1,800
2,200
1,600 - 1,800
2,500
(Remarks: The truck driver is a tenporary employee. 5:.:ice he is not
allowed rice distribution, he busy rice at a high price.)
22. Personalities
a. Name: CHANG Ch' yOng (NTA)
e. osi -ion: le , c miercl epa men , o san-gun, onsumers
Guild Joint Committee.
COMFI DENTIpL
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2) a. CHoNG Hying-ch 14 (NTA)
e. Chief, Orgar,'.zation Department, Koksan-gun Consumers, Guild Joint
Corm-i.ttee.
3) a. KIM Ki-chun (NTA)
4) a. KIM Ki-t'aek (PITA)
e. Chief Warehouseman, Koksan-gun Consumers' Guild Joint Uommittee
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CGNFI flENTIAL
5) a. IM-1 T Iaek-kvu (NTA)
e. Vice airman (in charge of accounting), Koksan-Fun ConR,1nara l r i i ,a
6) a. SOK Tong-sul (NTA)
e. Chairrian, Koksan-gun Cons rs' Guild Joint Comrdttee.
7) a. SONG To-sen (NTA)
e. Vice Chairman (in charge of commerce & organization) , Koksan-gun
Consumers' Guild Joint Conniittee.
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Central Joint Committee, Consun rs$ Guild
Hwanghae-bukto Joint Committee
Koksan-gun Joint Committee County Guild Representatives' Congress
Standing Committee Meeting
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Chief, Orggnization Department
Officer (1)
Chief, Commercial Department
officers-. (3)
Laborers
0
District Guild Members' General Meeting
to
8
Tuck; Driver (1)
Guard (1)
Chiefs Warehousemen
Vice Chairman
Restaurant Manager
Waitresses
-Cook
Chief, Purchasing Department
Officers (5)
Chief, Accounting Section
Accountants (2)
? Bookkeepers (3)
Planning Director
Chairman,, District Management Committee
Vice Chairman (1 - 2)
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