The following article is the first in a multipart series by Gareth Johnson of Young Pioneer Tours about being a North Korea tour guide. Views expressed in columns are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News.

When it comes to tourism in North Korea there are a lot of myths, half-truths or flat-out lies. One of the most common is that when you visit North Korea, everything is managed — that is, government minders look after you and allow zero interaction with local people.

This narrative is largely perpetuated by sensationalist documentaries, or those who