Google Maps users find reviews of North Korea concentration camp

Google Maps users have found out that reviews have been left for a North Korea concentration camp on the platform.

The reviews, which are mostly positive, have been left for the Yodok Concentration Camp.

The camp, about 110km northeast of the country’s capital of Pyongyang, was used to segregate those seen as enemies of the state, punish them for political misdemeanors and put them to hard labour but was reportedly closed down in 2014.

But that hasn’t stopped people leaving reviews for the torture camp on Google.

Posting a video of the discovery on Reddit, one user wrote: “Turns out North Korean concentration camps have reviews on Google.”

“I’m surprised it has such high reviews. I’ve seen hotels with worse reviews,” one person replied.

Another said: “Given that it’s North Korea, I can only imagine any negative reviews have been deleted.”

“Hilarious,” a third wrote.

The camp has 441 reviews on Google, with an overall average rating of 3.7 out of five.

One review states: “Food was amazing, atmosphere was great , staff was consistently going above for our needs.

“Would highly recommend. Also, they let you get experience farming first hand. Amazing time.”

Another person wrote: “Love the quality of the place. The employees were a bit mean and rough but they make up for it with their incredible weight loss program. Would recommend to anyone who is lookin for a good vacation.”

“Really enjoyable experience, my concentration has improved significantly, three generations of my family got to come too for free, no Wi-Fi tho,” a third user wrote.

Kang Chol-hwan, who was held in the less-severe section of Camp 15, Yodok, previously told the Daily Star it was “worse than Auschwitz”.

Kang Chol-hwan was just nine when he was sent to the Yodok concentration camp with most of his family, including his father and grandmother.

His grandad, who he would never see again, was accused of being a spy for the Japanese — and under North Korean rules, the whole family was guilty.

Mr Kang spent 10 years at Yodok before his “re-education” was complete and he was released.

He said: “At Yoduk, prisoners are executed in public to instill fear and obedience. Children, out of hunger and desperation, resort to scavenging for roots and rats.

“There is one distinction, though, that I would draw between the North Korean prison camps and Auschwitz,” he continued.

“While Auschwitz’s goal was rapid, industrial-style extermination, Yodok prolongs the suffering over three generations.

“The purpose of Yodok is to be but one facility that helps sustain the regime and cleanse the North Korean people of any freedom of thought.”