50.000 Won
Korea (North) · Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Issued in Juche 111 (2022), this 50,000-won money voucher is the highest denomination ever printed by North Korea, worth ten times the previous highest banknote. It was introduced amid acute shortages of printing materials caused by the suspension of imports during the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in 2020. The vouchers were intended primarily for inter-enterprise transactions in Pyongyang rather than everyday retail circulation. The note bears the name of the Central Bank of the DPRK alongside the Juche calendar date.
Highlights
ReasonIssued to address acute shortages of conventional printing materials during the COVID-19 import suspension, replacing standard banknotes for high-value business transactions.
DesignObverse: Mount Paektu landscape with DPRK coat of arms. Reverse: Heaven Lake (Cheonji) caldera on Paektu Mountain.
Security featuresPrinted on low-quality white paper due to material shortages; specific anti-counterfeiting features have not been publicly disclosed by North Korean authorities.
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