---
title: "Pukchang (South Pyongan): North Korea County Demographics & Abuses | Save North Korea"
description: "Pukchang in South Pyongan: population 139,498, 93 documented human rights abuses, 1 detention facilities, and 6 official markets."
url: "https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/pukchang"
language: en
translations:
  en: https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/pukchang
  ko: https://savenorthkorea.org/ko/counties/pukchang
  ja: https://savenorthkorea.org/ja/counties/pukchang
  zh-Hans: https://savenorthkorea.org/zh/counties/pukchang
---

[Counties](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties) · South Pyongan · KP0721

 County in South Pyongan 

# Pukchang

**139,498** people 2008 census, may be outdated 

**626** km² 223 people per km² 

**80%** live in towns 

**93** documented abuses NKDB 

**1** detention sites 

**6** official markets 

Pukchang · South Pyongan

[ Open on the intel map](https://savenorthkorea.org/map#county=KP0721)[ Satellite view](https://savenorthkorea.org/map#county=KP0721&b=sat)[ Compare all 179 counties](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties)

## Seen from space

**13.3%** of the county lit at night in 2025 

8.8% in 2013

The satellite product changed version in 2022 (dashed line). [Annual VIIRS night lights, Earth Observation Group](https://eogdata.mines.edu/products/vnl/)

## Abuses by right violated

- Individual Liberty & Dignity **88**
- Accused, Detained, or Convicted **2**
- Life **1**
- Freedom of Belief & Expression **1**

## When they happened

1. **8** ’60s
2. **10** ’70s
3. **11** ’80s
4. **11** ’90s
5. **14** ’00s
6. **2** ’10s

## Women and men

**73,086** women (52%) **66,412** men 

## Prison camps here

- [ © Esri, Maxar **Camp 14, Kaechon** 14호 개천 관리소 · South Pyongan Province Operating  \~15,000 Total control zone where prisoners are never released. Shin Dong-hyuk (Escape from Camp 14) says he was born here. ](https://savenorthkorea.org/camps/kwanliso-14)
- [ © Esri, Maxar **Camp 18, Pukchang** 18호 북창 관리소 · South Pyongan Province Reported closed or merged  \~27,000 Mining camp across the river from Camp 14\. Reports suggest it was closed or merged in the 2000s, though parts may still be used. ](https://savenorthkorea.org/camps/kwanliso-18)

## Elsewhere in South Pyongan

- [Anju City ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/anju)
- [Chongnam ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/chongnam)
- [Hoechang 8 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/hoechang)
- [Jungsan 40 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/jungsan)
- [Kaechon City 115 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/kaechon)
- [Maengsan ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/maengsan)
- [Mundok 8 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/mundok)
- [Nyongwon ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/nyongwon)
- [Pyongsong City 5 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/pyongsong)
- [Pyongwon ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/pyongwon)
- [Sinyang ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/sinyang)
- [Songchon ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/songchon)
- [Sukchon ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/sukchon)
- [Sunchon City 5 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/sunchon)
- [Taedong ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/taedong)
- [Taehung ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/taehung)
- [Tokchon City 4 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/tokchon)
- [Tukjang 24 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/tukjang)
- [Unsan 1 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/unsan-south-pyongan)
- [Yangdok 1 ](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/yangdok)

## Sources

- [**UN OCHA administrative boundaries** data.humdata.org ↗ ](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-prk)
- [**2008 census (UNFPA)** data.humdata.org ↗ ](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-prk)
- [**NKDB Visual Atlas** visualatlas.org ↗ ](https://www.visualatlas.org)