According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea, the appropriate indoor temperature in winter is around 20°C. However, in North Korea, many people shiver in the cold without any heating, even when temperatures drop to minus 40°C. Why is that? The main reason is the shortage of firewood. In North Korea, most households use the traditional ondol heating system. Ondol heating involves burning firewood in a furnace, sending the heat through underfloor flues to warm the room, with the remaining smoke exiting through a chimney. Naturally, if there is not enough firewood, it becomes impossible to maintain indoor heating. In rural areas of North Korea, wood is the primary fuel source. However, due to a recent government ban on logging, the price of firewood has skyrocketed, making it extremely difficult for ordinary people to afford.
To better understand the harsh realities of winter in North Korea, ONGII followed the life of Na Chuwon, a resident of Hyesan in Yanggang Province. Na Chuwon works as a laborer at Yeongung Jeil Middle School, living on an average citizen’s salary. He purchases one cubic meter of firewood every 45 days. For the entire winter, he needs about four cubic meters of firewood. Originally, it was possible to buy all the necessary firewood at a lower price in early winter, but due to rising firewood costs, this has become impossible with a regular salary. As a result, Na faces serious threats to his health during the harsh winter because he cannot afford enough fuel—an energy poverty crisis. Within North Korea, people have attempted to address this issue by using small stoves and coal briquettes, but these solutions have failed to fully resolve the problem. Observing this situation, we began asking ourselves some important questions: What if we could recycle the heat escaping through the chimney to improve heating efficiency? Wouldn’t it then be possible for people to buy all the firewood they need for the winter with their regular salaries by early winter?
ONGII has encapsulated the answer to these questions in a single product: the Chimney Heater, a device that recycles smoke escaping from chimneys to generate warm air. This product features the “Ongi Pipe,” which channels the warm air produced from chimney smoke into living spaces, and an internally developed Heat Recycling System (HRS) that optimizes airflow. The Heat Recycling System uses sensors to detect the internal temperature of the Ongi Pipe. When the temperature exceeds the set level, a fan is activated to circulate warm air into the room. Once the temperature drops below the set point, the fan stops automatically to prevent cold air from entering.
According to interviews with North Korean defectors, there are currently no similar products available. Many expressed positive feedback, noting that the device is easy to install and use without much burden. However, some concerns were raised regarding air quality and the possibility that firewood might burn too quickly. Based on this feedback, ONGII is planning the following technological developments: First, for the main components, we plan to redesign the pipe structure to maximize heat absorption and develop new internal pipe materials to enhance heat retention. For the auxiliary components, we aim to develop an air purification filter and additives that help improve fuel sustainability.
ONGII plans to raise initial funds through crowdfunding to produce a prototype of the Chimney Heater. Afterward, we aim to partner with boiler companies, aligning with their ESG initiatives, to manufacture optimized products. The produced units will be sold to NGOs, generating revenue, and the NGOs will deliver our products to North Korea. In the long term, ONGII plans to expand globally by customizing designs optimized for various developing countries, utilizing the concept of waste heat recycling. ONGII’s work begins where warmth is most needed. Through your impact donations, help us send life-saving warmth to endure the brutal North Korean winter.
