Many things are prohibited in North Korea. But some bans in the 21st century seem strange and absurd.
Bans in North Korea date back to the time of Kim Il Sung, grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong-un. But Eun continued the tradition, and today there are many strange bans in North Korea. Moreover, everything from hairstyles to clothing is regulated. Daily Mail writes about North Korea’s strangest bans.
Kim Jong-un’s government regulates even the most trivial aspects of daily life.
Recently, journalists have been puzzled by the broadcast of some of the BBC’s programs in North Korea. For example, detective series “Poirot” and “Miss Marple”. And also a program about gardening by Alan Titchmarsh. And if the program itself continued without interruption, the presenter’s jeans were censored. Jeans are prohibited in North Korea.
A stunned Titchmarsh jokingly told reporters that he was “honored” and that he never thought of himself as someone who could lead North Korean youth astray.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg in a country where nearly every aspect of public life is closely monitored by watchful officials who view any impropriety as an unacceptable threat to Kim Jong Un’s rule.
Hairstyles on the list
North Korean citizens cannot cut their hair as they wish. They must choose from about 15 government-approved options.
Men are expected to only have short haircuts, while women have different options but all must follow a conservative style, free from any signs of rebellion.
People who wear hairstyles without permission face penalties such as fines, forced labor, and even imprisonment.
The haircut situation was exposed by Finnish journalist Mika Mäkeläinen, who photographed posters of North Korean hair salons during a tightly controlled press visit to Pyongyang in 2017 to cover Sun Day, the birthday of the country’s founder Kim Il Sung.
Strict dress code
Dress codes in North Korea are another example of the state’s obsession with uniformity and are used as a tool of social engineering.
Traditional clothing known as Joseon-ot is often worn at formal events and social gatherings, promoting a sense of national identity and pride in Korean heritage.
But even outside ceremonial events, citizens are expected to adhere to a dress code that reflects modesty and formality.
Even in official photos you can often see exactly the same jackets, quilted jackets and coats. Even Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, at one point appeared to be wearing the same fur-collared coat that her aunt, Kim Yo-jong, showed off earlier.
Last summer, following an amendment to North Korea’s Law on the Rejection of Reactionary Thoughts and Culture, authorities declared that any woman wearing clothing that did not reach knee-length was violating the principles of “socialist etiquette.”
A resident of North Korea’s South Pyongan province told Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity: “The authorities are stopping women wearing shorts on the streets, saying that it is not in line with socialist traditions and lifestyle. A few years ago they criticized women with wide legs and the Japanese fashion of their trousers.” They said it was.”
Women were very unhappy because temperatures in North Korea rose above 30 degrees in the summer and men could still wear shorts.
History through official portraits
The scope of state-mandated behavior extends far beyond public appearances and also permeates home life.
Failure to show sufficient respect for the country’s leadership is considered a serious crime punishable by fines, imprisonment or even death.
Every family’s home should have a portrait of the current Kim, as well as portraits of former leaders Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung. And they must be spotless.
Refusing to comply is tantamount to treason, a challenge to the cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim dynasty.
dog ban
Under such scrutiny, most North Koreans would probably love to relax on the couch with their beloved pets. However, Pyongyang reportedly decided that the dogs should be kept solely for their meat and fur.
A source speaking to Daily NK, a newspaper covering North Korea’s events in neighboring South Korea, said that the ban on using dogs as pets was announced through the Korean Socialist Women’s Association.
“Treating a dog as a family member who eats and sleeps with his family is incompatible with the socialist lifestyle and should be strictly avoided,” they said.
Explaining the regime’s stance, the source made the following statement: “Dogs are, by nature, meat that is raised on the street and then eaten. Therefore, such behavior is not completely socialist and must be eliminated.”
The source also emphasized that the regime “the purpose of breeding dogs is to collect more fur.”
Foreign media and advertising
Meanwhile, all forms of foreign media are banned in North Korea unless properly vetted and censored by government media controls. There are also reportedly no commercials between TV shows.
Instead, the interludes are filled with propaganda music glorifying the regime.
But some BBC programs found their way into North Korean broadcasts in 2014, after a Foreign Office-backed initiative compiled a list of programs the rogue state might consider importing.
Some programs, such as Doctor Who, Top Gear and Teletubbies, were deemed suitable to be broadcast in Pyongyang, but some changes and censorship were implemented.
Relationships are under control
Perhaps the most invasive aspect of North Korean society is the state’s control over personal relationships.
Citizens are organized according to their ancestral class system; The state can dictate with whom citizens can have relationships and under what conditions.
Marriage between people from different social classes requires government approval, and unions deemed objectionable may be rejected.
This process is deeply related to the concept of “songbun”, a social classification system that classifies people according to their family’s historical social standing and loyalty to the Kim dynasty.
Those positive about sunbathing are more likely to receive approval for marriage and other privileges, while others face discrimination.
Even public displays of affection are scrutinized as the regime seeks to regulate intimate relationships as well as outward behavior.
Let us remind you that it was previously learned that Kim Jong-un’s daughter was given a new title. Journalists believe this directly indicates that he was chosen as the heir. Interestingly, Kim Jong-un likely has two other children, but they have never been seen in public.
Source: Focus
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