Crackdown on Western culture targets popular food items
In a continued effort to suppress Western influences, North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has banned the consumption and sale of hotdogs, a food item increasingly popular in neighboring South Korea. According to reports by NHK, the decision was made as part of Kim’s ongoing campaign to curb Western cultural imports.
Hotdogs, a quintessentially Western food, have been embraced in South Korea’s culinary scene in recent years, but in the North, they are now considered a subversive threat. Kim reportedly warned that serving sausages in the hermit nation would be deemed an “act of treason.”
Enforcement leads to arrests and harsh penalties
Reports suggest that multiple arrests have been made of individuals caught cooking or selling hotdogs across North Korea. Those found guilty face severe punishments, including sentences to hard labor in the country’s notorious labor camps.
Hotdogs are not the only food item to fall under Kim’s prohibition. The regime has also banned “budae-jjigae,” a South Korean-American fusion dish known as “army base stew,” which combines ingredients like sausages, kimchi, and Korean chili paste. Originally created in the 1950s using discarded rations from U.S. soldiers, the dish has become a culinary symbol of resilience and creativity in South Korea. Despite its origins, it has been deemed unacceptable in the North.
A broader campaign against cultural influences
Kim’s clampdown on hotdogs and other food items aligns with his broader mission to control cultural expression and reinforce traditional values. In addition to food bans, North Korea has imposed stringent restrictions on fashion and entertainment. Citizens are prohibited from wearing short skirts, jeans, or clothing with Western logos. Hairstyles are also regulated, with only state-approved styles permitted.
The regime’s authoritarian grip extends to personal milestones, with birthdays on July 8 and December 17—the death anniversaries of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il—also banned. Additionally, divorces require government approval and can result in punishments for hard labor.
Media, entertainment, and communication restrictions
North Koreans are barred from consuming foreign TV shows, books, and movies, and possessing satellite dishes is illegal. These measures aim to insulate the population from external influences and maintain the regime’s ideological control.
A life under scrutiny
North Korea’s increasingly draconian policies leave little room for individual expression, as every aspect of life is subject to the state’s control. The ban on hotdogs is yet another reminder of the regime’s efforts to isolate its citizens from global trends and enforce a rigid cultural narrative. For North Koreans, daily life remains shaped by the unpredictable decrees of their leader, with severe consequences for those who step out of line.