North Korea strongly criticizes women’s ‘clothes and hairstyles’ through video footage

Every year, as the warm season approaches, North Korea strengthens control and education on clothing and hairstyles. This year, it is reported that they are producing a video that addresses clothing and hairstyles as an ideological education project for young people. It is interpreted as a measure based on the judgment that women’s clothing and hairstyles are influenced by external trends.

According to a source in Yanggang Province of NK Times on the 15th, a lecture strongly condemning ‘unconventional clothing and hairstyles’ was recently held at factories and enterprises in Hyesan City. This lecture was conducted in the form of a video clip containing the process of cracking down on women who wore anti-socialist and non-socialist clothing and hairstyles, as well as their personal information.

The lecture video reportedly used the expression “ideological and cultural manipulation spread by the enemy” and strongly criticized the serious cultural influence of South Korea and the West on young people and women.

According to the source, in the video, North Korea pointed out that “some unhealthy women still dress and groom themselves in a way that does not fit the emotions and lifestyle of our people, and is clouding the social atmosphere.” He then strongly criticized the youth’s clothing, saying, “As the youth of Juche Korea, the youth who should be ideologically and emotionally prepared more than anyone else are caught up in the ideological and cultural schemes spread by the enemy, and they like to show off and wear exotic clothing, so much so that people who see them are ashamed.”

In addition, through this video, North Korea said, “Despite the fact that we are now conducting educational work and intensifying control to the point where nails are drilled into our ears about not wearing exotic clothing and grooming, what should we do with these people who are acting so brazenly?” and threatened, “We should strictly punish by law those who do not listen to the voice of the party and are playing around with the ideological and cultural infiltration brought in by the enemy,” and the source explained.

Since the COVID-19 incident, North Korea has been making all-out efforts to prevent the ideological relaxation of the youth through three evil laws, including the ‘Act on the Rejection of Reactionary Ideology and Culture’ and the ‘Act on the Guarantee of Ideological Education for Youth.’ However, among young people who are sensitive to new things, they are showing a lot of interest in styles that follow the trend, and especially among women, they are said to be trying to dress and style their hair according to the trend. However, it is reported that North Korea criticized women’s pursuit of beauty as an anti-socialist and non-socialist act, disparaging it as an exotic dress and hairstyle.

In fact, North Korea is reported to have pointed out in this video that young people’s clothing “are wearing tight pants while talking about some trend and fashion, and are disrupting the socialist lifestyle,” and “The phenomenon of wearing exotic clothing is prevalent not only among young women but also among housewives.”

The source continued, “You can’t help but wonder if these young men are in their right minds. Look at these women, their pants are stuck to their buttocks. Because of these women, we can’t tell good from evil.” He also strongly criticized the fact that, instead of sincerely reflecting on their actions, they are justifying their own shortcomings and speaking out in an unreasonable manner.

The video lecture appears to be an extension of this, as North Korea is wary of the infiltration of external culture and considers it a threat to the ideological purity of the country.

The source said, “(The authorities) only tell you to dress modestly, and there are no guidelines on how to dress. If you catch the eye of the guards, they stop you, pick a fight, and record you against your will.” He added, “Those with money and connections can easily get away with it, but everyone else is caught on video and humiliated.”

***This article was translated by Google and may differ from the Korean version.