North Korea’s pervasive control extends to even the most personal aspects of citizens’ lives, including their physical appearance. Recent reports and testimonies from defectors reveal a crackdown on cosmetic surgery, particularly among young women, highlighting the regime’s efforts to maintain strict social control and suppress individual expression. This extends beyond simply banning certain styles or trends; it represents a broader attempt to regulate bodies and enforce conformity.
The Crackdown on Cosmetic Procedures
Kim Jong-un’s regime is reportedly intensifying its efforts to identify and punish individuals who undergo illegal cosmetic procedures, such as breast implants. Security services are utilizing undercover agents and neighborhood watch groups to detect those both performing and receiving these surgeries. While the focus appears to be on cosmetic enhancements, the underlying motivation is far more significant than concerns about health or modesty.
According to Dr. Sarah Son, senior lecturer in Korean studies at the University of Sheffield, “North Korea is a country which has an incredible level of social control and has managed that successfully for a long time.” This level of control isn’t simply about aesthetics; it’s a fundamental component of maintaining the regime’s power. The suppression of self-identity, as Dr. Son explains, is a deliberate strategy to ensure compliance within a state grappling with widespread issues like food shortages and arbitrary arrests.
Beyond Surgery: Total Control of Appearance
The crackdown on cosmetic surgery is not an isolated incident. Defectors consistently report that the North Korean government exerts control over nearly every facet of personal presentation. Restrictions extend to clothing – blue jeans are banned – hairstyles, and even the way individuals sit. These seemingly minor regulations are, in fact, tools for enforcing ideological purity and preventing the infiltration of outside influences.
This control over appearance is deeply rooted in the regime’s ideology. Any deviation from the prescribed norms is viewed as a potential threat to the established order. The regime views its citizens as “components in a national regime,” as Dr. Son stated, and their bodies and appearances are subject to state control.
The Escalation of Penalties
The consequences for violating these appearance-based regulations have become increasingly severe. While bribery was once reportedly used to circumvent the rules, accessing South Korean content, for example, is now punishable by death. This escalation reflects the regime’s growing anxiety about the influence of external cultures, particularly the “Korean Wave” (Hallyu), which includes K-pop and South Korean dramas. One defector, Kim Il-hyeok, testified that a 22-year-old man was executed by firing squad for distributing South Korean media – specifically, three dramas and 70 K-pop songs – under the “Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act.”
Another defector, speaking anonymously, noted that the penalties for accessing South Korean content have dramatically increased since 2015. The regime views this cultural influx with the same level of concern as drug use, highlighting the perceived threat to its ideological control.
Human Rights Abuses and the Pursuit of Accountability
The strict control over appearance is just one aspect of a broader pattern of human rights abuses within North Korea. Public executions, arbitrary detention, and torture are commonplace. Recent testimonies from defectors, presented at public hearings held by the United Nations Human Rights Office in Seoul, South Korea in , detailed these ongoing crimes under Kim Jong-un’s rule. These hearings are part of an effort to update a 2014 Commission of Inquiry report, with a new report scheduled for release in .
The severity of these abuses is prompting legal action. In , a North Korean defector, Choi Min-kyeong, filed the first-ever civil and criminal lawsuits in South Korea against Kim Jong-un, seeking justice for crimes against humanity committed within North Korean detention facilities. Choi testified to suffering repeated sexual violence and torture during approximately five months of detention, demanding accountability for these atrocities.
COVID-19 and the Militarization of Restrictions
The regime’s control mechanisms were further exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim Jong-un imposed harsh lockdowns, medical prohibitions, and unconventional “cures,” such as willow bark tea. Defectors report that starvation killed more people than the virus itself, and that the government falsely claimed to have imported vaccines at exorbitant prices – reportedly one cow per dose.
The militarization of COVID-19 restrictions demonstrates the regime’s willingness to prioritize control over the well-being of its citizens. The pandemic provided a pretext for further tightening restrictions and suppressing dissent.
A Regime Built on Control
The crackdown on cosmetic surgery, the strict regulations on appearance, and the pervasive human rights abuses all point to a fundamental characteristic of Kim Jong-un’s regime: a relentless pursuit of total control. This control extends not only to political and economic spheres but also to the most intimate aspects of citizens’ lives, including their bodies and their self-expression. As defectors continue to share their experiences, the international community gains a clearer understanding of the realities within North Korea and the urgent need for accountability and reform.
