Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, has implemented a ban on cooking and selling hot dogs, declaring it an act of treason. The Kim Jong Un regime views the Western culture as a threat to its authority.
The ban targets hot dogs and budae-jjigae, a popular South Korean dish that includes hot dogs or spam.
This spicy Korean-American hotpot originated in the 1950s, when locals used discarded meats from US soldiers to create stews. The dish gained popularity in North Korea around 2017, but its Western influence has led to its prohibition.
According to Radio Free Asia, authorities have forbidden the sale of budae-jjigae and steamed rice cakes tteokbokki, another popular street food from South Korea.
A vendor in the northern province of Ryanggang revealed, “Sales of budae-jjigae in the market have stopped. The police and market management have said anyone caught selling it will be shut down”.
The consequences of violating this ban are severe. Individuals caught cooking or selling hot dogs face imprisonment in labor camps, where they may be subjected to harsh conditions.
In addition to the hot dog ban, the North Korean government has also taken a hardline stance on divorce.
The regime views divorce as an anti-socialist act, and those who seek to dissolve their marriages may face imprisonment in labor camps. A divorced woman who spoke to Radio Free Asia reported serving three months in a labor camp, stating, “There are about 80 women, and 40 men imprisoned in the county labor training camp… About 30 men and women were imprisoned due to divorce decrees, and the women’s sentences were longer”.
