Recently, the North Korean authorities have been strictly controlling female students’ hairstyles.

 

As South Korean dramas flow into North Korea, an increasing number of North Korean female students are mimicking the South Korean actresses’ straight hair. For this reason, the North Korean authorities are attempting to control students’ hairstyles in order to stop capitalistic culture. As a result, hairdressers, who worked secretly, seem to be decreasing in number. They used to straighten women’s hair if the customers brought hair straightening chemicals and iron from China. However, since the authorities’ control became stronger, the number of female customers has increasingly dropped.

 

Meanwhile, Chosun Central TV and Rodong Shinmun are emphasizing certain hairstyles and criticizing capitalistic culture.