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As you travel to distant lands with vastly different cultures and political systems than your own, you expect to encounter laws and social norms that surprise you or make you uncomfortable. However, in North Korea, the restrictive laws and draconian policies in place will shock you to your core. The authoritarian regime exerts extreme control over all aspects of citizens’ lives in ways unimaginable in democratic societies. From restricting access to information and controlling all media to forbidding criticism of the government and its leaders, individual freedoms are virtually non-existent. The laws you will discover in North Korea will make you value the basic rights and civil liberties you likely take for granted. Prepare to be stunned by the unbelievable laws in the world’s most secretive nation.
Banned Hair and Fashion Styles
The authoritarian North Korean government is known for imposing strict control over many aspects of citizens’ lives, including their appearance. Several bizarre laws dictate approved hairstyles and fashion.
Banned Hairstyles
Certain hairstyles are prohibited for being too “Western” or “capitalist”. Mullets, dyeing hair, and long hair on men are forbidden. All males must have short hair, usually a variation of an undercut. Schools check students’ hair length frequently and those out of compliance are sent home.
Only state-approved hairstyles for women are allowed, usually short cuts. Longer hair must be tied back from the face. Hair dye and perms are banned for women. The government promotes a uniform appearance and considers dyed or permed hair to be selfish vanity.
Restricted Fashion
Blue jeans and t-shirts with writing or images are banned, as they are considered too American. Most North Koreans wear muted colors and loose-fitting outfits. Women typically wear skirts and blouses, while men wear button-down shirts and slacks.
Certain accessories like sunglasses, jewelry, and hats are restricted or must meet strict guidelines. The government believes extravagant or stylish fashion promotes individualism and distracts from collective social values.
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Enforcement
“Fashion police” routinely monitor citizens to ensure compliance. Those violating the rules face penalties like fines, forced haircuts, or public humiliation. Repeat or egregious offenders may be sent to prison camps. The harsh enforcement and severe punishments are meant to compel citizens to closely follow the rules in all areas of life.
While shocking, these laws provide insight into the oppressive control and restriction of self-expression that North Koreans endure under the authoritarian regime. Strict rules govern even the smallest details of daily life in the isolated nation.
Strict Restrictions on Technology and Information
The North Korean government places strict restrictions on technology and access to information for its citizens. Most North Koreans do not have access to the Internet, and the media is tightly controlled by the state.
Limited Access to Technology
Few North Koreans own personal computers or mobile phones. The government only allows access to a highly restricted, state-controlled intranet. Nearly all media and communication is monitored. Most citizens cannot access information from the outside world.
The government also bans most foreign technology and media. Things like foreign DVDs, books, and USB drives are illegal, as they may contain forbidden information. The state fears outside influence will undermine its control and propaganda.
Tight Control of Information
All media in North Korea is created and disseminated by the government. The state controls all television, radio, newspapers, books, music, and movies. They are filled with propaganda promoting the cult of personality surrounding the country’s leaders and emphasizing loyalty to the state.
Most North Koreans have little access to news or ideas that challenge the government’s narrative. Foreign media is banned, and those caught accessing it face harsh punishment. The state aims to control not just access to information but also the very thoughts of citizens.
Such extreme restrictions on technology and information are nearly unheard of in the modern world. They severely limit individual freedoms and access to the truth for most North Koreans. However, loosening controls also poses risks to the authoritarian regime, which relies on propaganda and ignorance of the outside world to maintain power. Finding the right balance of openness and control remains an existential challenge in North Korea.
Limits on Personal Freedom and Individuality
The North Korean government places severe restrictions on citizens’ personal freedoms and individuality. Most aspects of daily life are tightly controlled by the authoritarian regime.
Restricted Movement
North Koreans need government permission to travel within the country, let alone leave it. Unauthorized travel is prohibited, with few exceptions. The government monitors citizens’ movement to curb unauthorized trade and contact with outsiders.
Limited Access to Information
All media is state-run, and access to outside information is banned. Televisions and radios are preset to government stations. The Internet is restricted to high-ranking officials and the technological elite. Possession of unauthorized media like foreign books, films, and music is illegal. The regime aims to control citizens’ thinking by censoring outside influences.
Enforced Conformity
Individuality and self-expression are discouraged. Haircuts, fashion, and speech are standardized. People are pressured to worship the Kim dynasty. The cult of personality portrays the Kims as flawless leaders to be revered. Nonconformity can lead to punishment.
The North Korean government denies citizens fundamental human rights to control every aspect of their lives. By restricting movement, censoring information, and enforcing conformity, the regime aims to prevent challenges to its power. The broader population lives in isolation, bombarded by propaganda touting the state’s authority and the Kims’ infallibility. Overall, the North Korean people have little freedom or individuality under the oppressive system that governs nearly all facets of public and private life in the country.
Severe Punishments for Minor Infractions
The authoritarian regime in North Korea is known for imposing severe punishments on its citizens for even minor infractions. Their draconian laws and harsh enforcement stand in stark contrast to most modern societies.
Restricted Movement
North Koreans cannot travel freely within their own country, let alone leave it. Movement is tightly controlled and restricted. Those who attempt to leave the country or cross the border without permission face extremely harsh penalties, including forced labor, imprisonment, torture, and even execution. Their family members also often face punishment.
Limited Free Speech
Criticism of the government or leadership in any form is strictly forbidden. People can face severe punishment for speaking their minds or sharing unauthorized information. North Korea’s regime tightly controls all media and access to outside information. Anyone caught accessing foreign radio, TV, or media can be sent to labor camps.
Harsh Punishments
North Korea’s legal system is arbitrary and harsh. Minor offenses like theft, smuggling, or unauthorized business can result in years of imprisonment, forced labor, and even public execution. Entire families are often punished for one member’s alleged crimes or infractions. The regime uses public executions, forced labor camps, torture, and other human rights violations to instill fear in the population and maintain control.
In summary, North Korea’s oppressive laws and draconian enforcement violate human rights and strip citizens of basic freedoms and dignity. The regime rules through fear, using harsh punishment for even minor offenses to squelch any dissent or independent thought. Sadly, most North Koreans have known nothing else, as these laws and practices have been in place for generations under the Kim family’s dictatorship.
Propaganda and Mandatory Public Rituals
The North Korean government mandates various propaganda and public rituals to control citizens and reinforce devotion to the state.
Mandatory Rallies and Events
All North Koreans are required to attend staged rallies, parades, and other events glorifying the state and its leaders. Attendance is strictly enforced. The largest events are the annual mass games, military parades celebrating North Korea’s founding, and rallies honoring Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Citizens must practice for weeks in advance and spend hours participating in these elaborate displays of devotion, waving flags, holding up colored boards to create massive images, and chanting slogans.
Daily Acts of Devotion
Citizens are obligated to perform daily acts demonstrating their allegiance to the state. This includes bowing before statues of the Kims, learning the history of the Kims in school, and starting each day by proclaiming gratitude for the Kims. Radios and loudspeakers blare state propaganda throughout towns and cities each day. The state also mandates weekly “self-criticism” sessions where citizens must confess any disloyal thoughts or actions.
Restricted Access to Outside Information
The North Korean government blocks nearly all outside information to control citizens’ minds. It is illegal to access foreign radio, TV, music, or publications. The state propaganda promotes myths about the outside world to instill fear and distrust in citizens. Anyone caught with unauthorized media faces severe punishment, including imprisonment in labor camps. The state’s control of information and promotion of propaganda aims to shape citizens’ entire sense of identity, history and reality.
To summarize, through mandatory rallies, daily acts of forced devotion, and restricting outside information, the North Korean state seeks to dominate citizens’ lives and gain unquestioning allegiance. The government monopolizes its citizens’ access to information and shapes their very sense of identity to maintain power. Overall, these oppressive laws and enforced rituals violate human rights and freedoms.
Conclusion
As a citizen in most other countries, you likely take many personal freedoms and liberties for granted each and every day. In North Korea, however, nearly every aspect of daily life is strictly controlled and regulated by an authoritarian government with little regard for human rights. From restricting access to outside information to banning Western hairstyles and clothing, the North Korean regime exerts an extraordinary level of control over its people. While the rest of the world has progressed, North Korea remains trapped in another era marked by oppression, isolationism, and fear mongering. For those living under Kim Jong Un’s iron fist, there are few freedoms to speak of and little hope for change without outside intervention. The unbelievable laws in North Korea highlight the vast gulf between its authoritarian government and the democratic values shared by open societies around the globe.
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