In a shocking crackdown on Western cultural influences, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has apparently banned the consumption and sale of Budae-Jjigae, a spicy noodle soup traditionally made with hot dogs or Spam. The dish, which originated in western South Korea but has gained popularity in North Korea over the past few years, has been declared treason and violators face severe punishment.
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According to a report that originally appeared in The Sun, local vendors have been threatened to stop selling the dish immediately. One seller even said, “Budae-Jjigae sales in the market have stopped. Police and market management have said that anyone caught selling will be shut down.” It is said that serving or selling the dish is punishable by deportation to labor camps, where the harsh conditions will become a process of re-education. Kim Jong-un’s decree is part of a scheme to rid the regime of what it considers to be the imposition of Western influence. Hot dogs and other types of Western delicacies have become identified with Western culture, and therefore their consumption is increasingly controlled. Other popular South Korean dishes, such as spicy rice cakes, have also previously been banned for similar reasons.
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Despite its strict stance on Western foods, the consumption of dogs remains permitted in North Korea, indicating the regime’s selective approach to food policy.
Restrictions apply not only to food, but also to a wider range. North Koreans who want a divorce face one to six months in labor camps because the separation is considered “anti-socialist.” The authorities also issued warnings in December that celebrating Christmas could lead to death, clearly showing how the regime dominates people’s lives, including personal and cultural life.
What is Buda-jjigae?
Budae-jjigae, or Army Base Raw, was born when leftover ingredients like Spam and hot dogs brought to Korea by the US military were mixed with more traditional Korean elements like kimchi and ramen. For South Koreans, it is a culinary expression of their country’s blend of cultures and comfort food; it is strictly forbidden in North Korea.
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According to international reports, these bans are in line with North Korea’s history against perceived ideological impurities. For now, Buda-Zhygae and its western parts have joined the growing list of cultural elements unacceptable to the closed nation.
(Images courtesy of Canva)
