Kim Jong Un allegedly orders a crackdown on women in North Korea who undergo breast augmentation surgeries, calling it an “unsocialist act.” Read more about the bizarre order and the harsh penalties for those involved.
In a strange and controversial move, Kim Jong Un has reportedly ordered a crackdown on women in North Korea who undergo breast augmentation surgery. According to South Korean news outlet Daily NK, the government has labeled the procedure an “unsocialist act” and is using extreme measures to root out individuals who are undergoing or performing breast enhancement surgeries.
The scandal came to light after a person accused of performing illegal breast augmentation surgeries was put on trial, along with two women who allegedly received the procedure. In North Korea, breast augmentation is illegal, and those caught may face severe punishment, including being sent to labor camps.
The controversy began when it was revealed that silicone implants for the surgeries were smuggled into the country from China. The alleged “doctor” who performed the surgeries reportedly dropped out of medical school and was working from their home when the illegal operations were discovered.
According to Daily NK, a public trial took place in mid-September in Sariwon, a central district of North Korea, where the accused doctor and women were presented as criminals for undergoing the procedure. Evidence, including medical tools, cash, and silicone implants, was shown during the trial, and the women reportedly claimed they simply wanted to “improve their figure” through the surgery.
The prosecutor accused the women of adopting “capitalist” values, accusing them of being influenced by “bourgeois customs” and committing “rotten capitalist acts.” In addition, the trial reportedly sparked mixed reactions from local residents, with some criticizing the doctor’s actions for financial gain, while others sympathized with the alleged motivations for the surgery, stating that it could be due to lack of economic opportunities.
The scandal prompted North Korean authorities to take drastic measures to identify and punish those involved in cosmetic surgery. Undercover agents and neighborhood patrols are reportedly being used to catch women who have had surgery or those performing it. There have also been reports of physical examinations to confirm whether women have breast implants, with the government possibly conducting investigations across the country.
The crackdown on cosmetic surgery is part of a broader trend in North Korea, where the Ministry of Social Security has reportedly issued a directive condemning the rise in cosmetic procedures, including double-eyelid surgery, which is popular in other parts of East Asia, particularly in South Korea. Double-eyelid surgery involves creating a crease in the eyelid to alter its appearance, a procedure that has gained popularity due to cosmetic trends in neighboring countries.
A message from the ministry claimed that women in North Korea were being influenced by “bourgeois ideology,” engaging in “decadent acts,” and undermining socialist values. Daily NK reports that strike teams have already been deployed in Pyongyang and other central districts to target individuals involved in these practices, either as patients or as private doctors.
The penalties for those found guilty of participating in such surgeries are severe, including criminal punishment and the potential for labor camp sentences on charges of “anti-socialism.” As the crackdown intensifies, North Korea’s government continues its pursuit of any form of perceived deviation from socialist ideals.
