North Korean women are now sacrificing basic necessities to acquire South Korean cosmetics, once accessible only to the wealthy elite.
According to a source from South Hamgyong Province recently, North Korean women are increasingly favoring South Korean cosmetics over domestic options. While the North Korean brand “Eunhasu” is considered the best local product, many market offerings are unreliable “8.3” privately manufactured items. This has led to a growing sentiment that saving for authentic South Korean products is preferable.
Among middle-aged North Korean women with stable finances, owning South Korean cosmetics has become both an aspirational goal and a status symbol. Despite their high cost—a basic skin and lotion set sells for 70,000-100,000 North Korean won (equivalent to 10 kilograms of rice)—women are willingly reducing household expenses to afford these products.
The cultural shift is notable. Previously, women feared displaying South Korean cosmetics due to potential government crackdowns. Now, proud owners place their dressing tables in private rooms where they can discreetly showcase their prized possessions to trusted friends.
“Women are cutting back on essentials like firewood and food to save for these products,” the source explained. “There’s a new conversation about self-care, where women who previously focused solely on family needs now express desires to care for themselves.”
While wealthy North Koreans have always used South Korean cosmetics, their use has expanded to women with modest but stable incomes. The luxury brand Sulwhasoo has become particularly coveted, with ownership of at least one product becoming “a standard for living as a proper woman.”
This trend suggests South Korean cosmetics have transcended their role as wealth indicators to become important tools for personal empowerment and self-esteem among North Korean women.
April 29, 2025 at 02:04PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)