Hair dyeing a popular trend among ‘Jangmadang Generation’

Hair dyeing to lighter shades is reportedly trending among the younger market-oriented generation in North Korea. While some individuals had cautiously dyed their hair a few years ago, it has recently become a wider cultural phenomenon embraced by North Koreans in their 20s and 30s.
“An increasing number of young people prefer capitalist hairstyles over the old-fashioned Joseon (North Korean) hairstyle. Young people with artificially lightened hair can be frequently seen in the cities of North Hamgyong Province such as Chongjin and Hoeryong,” a source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on April 21.
“There have been people before who dyed their hair lighter a few years ago, but recently the number has increased dramatically,” she added, noting that people are no longer afraid of punishment as they were only five years ago.
The North Korean authorities characterize the dyeing of hair as anti-socialist behavior and officially prohibit it. However, the young market generation who have established their own businesses through market activities are actively resisting regulations while inventing methods to avoid crackdowns.
“Of course, the young people also fear punishment so they dye their hair lighter, but not too dramatically so, and try to avoid crackdowns by wearing a hat or covering their hair with scarves. But they are willing to take risks and keep dyeing their hair,” she explained.
“The young people who were caught during the crackdown operations led by primary party committees and youth organizations are countering claims by the officials, saying that their hair was originally light in color. They are definitely different from us (the older generation).”
South Korean TV dramas and films, she said, seem to have altered fashion awareness in North Korea’s younger generation. It is becoming common to find young people with sweeping and fashionably textured bangs and skinny pants. “Seeing these trends, residents are beginning to think that dyeing hair is only a trivial violation,” she noted.
“Until a few years ago, if people lightened their hair, their parents used to make a fuss and implore their children to revert their hair color, citing concerns about crackdowns and punishments from the authorities. But nowadays, there are more parents who compliment their children’s fashion choice and merely tell them not to make the change too conspicuous,” a source in Ryanggang Province said.
“Women in their 20s living in cities like Hyesan City want to dye their hair lighter at least once. They don’t associate dyeing their hair with disloyalty to the state. They just want to be allowed to express themselves.”