North Korea’s exports of wigs to China are increasing significantly, leading to high demand for hair to use in wigs. Some women have opted to grow out their hair as much as possible to sell to wig makers for as high a price as possible.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in North Pyongan Province told Daily NK on Thursday that “our country has been making and selling a lot of wigs to China these days, which has made it very difficult to obtain hair [for wigs].”
North Korea’s efforts to increase wig exports have led to an increase in demand for hair, especially long hair, in the country. Inspection teams, however, crackdown on people with long hair under the pretext that long hair goes against socialist sensibilities. Crackdowns on long-haired women have made it harder for wig makers to acquire long hair.
“Nonetheless, there are women who avoid the crackdowns and secretly grow out their hair so they can sell it for as much money as possible,” the source said. “During particularly severe crackdowns, these long-haired women take the utmost caution whenever they have to leave their homes.”
The source continued: “Women grow out their hair to as much as 25 centimeters, and one bundle of hair can be sold for up to 20 to 25 kilograms of corn. But it takes a long time for women to grow out their hair, so they wash their hair more frequently to try to get their hair to grow faster. There’s an increasing number of people growing out their hair because even if they can sell their hair more cheaply than what they paid for soap, the corn they earn can help their financial situations.”
The source went on to explain that if people grow and sell their hair to salons, market vendors, and stalls, running venders will go around to these places and gather the hair before handing the hair over to trading companies.
“Although the wig manufacturing industry isn’t as developed or active as the knitting or sewing industry, a growing number of families are now making a living off of wigs. As their lives become easier, other people have become curious about the wig industry and are trying to learn how to make wigs themselves.”
On Oct. 23, China Customs released an official trade report detailing PRC-DPRK trade for the month of September. An Oct. 24 Voice of America (VOA) article quoting the document disclosed that North Korea had exported 182 tons of wigs, fake beards, and fake eyelashes to China in September, worth a total of USD 17.96 million. This amounts to 65% of North Korea’s total trade with China in September (USD 27.79 million).
VOA also said that “North Korea has been greatly increasing the wigs and fake eyelash exports to China since last year. Since February, these products have been North Korea’s number one export to China for eight months running.”
Conversely, North Korea’s largest import from China in September was hair, totaling 206 tons worth USD 21.46 million. North Korea acts as the OEM for Chinese companies: importing hair from China, using the hair to create wigs, and then exporting said wigs back to China.
Unlike coal, weapons, and art, wigs are not subject to the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions against North Korea. Thanks to this exception, wigs are becoming an effective means for earning foreign currency without being hindered by outside restrictions.
Translated by Matthew Eteuati, Jr. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Daily NK works with a network of sources who live inside North Korea, China and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.
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