North Korea has recently banned two popular Korean dishes from being sold in the country’s restaurants in an effort to prevent what they see as the “invasion” of South Korean culture. The reclusive North Korean regime has long viewed South Korean cultural imports such as movies, music, and TV shows as decadent and capitalist, prohibiting its citizens from engaging with them. Now, they have extended this censorship to include dishes originating from South Korea.
According to a report by Radio Free Asia, the two banned Korean dishes are “budae-jjigae,” a spicy stew typically made with instant noodles and sausages, and “tteokbokki,” a stir-fried dish using rice cakes coated in spicy sauce.
Residents of North Korea informed the radio station that these two Korean dishes were only introduced to the country as late as 2017, initially offered at a restaurant in a department store with Chinese investment.
They also mentioned that another Korean dish, “samgyeopsal,” grilled pork belly, has recently made an appearance in North Korea but has not yet faced a ban by authorities.
A merchant from the Ryanggang Province in North Korea revealed that starting from November 15th, local markets and restaurants stopped serving “budae-jjigae” and “tteokbokki”. Police and market management offices announced that any store caught selling these foods would be shut down.
The merchant mentioned that restaurant managers selling these dishes are under investigation, and measures have been taken to prevent the sale of them at the food court in a local department store.
She stated, “This is not just a measure taken by Ryanggang Province, but it applies to all restaurants and food stalls in markets across the country, including Pyongyang. People are well aware that ‘budae-jjigae’ and ‘tteokbokki’ are banned because they are Korean foods.”
Local authorities have not provided an explanation as to why selling “budae-jjigae” and “tteokbokki” has been prohibited, while “samgyeopsal” remains unaffected as it is not as popular as the other two dishes.
The merchant added, “Samgyeopsal is popular in upscale restaurants in Pyongyang and other areas, but it might also face a ban in the future.”
Over the years, various aspects of South Korean culture, including movies, TV dramas, fashion, hairstyles, slang, and even dance moves have infiltrated North Korea. Reports of residents smuggling and watching South Korean TV programs are not uncommon.
In 2020, North Korean authorities passed a law to ban South Korean culture. Now, it seems that this prohibition extends to South Korean food as well.
The three mentioned Korean dishes all emerged and became popular in South Korea after the Korean War and the division of the Korean Peninsula. “Budae-jjigae” originated in a period of scarcity following the Korean War, where residents near US military bases collected discarded expired sausages, canned ham, and spam to cook into a soup, creating the dish out of necessity.
Today, “budae-jjigae” remains a popular dish in South Korea with modern ingredients like instant noodles and cheese added to enhance the flavor. It is best enjoyed with durable Korean ramen noodles and cheese slices to balance out the spiciness and enrich the broth.
“Tteokbokki” is a popular street food in South Korea, commonly found at food stalls in Seoul and other cities, combining steamed rice cakes with sweet and spicy sauce, often served with boiled eggs and sausages and paired with soju.
As for “samgyeopsal,” it refers to grilled pork belly, named after its three layers of meat and fat, which is also the cut used to make bacon.
“Samgyeopsal” is typically grilled on a hotplate or open flame, sliced, and enjoyed with various seasonings. It is often wrapped in lettuce along with rice, raw or grilled garlic, chili peppers, and other condiments.
The merchant noted that these dishes have recently appeared in restaurants operated by Chinese individuals. These Korean dishes began to be sold around 2017 in restaurants attached to joint ventures with Chinese department stores.