North Korea Limits Citizens to 15 State-Approved Hairstyles

DID Press: North Korea extended state control deep into citizens’ private lives by restricting personal appearance, allowing men and women to choose only from 15 government-approved hairstyles for their entire lifetime.

According to official regulations, deviation from the approved list is considered a violation of state rules and can result in penalties ranging from fines to detention and imprisonment. The policy is part of Pyongyang’s broader efforts to tightly regulate lifestyles and prevent the spread of behaviors or cultural influences deemed incompatible with the ruling ideology.

The measure highlights the extent of government oversight in North Korea, where even basic personal choices such as hairstyle are subject to political control, reinforcing the image of a pervasive and highly centralized system of social regulation.