North Korea bans this popular dish, deems it treasonous

In a shocking clampdown on Western cultural influences, North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has apparently prohibited the consumption and sale of Budae-Jjigae, a spicy noodle soup that is traditionally prepared with Hot Dogs or Spam. The dish, which originated in pro-Western South Korea but gained popularity in the North over the past few years, has been declared treasonous, and violators will face severe punishment.
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As per a report that originally appeared in The Sun, local vendors have been threatened to stop selling the dish immediately. One of the vendors was even quoted as saying, “Sales of Budae-Jjigae in the market have stopped. The police and market management have said anyone caught selling it will be shut down.” Serving or selling the dish is said to come under a punishment of deportation to labour camps where severe conditions will form a re-education process.

Kim Jong Un's decree fits into a pattern of ridding the regime of what it regards as the imposition of Western influence. Hot dogs and other types of Western delicacies are identified with Western culture, and so their consumption has been increasingly checked. Other popular South Korean fare such as Spicy Rice Cakes have also had a ban previously for similar motives.
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Despite this strict stance on Western foods, the consumption of canines remains permissible in North Korea, showing the regime's selective approach to food policies.

The restrictions are not only on food but extend to a wider range. North Koreans wishing to divorce might face one to six months of labour camp imprisonment since separation is deemed "anti-socialist." Authorities also issued warnings in December that Christmas celebrations might result in death, thereby clearly showing how the regime dominates people's lives, including personal and cultural life.

Budae-jjigae, or Army Base Stew, was born when leftover ingredients such as Spam and Hot Dogs, brought to Korea by American servicemen, were mixed with more traditional Korean elements like Kimchi and Ramen. For South Koreans, it represents a culinary expression of their country's melange of cultures and comfort food; in North Korea, it is strictly forbidden.

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According to international reports, these bans are in line with North Korea's history of standing against perceived ideological impurities. For now, Budae-Jjigae and its western parts have joined a growing list of cultural elements unacceptable in the reclusive nation.

(Images courtesy: Canva)