North Korea Plans to Regulate Spring Attire: ‘Dress Refreshingly to Establish Socialist Culture’

North Korea is setting ‘standards’ for the attire of its citizens this spring.

In the article “Dressing for Spring According to Seasonal Characteristics,” published on the 24th, Rodong Sinmun urged citizens to dress appropriately for spring.

In an interview with Professor Chang Jeong Il of Pyongyang Commercial University, the newspaper stated, “Dressing elegantly, healthily, and civilly is an important requirement for establishing a socialist culture.”

Professor Chang said, “Although one should dress neatly in any season, it is especially important to dress cleanly and freshly in spring when all things revive and hygiene culture activities are actively promoted. Generally, people tend to stick to their winter clothes even as temperatures rise in spring, but it’s better to quickly adapt to the surrounding environment and change to spring attire.”

He further emphasized that the color of the clothes reflects the personality of the person wearing them and can also compensate for physical shortcomings.

Professor Chang recommended wearing clothes in light colors such as beige, light blue, and light pink for women, while men would look more sophisticated in light gray, light blue, and gray.

He also proposed that the looseness of the clothes should be adjusted according to gender, age, and body shape.

“For spring, it’s necessary to give a little less room in the fit of clothes compared to winter,” said Professor Chang. “However, making it too tight would not align with our people’s aspiration for beauty and elegance.”

He suggested that men should wear gray or light brown fabric suits suitable for the season, especially because “some men still have the habit of dressing in monotonous colors and shapes.

He further suggested, “Young men can wear a suit-style overcoat that gives a decorative effect to the lapels or pocket flaps, looking lively and active. Even middle-aged men can wear overcoats with various decorative effects, not monotonous.”

The newspaper concluded, “If people dress according to their age and body shape, the capital’s streets will become brighter.”

North Korea’s attention to citizens’ attire is interpreted as an effort to regulate the social atmosphere that the spread of South Korean culture could disrupt.

North Korea has been ordering the establishment of a socialist lifestyle, emphasizing the use of standard language, Pyongyang dialect, maintaining neat hair, observing greetings etiquette, and complying with public morals and attire.

kukoo@news1.kr