To beat the relentless heat, residents of Pyongyang are going crazy for “bingsu”, a popular Korean shaved ice dessert. North Korean media outlets are highlighting the installation of bingsu stands throughout the capital’s streets as a demonstration of the Party’s deep care for the people.
On July 29, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party, Rodong Sinmun, ran an article titled, Bingsu Stands: Everyone’s Favourite Spot, reporting that city residents are flocking to these stands to escape the ongoing heat wave.
Photographs accompanying the article show Pyongyang residents gathered around bingsu stands, each enjoying their own serving of the refreshing, icy treat.
The newspaper detailed a recent visit to a bingsu stand in the Central District, which was bustling with customers. Patrons were overheard placing orders such as, “I’ll have the red bean bingsu, please,” and “We’d like the mixed fruit bingsu with all the toppings!” Each person appeared to have their own favorite flavor.
The article vividly described how both young and old beamed with delight as they received their bowls of bingsu, so refreshing that it seemed capable of instantly stopping the sweat in its tracks. Staff members added that with this heat wave, they’re seeing more and more people at our stands. Further adding that it’s a testament to the Party’s profound care for the people.
Bingsu reportedly became widely available in North Korea in 2011 following a directive from Kim Jong Il, then-Chairman of the National Defense Commission. The newspaper emphasized Kim Jong Il’s thoughtfulness, noting that even in the depths of winter he was already planning for summer—ensuring that everything from raw ingredients to bowls and spoons would be ready to serve the people.
Each summer, North Korean media showcases an increasingly diverse array of bingsu flavors, including tomato, red bean, and strawberry. These treats are said to be sold at various service stands overseen by the People’s Service Guidance Bureau. Some analysts suggest that linking even bingsu to the Supreme Leader’s care is yet another attempt to control the population’s ideology.
While bingsu is a relatively recent addition to North Korean summers, ice cream has been popular since the 1980s. Interestingly, ice cream is often referred to as Eskimo in North Korea, although this appears to be a case of a brand name becoming synonymous with the product itself. The term ice cream is also widely understood.
Ice cream was first served in concave cones with wooden spoons at restaurants in major cities such as Pyongyang and Hamheung. By the late 1990s, it was being sold in markets, and by the late 2010s, state-run companies were distributing ice cream nationwide. In October 2022, under the direction of Kim Jong Un, the Taesongsan Ice Cream Factory opened, boasting a wide variety of flavors and styles of frozen treats.
Last year, the Taesongsan factory produced over ten premium ice cream varieties and more than twenty standard flavors. Promotional videos showcased cup ice creams in flavors like grape, green tea, and mango, as well as charming panda-shaped ice cream bars.
