North Korea Bans Popular South Korean Dishes
North Korea has banned the sale of budae-jjigae and tteokbokki in restaurants nationwide due to their South Korean origins, reflecting a broader crackdown on perceived South Korean cultural influence. These dishes, popular in the South since the Korean War, only recently appeared in the North via restaurants with Chinese partnerships. The ban, enforced by city police and market officials, has faced some resident opposition, with some arguing that the dishes are also enjoyed by ethnic Koreans in China and lack inherent ideological significance. Despite the ban, other South Korean cultural elements continue to be smuggled into the country.
John Q. Hosedrinker