Are North Korean women in real life like in 'Crash Landing on You'?

Recently, the hit TV seriesCrash Landing on You(Crash Landing on You) is set in North Korea. This forced the production team to simulate the lives and lifestyles of the people there. The audience is curious whether, from the perspective of South Koreans, the image of North Korean women matches what the media has portrayed about them.

Hair style

North Korean women can only cut their hair in 15 state-mandated styles, a discovery by reporter Mika Makelainen of the newspaperYle Uutiset(Finland) on a visit to Pyongyang to report on the eventSolar day.Hair length is also strictly regulated, and most hair salons in the country have a limited “menu” of hairstyles for customers to choose from.

North Korean women mostly have black hair and rarely dye it. Long hair is usually tied up neatly. Bobs and some shoulder-length hairstyles are varied by curling or straightening them close to the head. These hairstyles give North Korean women a feminine image with a bit of personality.

As for the hairstyles of North Korean women, the filmCrash Landing on YouThe portrayal is quite realistic. The female characters, except for Yoon Se Ri (Son Ye Jin), all have black hair. Some have straight hair, tied in a low ponytail. Older women like the colonel's wife in the military village or Seo Dan's mother choose curly hair. Basically, almost no character has unusual hairstyles other than the common and simple ones.

Dressing

In the article entitledNorth Korean fashion police, sheetThe Guardianrecounted a memorable fashion experience of a woman named Song Eun Byul. She once bought a pair of trendy boots, but they were a banned accessory.

Song Eun Byul fell in love with them at first sight. The gorgeous black color, the high heels, and the side zippers—the boots were too tempting despite their hefty price tag and dangerous nature. “They’re so pretty, so new, and so intriguing,” she couldn’t contain her excitement.

But not long after buying the boots from the market, Song Eun Byul was forced to stop and was scolded. That shows that fashion in North Korea is not a matter of individual choice. It is within the framework of state regulations and policies.

North Korean women prefer modest dress and must pay attention to the length and tightness of their clothes.

In North Korea, there are “fashion police” who control the way people dress. North Koreans are not allowed to dress like foreigners. Women’s trousers are scrutinized, clothes that are too tight or skimpy will be “whistled at”, blue jeans are considered to be off limits… These are just a few of the many strict dress codes in North Korea.

Due to the closed nature of their homeland, North Korean women cannot always keep up with the world's popular fashion trends. They prefer a modest, elegant style of dress. In recent years, dress codes have become more open. Women can wear trousers when walking on the street, but the shape of the trousers should be loose, not tight.

The movieCrash Landing on YouThe dress code of North Korean women is quite accurate. The female characters are not allowed to wear short skirts above the knee, nor are they allowed to wear sexy, revealing clothes. Rural women are loyal to mid-calf length dresses, loose fitting, sometimes a bit sloppy.

North Korean women usually wear loose-fitting clothes and skirts that are mid-calf length.

More stylish ladies like Seo Dan (Seo Ji Hye) or her mother stick to elegant, sturdy-looking items like women's vests, blazers, knee-length pencil skirts that are not too tight, and medium-height high heels... However, the downside is that the film often shows Seo Dan wearing boots - an item that is banned in North Korea.

Makeup trends

North Korean women are not allowed to be unconventional or try out strange makeup styles. Their makeup routine is quite simple, without as many steps or products as South Korean women.

In the 1980s, Blemish Balm (BB) was a staple in the beauty routine of Pyongyang women. In a 2013 interview, Oh Young Ji, who used to live in North Korea, said: "Women use BB Cream for makeup. It's not too white, which is suitable for the skin of women in this region. It was a popular cosmetic when I lived in Pyongyang." But it was only for adult women.

However, in recent years, North Korean women have begun to change their beauty mindset. They have learned to use highlighter, contour, and false eyelashes to add more sophistication to their appearance. Lipstick colors are also more diverse.

Current makeup trends in North Korea are more open, with the use of highlighters, contouring powders, false eyelashes, and a wider variety of lipstick colors.

Viewers can see images of North Korean women wearing elaborate makeup in the film.Crash Landing on YouThe women's association in the military village is divided into two groups - those who go bare-faced and those who take care of their beauty, through sharp eyebrows, bright lipstick, false eyelashes and bright eyeshadow.

Seo Dan and her mother are typical of the urban, stylish women of North Korea. Seo Dan sticks to a light, clear makeup style, with rosy cheeks, peachy pink lipstick, and thin, natural false eyelashes. Her mother, meanwhile, favors bold lipstick and thick black false eyelashes.

In general,Crash Landing on YouThe film portrays North Korean women quite closely to how the world describes them. This contributes to the film's unique and interesting character.