Move over Chanel: North Korea's 'raccoon eye makers' get state push

SUMMARY

North Korea is encouraging its beauty-conscious middle-class women to choose domestic cosmetics over foreign brands in an effort to boost self-reliance as international sanctions deepen. Promoting home-grown beauty has been a political strategy since the days of state founder Kim Il Sung, but has become more focused under his foreign-educated grandson, Kim Jong Un. The international popularity in recent years of South Korea's K-beauty trend - innovative cosmetic products with natural ingredients such as ginseng and snail slime - has added momentum, say defectors who fled the North and experts who study the isolated state.

By ReutersAug 8, 2019 10:29:31 AM IST (Published)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and wife Ri Sol Ju visit a cosmetics factory in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang. North Korea is encouraging its beauty-conscious middle class women to choose domestic cosmetics over foreign brands in an effort to boost self-reliance as international sanctions deepen. Promoting home-grown beauty has been a political strategy since the days of state founder Kim Il Sung, but has become more focused under his foreign-educated grandson, Kim Jong Un. KCNA/via REUTERS

North Korean cosmetic products (front line) are seen on a dressing table in Seoul, South Korea. The international popularity in recent years of SouthKorea'sK-beauty trend - innovative cosmetic products with natural ingredients such as ginseng and snail slime - has added momentum, say defectors who fled theNorthand experts who study the isolatedstate. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

The Moranbong Band, an all-female North Korean pop band formed by leader Kim Jong Un, performs at a celebratory concert marking the end of the 7th Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo

Kang Na-ra, a North Korean defector who is now a beauty YouTuber, shows North Korean cosmetic products, in Seoul. North Korea’s state-run television KRT aired a video about Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory showing a woman replacing Chanel products with domestic products instead. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

North Korea has long regulated its citizens' appearance. Hair dyeing, blue jeans and clothes with writing in English were banned under Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, as the reclusive country tried to keep western influences out. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Pyongyang Cosmetic Factory shipped its first batch of Unhasu brand cosmetics to a new boutique in Moscow in May, Russian media reported. 'Korean Care', another Russian cosmetics shop selling South Korean products online, started importing North Korean beauty products directly from Pyongyang last year. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Previous page： US may seek more stakes in strategic companies to counter China, Bessent says Next page： US banks tap Fed repo facility as overnight rates climb, signaling funding strain

Comments

Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.

Show More Comments

Related Articles >

US may seek more stakes in strategic companies to counter China, Bessent says

Oct 15, 2025

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration will seek to tighten control over strategic sectors by taking more equity stakes in key companies to counter China's economic policies and export restrictions, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday. Bessent told a CNBC event that China's dramatic new restrictions on rare earth minerals and magnets demonstrates the need for the U.S. to be...

US banks tap Fed repo facility as overnight rates climb, signaling funding strain

Oct 15, 2025

NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. banks borrowed $6.5 billion from the Federal Reserve's Standing Repo Facility (SRF) on Wednesday, central bank data showed, and repurchase rates rose, suggesting tightness in meeting funding obligations with a large net Treasuries settlement due this week. That was the biggest daily borrowing from the Fed since the COVID-19 pandemic, excluding end-of-quarter periods. The SRF acts...

Argentina hopes to finalize US $20 billion swap line before midterm vote

Oct 15, 2025

(Reuters) -Argentina's Economy Minister Luis Caputo said he hopes to very soon execute a framework that will contain the terms of a $20 billion currency swap the U.S. recently agreed with Argentina's central bank, ideally before this month's midterm election. President Javier Milei is seeking to expand his minority presence in Argentina's legislature in the October 26 vote, and U.S....

Argentina hopes to finalize US $20 billion swap line before midterm vote

Oct 15, 2025