Well-Nourished Beauty. Culinary Symbolism in the Mass Culture of North Korea, 1960-2014

Abstract

In the official discourse of the “paradise on earth” of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), food evolved from a neglected and downplayed topic to become a symbol of national authenticity and loyalty to the Leader. This article seeks to trace the historical development of culinary symbolism in North Korean official mass culture in correlation with the changing trends in DPRK official propaganda.

Keywords

• North Korea
• DPKR
• food culture
• nationalism
• culture
• socialist realism