Denim jeans, a global fashion staple, are banned in North Korea as a symbol of Western influence and capitalist culture. The regime views jeans as emblematic of Western consumerism, which it perceives as a threat to its socialist ideology. By prohibiting jeans, the government aims to curb Western cultural influences and reinforce its own political and cultural identity.

The ban on jeans is more than just a fashion restriction; it is a statement against the influence of Western capitalism. Jeans, often associated with casualness and freedom, represent values that conflict with the state’s efforts to maintain strict control over cultural and ideological expression. By disallowing denim, North Korea seeks to prevent the spread of individualism and rebellion, preserving its own form of ideological purity.