North Korea's New Year Event Shocks... Singers in Dresses and Children Dressed as Santa

Precise Group Dance and Sophisticated Makeup... "Modern"
Western Culture Adoption Since Kim Jong-un's Rule

North Korea held a grand New Year's celebration performance in 2023, featuring dazzling rookie singers who delivered performances comparable to those of South Korean girl groups. Although North Korea does not celebrate Christmas, this time performers dressed as Santa Claus also appeared.

On the 11th, Yonhap News reported, "According to confirmation through Korean Central TV, a New Year's performance took place on the night of the 31st of last month at the May 1 Stadium in Pyongyang, watched over by State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un."

On New Year's Eve of 2023, North Korean rookie singers performed at the New Year's celebration concert held on the night of December 31 at the Pyongyang May 1 Stadium. From the left are Kim Ryugyong, Hyun Yewon, and Jeong Hongran.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the report, North Korean rookie singers such as Kim Ryugyong, Jong Hongran, and Hyun Yewon appeared on stage wearing glamorous dresses, accessorized with various items, and styled with modern makeup emphasizing Western facial features.

Additionally, dozens of people performed high-level skating moves on a giant ice rink in front of the stage, and children appeared on stage wearing red Santa hats and Santa outfits.

Dancers in sparkling costumes and a large snowman figure roamed the stage, accompanied by a military band that utilized harps, violins, and trumpets. This was considered a highly unusual sight in North Korea, where Christmas is not officially celebrated.

In North Korea, individual religious freedom is restricted, making it virtually impossible for residents to celebrate Christmas. Although the constitution nominally guarantees "freedom of belief," religious activities by ordinary citizens are effectively punishable.

There have been rare occasions when some churches or cathedrals in North Korea held Christmas services or masses, but these were mostly for regime propaganda purposes.

However, North Korean residents are not entirely unaware of Christmas.

Christmas culture has been introduced through foreign movies and novels, and foreign embassy staff stationed in North Korea also hold Christmas masses and services. Some Western embassies in downtown Pyongyang have even hung multi-colored lights to commemorate Christmas.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea (Photo is composite)

Meanwhile, since Kim Jong-un assumed power, North Korea has occasionally adopted Western culture. In July 2012, early in Kim’s leadership, Disney characters Mickey Mouse and Snow White appeared in a Moranbong Band performance, which attracted attention. At that time, Kim instructed, "We should boldly accept good things from other countries and make them our own."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.