North Korea is shutting down private beauty salons and barber shops en masse, deeming them a manifestation of anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior that promotes individualism, the Daily NK reported.

According to the source, a large-scale crackdown on private organizations that provide beauty services began in late August 2022.

Along with the crackdown, the authorities are forcing private hairdressers and barbers to work for state-run service providers, a source in North Hamgen Province told Daily NK.

Within North Korea, private barbershops and beauty salons do not pay taxes, unlike official state-run organizations. The possibility of avoiding taxation has prompted many citizens to open illegal barber shops and beauty salons, which gave them the opportunity to earn good money.

Such organizations are popular among young people, because there they have the opportunity to do with their appearance what they like. At the same time, there is a fixed line of possible services and styles in the state hairdressing salons in North Korea.

Local authorities warn that private barbershops and beauty salons are a product of individualism and anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior that contributes to social instability. Citizens caught engaging in illegal activities face a fine of 100,000 won and criminal prosecution.