Ice cream to hamburger: North Korea bans popular English words

Leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly banned the use of the English-derived term “ice cream,” ordering its replacement with state-approved alternatives such as eseukimo or eoreumboseungi, both roughly translating to “ice confection.”

The ban is part of a broader campaign to purge foreign words, particularly English and South Korean terms, from everyday usage. The move has sparked debate among linguists and drawn attention to how language itself has become a tool of control inside the hermit kingdom.

Tourism guides in North Korea are now undergoing a strict three-month training program in Wonsan and other key destinations.

As part of this intensive regime, they are instructed to completely avoid all Anglicised words when interacting with both locals and foreign visitors.

The purge extends beyond ice cream. The universally recognised “hamburger” is no longer acceptable and must instead be called dajin-gogi gyeopppang, meaning “double bread with ground beef.” 

Similarly, karaoke machines are to be referred to as “on-screen accompaniment machines.”

The directive, officials said, is meant to “consciously promote North Korean vocabulary” and avoid cultural infiltration through language.

As reported by DailyNK, the policy is rooted in more than just linguistics. Language in North Korea has long been a tool of ideological control. By dictating which words are permissible, the government shapes how people communicate, think, and interact with the outside world.

Analysts note that the crackdown coincides with Pyongyang’s ambitious plans to expand its tourism industry. 

By ensuring guides avoid foreign words, the regime seeks to preserve North Korea’s cultural identity while still attracting international visitors. It reflects a paradox: opening up to foreign tourism while simultaneously insulating the population from external influence.

This isn’t the first time Pyongyang’s strange rules have made headlines. The regime is notorious for punishing behaviour it considers influenced by Western ideologies.

Earlier this year, North Korea imposed a ban on hot dogs and consuming, serving, or selling this popular American sausage sandwich is considered an act of treason.

Not only this, a Radio Free Asia (RFA) report suggested that North Korea has also banned steamed rice cakes, tteokbokki, which is a popular street food in the South. When it comes to clothing, North Koreans are not allowed to wear short skirts, clothes with logos, high heels, flashy clothes or jeans.

Since 2015, Pyongyang has passed strict laws criminalising the consumption of information from so-called “hostile nations.” From 2018, crackdowns intensified further, with punishments becoming harsher after 2020.

Under these laws, watching foreign films, listening to music, or sharing TV dramas from overseas may warrant severe penalties.

According to the defectors who left North Korea prior to the pandemic, people apprehended for consuming foreign media were let go after undergoing 'revolutionary' education.

However, despite these heightened risks, reports indicated that North Koreans continue to access and consume banned information.