Circumcision practices around the world are influenced by religion, culture, medical perspectives, and social norms. While it is commonly associated with certain religious and ethnic groups, circumcision also has secular popularity in some countries. However, when it comes to North Korea, public knowledge is limited due to the country’s secrecy and isolation. Understanding whether North Koreans circumcise requires exploring the cultural, political, and medical environment of the Korean Peninsula. This topic involves not only biological practices but also the influence of state ideology, health care systems, and differences between North and South Korean societies.
Cultural Context of Circumcision in Korea
Circumcision in South Korea
To understand circumcision in North Korea, it helps to look first at its southern neighbor. In South Korea, circumcision is widely practiced. The custom gained popularity after World War II and became especially widespread during the Korean War, when American military presence strongly influenced South Korean society. At one point, South Korea had one of the highest circumcision rates in the non-religious world, despite circumcision not being a traditional Korean practice.
In the South, circumcision was promoted for perceived hygiene and health benefits, although attitudes are gradually shifting as more young people question the necessity of the procedure. The high rate of circumcision in South Korea has long been seen as a social norm, often performed during adolescence rather than infancy.
North Korea’s Cultural and Medical Isolation
Unlike the South, North Korea has been isolated from Western influence since the 1950s. Its medical system, cultural practices, and societal behaviors are shaped by Juche ideology a self-reliance philosophy developed by the late Kim Il-sung. Due to this ideological separation and minimal Western contact, medical practices such as circumcision did not spread widely in the country.
There are no official statistics or publicly available government statements on circumcision in North Korea. Foreign researchers and defectors offer some insights, but the overall picture remains incomplete. What is clear is that circumcision is not promoted as a national health policy, nor is it a widespread tradition passed through generations.
Medical Practices and Circumcision in North Korea
Healthcare System Limitations
North Korea’s healthcare system is state-run and severely under-resourced. Hospitals and clinics often lack basic medical supplies, modern equipment, or even electricity. Because of these constraints, non-emergency surgical procedures, such as circumcision, are unlikely to be prioritized.
In contrast to countries where circumcision is seen as preventive medicine or a rite of passage, North Korea’s medical resources are typically focused on urgent needs such as treating infections, malnutrition, or injuries. Unless there is a medical necessity such as a severe foreskin infection circumcision is rarely performed in hospitals.
Availability of Information
Another limiting factor is the flow of information. In a country where outside knowledge is heavily restricted, awareness of circumcision and its potential benefits or risks is minimal. Without public campaigns or access to foreign medical literature, most North Koreans may not even consider circumcision as a health option.
This contrasts sharply with South Korea, where American media, scientific literature, and public health messaging have played significant roles in shaping circumcision trends over the last several decades.
Insights from Defectors and Studies
Testimonies from North Korean Defectors
Some of the most useful insights into the topic come from defectors who have left North Korea. Several testimonies suggest that circumcision is not common in the North. Many defectors, upon arriving in South Korea, were surprised to learn that circumcision was standard practice for men in the South. This cultural difference sometimes caused embarrassment or confusion, especially among younger male defectors.
In some cases, male defectors reportedly chose to undergo circumcision after arriving in South Korea, believing it was necessary to assimilate or to fit in socially. These experiences reflect how uncommon and unfamiliar the practice is in North Korea.
Reports and Academic Studies
Academic studies on this topic are rare, but some researchers have noted the stark contrast in circumcision prevalence between the two Koreas. Estimates suggest that circumcision is practiced by a vast majority of South Korean males, while in North Korea, the rate is extremely low or nearly nonexistent.
There is also no evidence to suggest that circumcision is linked to religious practices in North Korea. The country is officially atheist and restricts the expression of religion. Therefore, religious motivations, such as those found in Judaism or Islam, do not influence circumcision trends in North Korean society.
Political and Ideological Considerations
National Identity and Resistance to Western Influence
North Korea’s commitment to resisting foreign influence plays a role in its medical and cultural policies. Western trends, including circumcision, are often viewed with suspicion or outright rejection. The government emphasizes Korean heritage, autonomy, and the rejection of foreign ideologies.
This stance reduces the likelihood that American medical practices, such as promoting circumcision for hygiene, would be accepted or endorsed in the North. Instead, the regime promotes traditional Korean medicine and locally developed healthcare philosophies.
Military Service and Hygiene
One might expect circumcision to be encouraged in military contexts for hygiene purposes. However, there is no reliable information suggesting that North Korean military doctors perform circumcisions routinely. If anything, circumcision would be considered an unnecessary use of resources and time unless there were clear medical grounds for it.
Changing Trends and Future Possibilities
Increasing Awareness Through External Contact
As limited as contact with the outside world is, the growing number of North Korean defectors and exposure to foreign media (often smuggled into the country) may slowly introduce new ideas. In the future, if North Korea ever opens its doors more widely or improves its medical infrastructure, circumcision could become more common, though this is purely speculative.
Currently, however, the lack of awareness, medical limitations, and ideological resistance make widespread circumcision highly unlikely. For most North Koreans, it remains a foreign and unfamiliar concept.
Health-Driven Adoption
In some parts of the world, circumcision has been promoted to reduce the risk of certain infections. If health campaigns backed by science and neutral of ideology were ever introduced in North Korea, such practices might be considered. However, as long as the regime maintains its current stance, circumcision will likely remain rare and unfamiliar.
In summary, circumcision is not commonly practiced in North Korea. The procedure is virtually unknown to most of the population, due to the country’s isolation, underdeveloped healthcare system, and strict adherence to self-reliance and anti-Western ideology. Unlike South Korea, where circumcision became a social norm after American influence, North Korea did not adopt this trend and continues to regard it as foreign. Testimonies from defectors confirm that most North Korean men are not circumcised and often encounter the practice for the first time after leaving the country. Unless major social or medical reforms occur in the future, circumcision is likely to remain rare and largely absent in North Korean society.