North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, garnered attention for her attire during a public appearance. On May 14, Ju-ae attended the completion ceremony of a new street in Pyongyang’s northern region, named ‘Jeonwi Street,’ wearing a see-through blouse. It is uncommon for young girls to wear revealing clothing in conservative North Korea. While Ju-ae’s exact age is unknown, experts estimate she is between 10 and 12 years old.
Cheong Seong-chang, chief of the Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at The Sejong Institute, analyzed the situation in an interview with Radio Free Asia, a U.S.-based North Korea-focused media outlet. He stated, “It’s less about the North Korean authorities orchestrating her appearance and more about her freely choosing her attire as a member of the Mout Paektu bloodline(Kim family).”
Cheong added, “Both Ri Sol-ju, Kim Jong-un’s wife, and Kim Ju-ae can break away from traditional constraints. This is causing a stir among North Korean residents, especially women, and is leading to changes in fashion within the country.”
Previously, Tae Yong-ho, a member of South Korea’s People Power Party, noted that Ju-ae growing her hair long is also considered bold in North Korea. During an interview, when her luxury coat made headlines, he remarked, “North Korean residents likely don’t recognize luxury brands. Instead, North Korean children and peers of Kim Ju-ae are probably more focused on her long hair.”
He explained, “In North Korea, there are strict guidelines for boys and girls on how they should wear their hair in elementary, middle, and high school. Seeing Kim Ju-ae with such long hair made me wonder how teachers would explain this to their students. Students might ask, ‘If the Supreme Leader’s daughter can have long hair, can we grow ours too?’ This could cause significant internal confusion, with students questioning, ‘Why can Kim Jong-un’s daughter do it but not us?’”
