North Korea Enacted Plastic Surgery Treatment Law in 2016, Amended Twice
38 North: "There Is a Certain Level of Demand for Procedures"
It has been belatedly confirmed that North Korea enacted the "Plastic Surgery Treatment Law," which contains regulations on plastic surgery, in 2016. While some cosmetic procedures are permitted, surgeries that completely change the face, alter fingerprints, or include eyebrow tattoos are prohibited.
On July 2, the U.S.-based North Korea-focused media outlet 38 North announced that it had obtained the legal document titled "Plastic Surgery Treatment Law" from North Korea.
This law was passed by the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea on November 23, 2016, and was subsequently amended on June 23, 2019, and again on February 6 last year. North Korean state media reported on the three meetings but did not mention the enactment or amendment of any law related to plastic surgery.
The outlet stated, "Although the actual state of plastic surgery in North Korea is not well known, the enactment of this law suggests that unofficial surgeries exist or that there is a certain level of demand for official procedures."
The law includes legal regulations covering all aspects of plastic surgery in North Korea, such as the personnel qualified to perform surgeries, medical institutions, the scope of permitted procedures, and oversight methods. Notably, the law defines plastic surgery as a "people's demand to enjoy a happy and civilized life with a healthy and beautiful appearance," and allows certain cosmetic procedures within a specified range.
According to Article 11 of the law, plastic surgery is permitted for the correction of congenital deformities, restoration of damage caused by trauma, burns, tumors, or inflammatory diseases, as well as for orthopedic trauma treatment. "Aesthetic improvement of appearance for cosmetic purposes" is also included. However, the law does not specify particular examples of such procedures.
Surgeries can only be performed at designated medical institutions such as specialized plastic surgery hospitals, central-level hospitals, and provincial-level plastic surgery hospitals, and only by qualified plastic surgeons affiliated with those institutions. This means that such procedures are not allowed at military unit hospitals or general clinics. Even qualified medical personnel are prohibited from performing procedures outside of designated institutions.
In addition, surgeries that change the entire face to resemble another person or alter fingerprints are prohibited. Gender reassignment surgery is generally banned, but the law states that "special cases" may be exceptions, without specifying what constitutes a "special case." Plastic surgery that does not conform to the socialist way of life is also prohibited. The law cites eyebrow and eyelash tattoos as examples of such banned procedures.
Although North Korean media have not disclosed the existence of this law, external propaganda outlets have introduced medical professionals in the field of plastic surgery. In June last year, the "Naenara" website introduced Dr. Kwon Youngsim of Pyongyang Medical University, reporting her contributions to the development of soft tissue fillers, microneedling procedures, and pigment removal laser treatments.
Regarding the demand for plastic surgery, the North Korea-focused media outlet DailyNK reported in 2007 on the increasing demand in North Korea for double eyelid surgery and eyebrow tattoos. In 2006, it reported that some hospitals in Pyongyang, Chongjin, and Sinuiju were tacitly allowing such procedures. In 2019, it reported that two "amateur plastic surgeons" were executed in connection with the death of a patient during an illegal plastic surgery operation. This incident occurred shortly after the first amendment of the plastic surgery law.
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