• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.255-267
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• 2019

This study was conducted to understand the dietary life of North Koreans by analyzing dietary life-related articles published in Joseon Nyeoseong, which is the only women's magazine in North Korea. This study employed content analysis of 769 articles from 1999 to 2017. The major findings of this study were as follows. Out of the 769 articles, 131 (17.0%) were about dietary culture, 541 (70.4%) were about the food and nutrition, and 97 (12.6%) were about food production. The articles emphasized ethnic food and North Koreans ingredients, spices, cooking methods, containers, and etiquette. A variety of foods and ingredients were used to maintain health, as well as to treat common illnesses and health problems. There were 173 recipes mentioned in the magazine, but no foreign food recipes. There were many dishes that could be preserved for a long time such as Kimchi and pickles. For food security, many vegetables and plant-eating animals such as rabbits were cultivated. Overall, the results indicate that North Korea has been maintaining its unique dietary life without being influenced by foreign countries.