For much of the world, ice cream is a sweet treat with a universally understood name.
But in North Korea, the simple dessert has become a matter of politics and ideology.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 secretive nation.
Tourism guides in North Korea are now undergoing a strict three month training program in Wonsan and other key destinations.
As part of this regime, they are instructed to avoid all Anglicised words when interacting with both locals and foreigners.
The commonly used word aiseukeurim, borrowed from English, has been replaced with eseukimo or eoreumboseungi.
Some trainees have admitted confusion, pointing out that foreign tourists may not understand these terms.
But despite their doubts, few dare to question the policy openly, as one wrong remark could cost them their positions in this coveted sector.
The chosen replacement term, eseukimo, comes from “Eskimo,” historically used to describe Indigenous peoples in the Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Siberia.
However, the word is now considered outdated and even offensive, with communities preferring identifiers such as Inuit or Yupik.
North Korea’s adoption of the word has puzzled observers. Linguists suggest it may be Pyongyang’s way of using a foreign sounding word without directly borrowing from English a strategy that blends nationalism with controlled globalisation.
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.”
