North Korea is Allegedly Forcing Citizens to Change Their ‘Soft’ Names To Political Ones

When a parent names their child, they would normally go for something with a positive or whimsical meaning like ‘sunshine’ or ‘blooming flowers’.

Though, these sort of names apparently aren’t sitting well with the North Korean authorities.

According to a report by Radio Free Asia, North Korea is squashing the trend of ‘soft’ names, requiring citizens to change them to more ideological ones should their names not be ‘revolutionary’ enough. The Thaiger also shared that names preferred by the North Korean authorities have meanings such as ‘loyalty’ and ‘bomb’.

“Residents are complaining that the authorities are forcing people to change their names according to the standards required by the state. Starting last month, notices have been constantly issued at the neighbourhood-watch unit’s residents’ meeting to correct all names without final consonants,”

“People with names that don’t have a final consonant will have until the end of the year to add political meanings to their names to meet revolutionary standards,” shared a resident of the northeastern province of North Hamgyong, who insisted on anonymity.

During these residents’ meetings, officials are basically commanding adults and children to change their names, if they have ones that are considered too soft or simple, adding that names without final consonants are ‘anti-socialist’.

And should citizens keep their ‘soft’ names, the North Korean government has apparently threatened to fine them, though it is unknown as to how much the fine will be.

Would you change your name if your country’s government tells you to? Do feel free to let us know in the comment section.

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