Key Facts
• North Korea sees a surge in sales of ‘height growth’ supplements.
• Triggered by Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, born in 2013, now 12 years old.
• Ju Ae first appeared in North Korean media in November 2022 at age 9.
• Kim Jong Un’s height is 170 cm; Ju Ae’s height has grown to approximately 165 cm.
• Ju Ae’s height increased by 20 cm in 2.5 years, surpassing the North Korean female average of 154 cm.
• South Korean media reports a growing interest in children’s growth among North Koreans.
• South Korean-made ‘height growth’ supplements are becoming popular in North Korea.
• Height is considered a symbol of privilege and elite status in North Korean society.
• Expert analysis highlights the importance of physical stature as a marker of social class in North Korea.
Summary
The rapid growth of Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, has sparked a societal trend in North Korea, leading to a surge in demand for ‘height growth’ supplements. Ju Ae, who has grown significantly in height over the past two and a half years, is now nearly as tall as her father, Kim Jong Un. This phenomenon has drawn attention to the importance of height as a symbol of privilege and elite status in North Korean society. South Korean media reports that this trend has fueled interest in children’s growth and the popularity of South Korean-made supplements. Experts suggest that physical stature is increasingly seen as a marker of social class in North Korea.
